By now we’ve all watched the footage of the former DUP Minister and Arlene Foster on the corruption within the RHI process. I wouldn’t normally rush to the defence of Unionist politicians but I believe Jonathan; why else would he risk and quite likely end his political career and livelihood over ambiguous allegations? He has been and will continue to be thrown to the political “wolves” in the wilderness for actually trying to act credibly in his former role.
Contrary to what Mrs. Foster disgustingly said, attempting to change the subject, Mr. Bell never at all seemed like a bully to me – when I worked in the Civil Service and passed him on the corridors he was always polite and courteous, saying hello at every opportunity and to everyone. I liked him then and I like him now. He isn’t without his flaws but he is a much more approachable and amicable person than she is – anyone I’ve spoken to about her that has met her thinks she is rude and temperamental, with a clear attitude problem. If Jonathan Bell or Sammy Wilson was leading the DUP there would be much less tension in the Assembly, for starters.
If the DUP MLA’s have any respect for one another as colleagues, they will at least try to ensure that Jonathan is not penalised or isolated for coming clean about the rotten borough of unelected advisers that exists here. This sordid SPAD subculture needs to be overhauled completely – they once had more “advisers” than the British Prime Minister, and it’s very debatable whether some of these people are actually qualified or suitable to provide any expertise at all – particularly when you gaze at the salaries they are pocketing. I say that in relation to all of the political parties, that at a time of austerity they really should not have and do not require that many personnel.
But the real question is this – should an unelected, appointee who has no democratic mandate be able to overrule, undermine and practically blackmail, a democratically elected representative holding Ministerial office, and then order Civil Servants to destroy any record thereof? Would this be acceptable in Dublin or in London, Edinburgh or in Cardiff? The answer makes for uncomfortable realities and shines some light on the dark heart of Arlene Foster’s style of leadership.
I don’t know what will happen come Monday. I think Sinn Fein should vote for a temporary no confidence motion in her tenure as First Minister, otherwise it will create a perception in the Nationalist electorate that she and her entourage can routinely and consistently get away with whatever they like. But either way, I don’t believe that the Assembly can resolve the overarching problem this poses as there are one too many vested interests involved. I think the Westminster and Dublin Governments should get involved in the matter and come up with a mandatory code of conduct, which includes criminal trials for those who break it, outlining standards and ethics that apply rigidly to all MLA’s – with robust legislation being passed by the UK sovereign government, to regulate our institutions and objectify the scrutiny of the ‘Orange Aristocracy’.
How many more scandals are we to allow the DUP to sleep-walk us into before this cronyism is eradicated? The most telling revelation of all is that a relative of one of the SPAD’s involved stood to benefit financially from the botched scheme. Can you imagine if Theresa May did this? She would already have been forced to resign and indeed retire. If any DUP members or representatives are reading this then you should reap your conscience and ask how many of your colleagues and friends need to be sacrificed before you break your silence against this syndicate? This is the biggest and worst scandal which the North has ever faced since power-sharing was established. And it isn’t going to go away.
Unelected representatives wielding power. One thinks of Alister Campbell, Thatcher’s man with the bushy eyebrows, Wilson’s press secretary, the Yes Minister series was based on the real life experiences of the writers in Parliament and of course we have had In The Loop.
If people think that kind of thing is only found in NI well, it’s not
It’s a damned disgrace if Sinn Fein allow this to go unchallenged. Heads need to roll over this and the main one should the arrogant Arlene Foster’s. If Sinn Fein are seen to be dragging their heels and propping up this corrupt woman and party, their electorate will take them to task. How many, as Donal says, more scandals will the DUP be allowed to brush under the carpet just so the institutions stay alive? If Martin is serious about her needing to step aside then he will back the motion of no confidence and take it from there. Do we really think that the DUP would pussyfoot if the tables were turned? They’d be baying for blood like the pack of corrupt wolves they are. Show us some balls Sinn Fein and stand up for what is right and give us some belief that we are going in the right direction!!
The SDLP proposed this motion simply because they know Sinn Fein cant support it, for it will bring down the institutions and they cannot do this at this point.
