Archive for July, 2010
Skills: What’s the problem with skills?
Friday, July 9th, 2010Brian Acheson sees the solution in young people educated for the economy, using the block grant to grow the private sector and government trusting colleges to get on with their job. Here’s an interesting vox pop from some of our brightest 16 and 17-year olds. A fundraising programme from my son’s school features answers to a number of questions. The answers to the question ‘possible career path’ contain no surprises. Out of 46 boys, almost half want to become doctors or lawyers. But, is this a good thing? How does this unrepresentative picture impact on the need to grow a truly...[full story]
Meet the media: Diana Rusk
Friday, July 9th, 2010Political correspondent with the Irish News, Diana Rusk has had a “baptism of fire” since she took up the post in January this year. She joined the Irish News as a full-time news reporter in 2007 after a stint as a freelancer for them. Prior to that, Diana began her career in the Impartial Reporter in 2005, following a journalism degree in DCU. How did you get started in journalism? I was perhaps around eight years old when I began thinking about my career. A bit of a daydreamer, I spent many an afternoon creating my own fictional radio show. I was its presenter, newsreader, entertainment,...[full story]
Political Platform: Peter Weir MLA
Friday, July 9th, 2010One of the few to take the route, Peter Weir was elected as an MLA before he sat in the council chamber. He was returned for the UUP to the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996 and elected to Stormont in 1998, but left to join the DUP in 2002. Peter has served on North Down Borough Council for Ballyholme and Groomsport since 2005. A former barrister, the Bangor man also sits on the Employment and Learning and Environment Committees. How did you get started in politics? I had an interest in politics from a young age, and although there were no direct family connections with any political party,...[full story]
Assembly: Assembly round-up
Friday, July 9th, 2010Stormont’s last sitting month sees a logjam of legislation dominate the agenda and two new faces appearing on the hill. End-of-term illustrations are often used when summing up the Assembly’s last month before the summer. However, other school phrases seemed relevant this month including suspension and some members’ first days. After the SDLP whip was taken from Declan O’Loan, June’s business began with his removal from the Standards Committee chair and the Culture Committee deputy chair. The move, by Margaret Ritchie, again indicated that the parties have the real say at...[full story]
Public Affairs: Northern Ireland Office
Friday, July 9th, 2010Created in 1972 as Stormont’s powers were taken away, the Northern Ireland Office was the mainstay of provincial business in government for nearly 30 years. Now presided over by Conservative Owen Paterson, the NIO was tasked with running the Northern Ireland departments under direct rule. The criminal justice brief made the journey across the Irish Sea on 12 April to the newly established Department of Justice. In the absence of those powers, its stated mission is now two-fold: to support devolution and to make sure that UK-wide policy takes account of all circumstances in Northern...[full story]
Public Affairs: Counting up the members
Friday, July 9th, 2010Local statistics are sketchy but political party membership appears to be holding up. Smaller parties, though, are more open about their figures than their larger counterparts. The size of an organisation’s membership is a sign of its health, whatever the sector, but politics is one area where figures really count. Rival parties and candidates fight for a limited number of seats at election time, backed up by the grassroots volunteers needed to put up posters and knock the doors. Leadership contests depend on candidates swaying supporters in one direction or another. House of Commons...[full story]
Europe: Learning from the South
Friday, July 9th, 2010Irish Ambassador to the EU Rory Montgomery, points to how Northern Ireland could make better use of Europe, by focusing on policy as well as funding and setting clear priorities. As the head of the largest Irish diplomatic mission in the world, Rory Montgomery’s chief responsibility is to make sure the Irish Government’s views are taken into account in the “enormous number of meetings” that take place every day within the EU. The policy process means that national ambassadors will see proposals before the Council so the Ambassador’s role therefore is to solve any disagreements...[full story]
