Will They Won't They?

[ichkeria]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67724900

[Paul22118]

Absolutely no chance.

[mushroom25]

as they told us on a recent bus tour around Belfast, "Stormont is Dormant".

[ichkeria]

A cynic might say that this is all but resolved, probably with very little change, and so now they are asking for extra money to make it look as though they have done something worthwhile.

I, however, could not possibly comment.

[New Judge]

"Will they, won't they?"

I think the answer is "Who cares whether they do or they don't?"

In the 24 years since its assumption of full devolved powers in December 1999, the Northern Irleand Assembly as been suspended for 40% of the time. Since January 2017 it has been suspended for 70% of the time. It has currently been suspended for the thick end of two years and shows no sign on reconvening any time soon. As far as I am aware, life goes on in Northern Ireland; it's people are still going about their business; trade and commerce is still functioning; there's nothing of particular note that has been adversely affected; life goes on.

It is quite clear that the Assembly is an unnecessary extravagence. It should be put out of its misery forthwith and the entire ludicrous devolution nonsense abandoned.

[ichkeria]

A lot of things are suffering owing to the non functioning of the assembly. Of course if you don't live there you won't care but some people do. The DUP claims  to care about NI as indeed does Sinn Fein, but their pursuit of a fantasy Brexit seems to come becugr anything else. Yet people vote for these two parties ...

[Khandro]

Somebody once said that the trouble with the English is that they never remember, and the trouble with the Irish is that they never forget.

[New Judge]

“A lot of things are suffering owing to the non functioning of the assembly.”

Well if that is the case, it is scandalous that the Assembly, the lack of which can apparently cause these difficulties, can so easily and readily be suspended and become non-functioning. Its constitution is clearly unfit for purpose and any forum which can be rendered inoperable so easily because one or more of the parties gets the hump needs urgent reform. This would apply to a Parish Council and the committee of a working men’s club. 

This talking shop has been suspended for 40% of its existence and it’s about time it was either reformed so as to be functional or abolished entirely. I would suggest that its powers which are seemingly not being exercised, so causing the problems you mention, should simply be transferred to the body responsible for devolving them (i.e. the UK government) and the entire sorry nonsense that is devolution be consigned to history.

“Of course if you don't live there you won't care but some people do.”

I don't live there but I do care (as I would were such a situation to prevail in any part of the UK). But if people insist on doing the same thing over and over again and it causes damage or inconvenience to others, then somebody else needs to take control to restore sanity. The UK government is ultimately responsible for the governance of Northern Ireland. They need to get a grip and the first thing they should do is to accept that devolution in NI (at least in its current form) does not work is is very unlikely ever to do so.

[ichkeria]

"I think the answer is "Who cares whether they do or they don't?" "

"I don't live there but I do care"

Make up your mind then :-)

Too often the assembly has been held hostage, however that does not mean that NI should not have its own government.

 

[New Judge]

"Make up your mind then :-)"

My mind is made up. I care about the problems the lack of a NI Assembly is causing. I really don't care whether the Assembly reconvenes after the latest hiatus or not. In fact I tell a lie - I would far rather it did not.

"...that does not mean that NI should not have its own government."

There is every reason why not, as this latest fiasaco demonstrates quite clearly. There should be just one government in the UK, the Westminster government. Other areas may have the equivalent of Parish councils if they wish (with responsibilities including the Christmas street lights and the annual charity "Fun Run") but that should be the extent of their powers. There is certainly no reason why a small province with a population of well under two million should be afforded such an ostentatious assembly - especially when its constitution means that any one party can effectively bring its activities to a grinding halt.

[fender62]

let them re-unitem been nothing but blood and treasure for the uk, sword of Damocles springs to mind, the south could not afford it anyway.

[ichkeria]

Your  comments are patronising, demeaning and insulting NJ. You are entitled  to your opinion of course.

One obvious matter which needs attention of the shocking neglect of Lough Neagh: the British Isles largest freshwater lake suffocating in an abomination of effluent pollution. And which desperately needs local government  action

[douglas9401]

Maybe the voters of Northern Ireland simply and unwittingly selected a bunch of useless, lazy, workshy roasters to govern them locally.

I'm reminded of that parcel of rogues at Holyrood.

[THECORBYLOON]

NJ, "Other areas may have the equivalent of Parish councils if they wish "

 

Ulster had its own Parliament with a House of Commons and Senate from 1921 until 1972 and there's no council with the name of its parish included in the name of this country.

[New Judge]

“Your  comments are patronising, demeaning and insulting NJ.”

I’m sorry you find them that way as that was not intended.

I believe devolution is a disastrous policy for the UK. It has served only to promote division and rancour. I consider the United Kingdom to be a single country. It is one thing to encourage local customs individuality. It is quite another thing for the UK government to abrogate its principle responsibilities by devolving them to what they would like people to believe is a “government”. National governments should encourage unity, not division. I’ve no objection to the smaller constituents of the UK going their own way if that is what they prefer. But so long as they are part of the UK they should be governed by the UK government.

“Ulster had its own Parliament with a House of Commons and Senate from 1921 until 1972”

And it should not have had such an arrangement.

[tomus42]

If you're paying these people's wages to stay at home as you and I are NJ, then you should care.

I guarantee you that if that stopped happening they'd be back at work next week.

[New Judge]

If you're paying these people's wages to stay at home as you and I are NJ, then you should care.

It's not really that, tomus (although I agree, it should be a consideration). The NI Assembly has been suspended for almost two years. It has been operative for only 30% of the time since 2017. Before that it was suspended for a period of four and a half years between 2002 and 2007 and there were other shorter suspensions here and there. Clearly other arrangements need to be made as it is ridiculous that it can become non-functioning so frequently and for so long. If Lough Neagh needs swilling out then a bunch of two-bit political idealogues, who can chuck their toys out of the pram periodically when they don't get their own way, are obviouslly not the people to be entrusted with that task.