Someone should ask them outright if that is the outcome that they want to see happen from their motion tomorrow.
In the new year, after mid January when the initial report is due, only then can such a decision be made.
What they want from this is a stick to attack Sinn Fein on which the anger among the public has allowed them produce.
What is important here, is that a public enquiry with sufficient powers to access all evidence is established and that if wrong doing is found, adequate punishment including custodial sentencing is delivered.
In short, if the fraud has taken place that has been suggested, people need locked up for it, not suspended with pay.
why cant they bring down the institutions at this point,
whats the point of having them if corruption is so rife as some suggest.
shoring up the dup wont go down well with their electorate.kicking it down the road wont work this time with pbp organising street rallies.
They would already be down if this had been a Sinn Fein ministry.
The PSNI would have been instructed to raid Stormont in pursuit of evidence with the cameras tipped off in advance
While there is justified anger and the institutions may very well not survive, I want to see a public enquiry reveal all of what went on here as early in 2017 as possible. I don’t think that will happen if the institutions fall before Christmas.
Also, what happens when they do fall?
Do we have another election or should a border poll be called and joint rule enforced in the mean time?
What will happen to the investigation under direct rule? Will it be swept under the carpet or pressed on with?
I want to see due process take place and people doing time if criminal negligence or fraud has taken place?
Are SF not on a stickey wicket too?
Not in my eyes
So long as they are seen to be doing the right thing and act as a responsible party of government
Stormonts future us as a museum anyway
The importance t thing is that evidence is made public and a public inquiry investigates criminality with the aim of taking action in the court’s if needed
If wrongdoing is proven someone needs locked up
If sinn fein are involved that means them too
If they got their bit right then that’s ok then?
what’s ok then Dominic?
As with any coalition, if one party fucks up, the government falls and we go to the polls.
In the north, we don’t have a government, we have a unique power sharing arrangement in which the two largest parties one nationalist and one unionist have to work together until there is unification on the island.
There will never be a northern Ireland government – only temporary arrangements until governance moves to Dublin.
The DUP are not the only party to fuck up though. The south are facing greater losses than that imposed by the DUP.
If you are thinking 6 county future with SDLP getting a shot it is never going to happen.im afraid.
The northern statelet will not be around long enough and mood swing change is already happening.
Our experience in the north makes us unique and we will have to work that out first if we are to have an island that can hope to come together. That will mean civic society stepping up to the plate. The language of your post is premature to say the least and a lot more ground work needs done. Unless SF/DUP do better someone will have to take over the reins.
Work what out first Dominic?
My post is not premature, the whole island is already coming together.
It is coming together in opposing corruption in administration.
We have the DUP in the north thinking they can do whatever they want, bend the rules to suit select businesses over people.
In the south we have Fine Gael playing hard and fast with international law in an even more detrimental manner for the Irish economy, they have upset both the US and EU administrations which the EU planning to impose massive financial penalties for breach of EU rules.
A majority of our young people are supporting Sinn Fein who will in the near future will have over 50% of the votes both north and south.
“Unless SF/DUP do better someone will have to take over the reins.”
The DUP are irreparably damaged, the UUP will be Sinn Feins next partner in Stormont. The DUP will be lucky if there aren’t custodial sentences going right to the heart of the party.
Stormont is approaching the end of its useful life. What is the SDLP going to do post border poll?
Has it got a strategy in place for post unification or is it still in post nationalist mode and still paying lip service to a united Ireland?
Work what out first? Try an all Ireland soccer team and we’ll take it from there.
So whatever happened to civic society stepping up to the plate?
I get you are fond of sport but I also think there are more important things to deal with than a soccer team Dominic.
Dominic, I am not a big soccer fan and not sure if I understand your metaphor correctly.
I take it you mean I am off target, and therefore that I have assessed the mood incorrectly.
At the moment, the mood is people would not be able to give a reason why they should vote for anyone in Stormont.
It appears to be a complete waste of money and the opinion is why bother?
The SDLP/UUP motion to remove Arlene does not go far enough. If Jonathans claims are true and he has called for a judge led public inquiry, then I want to see Arlene sentenced in court and given a custodial sentence. Michael Lowry did time for Fine Gael corruption, there is precedent in Ireland.
