Categories: Politics, Constitution, Devolved Government, Direct Rule, Local Government
Streamlining the Health Service
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has announced that the 4 regional health-boards will be merged into a single Northern Ireland health board as part of plans to save "more than £53 million by April 2011" and reduce the number of staff by about 1,700,… more »
Yesterday's Men and How Times Change
by beano 
on 01 Feb 2008 at 15:08. Categories: Northern Ireland, Irish Republic, Business & Economy, Politics, Devolved Government A heart-warming act of friendship in Ballymena today as Northern Ireland's First Minister Ian Paisley and the prime minister of the Republic Bertie Ahern got all cozy and loved-up during a visit by the latter to the former's constituency.
Paisley desc… more »
Bill of Rights: Asking 'the right question'
"Do you support a Bill of Rights which is unique to Northern Ireland, which imposes an array of socio-economic commitments upon the Assembly which are incalculable in scale, incapable of being costed and will require substantial funding which will almost… more »
Calling Ruane's Bluff
by beano on 23 Jan 2008 at 15:38. Categories: Northern Ireland, Irish Republic, Sinn Fein, Education, Devolved Government It's a busy day on the Caitriona Ruane front today. I'd just like to issue a quick thank you to Jim Allister for confirming that I was right when I said that Ms Ruane was talking out her arse when she said she wanted to change the law to prevent Northern… more »
Ruane Has No Answers on Post-Primary Education Reform
by beano on 23 Jan 2008 at 13:21. Categories: Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein, Education, Devolved Government Minister for Education Caitriona Ruane has refused to answer a list of questions submitted to her by the Assembly's education committee. These questions were agreed by the committee and included how much her plans would cost, what provision would be made… more »
50,000 Empty Houses
by beano on 23 Jan 2008 at 10:37. Categories: Northern Ireland, Business & Economy, Devolved Government Just stumbled across this: apparently house prices in Northern Ireland have fallen by 10% recently and there are thought to be nearly 50,000 Ulster dwellings lying empty.
Plans are now being made to charge rates on empty dwellings (long overdue if you… more »
Defining Pettyness
by beano on 21 Jan 2008 at 13:00. Categories: Sinn Fein, Local Wackos, Orange Order / Other Marches, Republicans, Local Government Limavady Borough Council: redefining "offensive"
Nationalist councillors (who hold a majority) on Limavady Borough Council have ordered the removal of several items from council premises in order to create a "neutral working environment".
Unfortu… more »
Fundamental Failure to Understand Unionists
by beano on 10 Jan 2008 at 11:49. Categories: Local Wackos, Republicans, Law & Order, Devolved Government Actually, Brian Feeney's fundamental failure might be understanding anything, but I was feeling charitable when I wrote that title. The Irish News is generally the best of a bad bunch when it comes to local news papers, which makes the fact that they giv… more »
Emporer Ruane Missing her Garments?
by beano on 07 Dec 2007 at 10:12. Categories: Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein, Education, Devolved Government Now that's a disturbing thought, apologies to anyone who's eating as they read this. Anyway, Bob Wilson of the local Tories has criticised the response of unionist politicians and the media to Caitriona Ruane's non-announcement on the abolition of gramm… more »
Ruane Confirms Grammar Abolition Plan
My favourite politician is making headlines again although, as Big Ulsterman points out, she hasn't really done anything except release a rather vague (and badly constructed) statement confirming her intention to end academic selection.
Long-time read… more »
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