A public inquiry would take too long to setup, what we need is an independent inquiry made up of people with no connections to the Stormont parties, I would say possibly from the south, but as corruption is greater there than here, possibly it will need to be of people from England.
They should have full access to all data and the report should be released quickly and a criminal investigation started if needed.
Sinn Fein need to sort out corruption on both parts of this island.
Both the UK and EU will be encouraging Irish unification as brexit develops as it is the only logical path.
I want to make sure we get the best deal and we should not ignore the corruption in the southern establishment. I don’t see the SDLP having a major role.
I do think Colum Eastwood scored an own goal in claiming he will not set foot in the Whitehouse while Trump is in it.
Interesting to see who attends the Whitehouse in March.
Trump is no friend of Denis OBrien the way Hilary Clinton is, OBrien is a major funder to the Clinton foundation.
Things are going very well I think
Nationalism attacking Sinn Fein is foolish in my opinion. But irrelevant. The wheels are in motion and pressure is mounting from international sources.
Don’t be taking any penalty kicks Jessica. Adh Mor
I think you’re too superficial in your assessment
whats the chances of there being an open and transparent independent inquiry? i cant see one being granted, and the DUP will be allowed to brush this under the carpet like every other scanal they’ve been involved in.
If there isn’t one then Sinn Fein will have no choice but to collapse them.
If they pull it down tomorrow to support a no brainer knee jerk headline grab by the SDLP then what bargaining would they have later if a public enquiry with sufficient teeth is not established?
If there is the wrong doing here that has been suggested and evidence is found to support it, it is not only heads I want rolled but criminal convictions.
“But the real question is this – should an unelected, appointee who has no democratic mandate be able to overrule, undermine and practically blackmail, a democratically elected representative holding Ministerial office, and then order Civil Servants to destroy any record thereof?”
Of course not. We must assume that the SPADs were acting on behalf of their ministers.
“Would this be acceptable in Dublin or in London, Edinburgh or in Cardiff?”
Almost certainly yes.
“How many more scandals are we to allow the DUP to sleep-walk us into before this cronyism is eradicated? The most telling revelation of all is that a relative of one of the SPAD’s involved stood to benefit financially from the botched scheme. ”
Perhaps PSF’s reluctance is because of their own cronyism? The phantom ‘Research Services Ireland’, the rents paid to ‘cultural associations’, the exorbitant painting and decorating contacts awarded to party members …
Evidence,MT?
SF’s response has been pathetic. Not supporting the no confidence motion would be in keeping with their lacklustre handling of this matter.
Instead of calls for a public inquiry we have calls for an ‘Independent’ inquiry. Code for a fig leaf investigation to kick this all down the road.
Time for SF to show leadership. Had this been Kenny or Noonan, SF would be going apocalyptic and rightly so. SF’s mealy mouthed statements and kid glove handling of this willl ensure even more nationalists turn their back on Stormont and come the next assembly elections we can expect more record low turnouts for nationalism.
We need and demand better leadership.
Cal, Kenny and Noonan policies have cost the southern economy a far greater loss than the 400 million over 20 years the DUP have cost the northern economy.
It has not really sank in with the public yet, but just like with the cash for ash it will soon enough.
Nationalists and indeed unionists turning their back on Stormont is not a problem and in fact is a good thing in my opinion.
Jonathan Bell went along with the RHI scandal quite happily until he realised he was going to be the fall guy, to take any blame away from Arlene, so he decided to try to take her with him!
If Sinn Fein feel encumbered because of Marty’s health situation, they could temporarily replace him, and possibly find somebody with the gonads to face Arlene down – since she came into power she has certainly been the dominant of the two, which does SF’s credibility no good.
never fear,volunteer jamie bryson has stepped up to the mark,.he has a list of people involved in profiting from the burners.first name he has dropped is a wealthy farmer from the clogher valley who has recently spent a million pound building a factory on his land..yep,producing wooden pellets for the boilers,he also has 2 burners blasting away 24/7,lol.time to get the popcorn ready tomorrow.