Cronyism and jobbery - says who?
| 12:45 UK time, Thursday, 16 August 2007
There's nothing like a quiet summer's day in the newsroom. That's when journalists have too much time on their hands. So I decided to take a trip down memory lane, and while ploughing the archives found a little gem about junior ministers. In December 1999, when David Trimble and Seamus Mallon appointed Dermot Nesbitt and Denis Haughey to their Β£55,000 a year posts, they were accused of wasting taxpayers money. One MLA declared it was "an unnecessary indulgence," and complained of too little democracy and too much bureaucracy.
Whooooooooooo said that? Why none other than the current junior minister Ian Paisley Junior of the DUP.
Another critic piped up: "This is the most blatant case of cronyism and jobbery imaginable."
The critic? None other than Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy. Now what would the Sinn Fein junior minister Gerry Kelly say about that?
The only person who perhaps has no regrets about his 1999 remarks is one Robert McCartney, UK Unionist who dismissed these "baby ministers" as "gofers" or "friendly little piglets."
I'm 
°δ΄Η³Ύ³Ύ±π²Τ³Ω²υΜύΜύ Post your comment
Martina
NO STOPPING UNIONISMβS BΓTE NOIRE
Thereβs no doubt that in the previous Assembly the junior Ministerial posts were an extravagance. No one should believe that this is the case in the appointment of Gerry Kelly. As well as being a device for house-training him in the etiquette of government, Kellyβs tenure is part of the conditioning of Unionists to accept his becoming a Policing and Justice Minister when powers are transferred. Providing Kelly doesnβt βsoil the carpetβ Sinn Fein believe that he can be appointed a Justice Minister without the hullabaloo that Dr Paisley used to passionately portend.
Youβve got to hand it to Sinn Fein; they have brilliantly engineered Kellyβs metamorphosis from Triggerman to Old Bailey Bomber to Life Sentence Prisoner to Maze Escaper and soon to be Justice Bigwig. Itβs only a matter of time before the Unionists name an Orange Lodge in his honour!
Of course, at a practical level, Kelly and Junior also act as Food Tasters for their respective bosses when theyβre dining together.
Bon AppΓ©tit!
Susie
Carryduff
I don't think we should deny Paisley his junior minister. Many people of that age have a home help.
It is virtually impossible for me as an american who is attempting to learn the politics of Northern Ireland, because I hope to move there, to understand these articles because of the number of acronyms.
Please consider this when writing.. Some people do not automatically know what you are writing about.
Thank you for reading this.
@toni christopher
I'd suggest making a wee list of acronyms (look up Wikipedia or something) and either keeping it beside you when reading or learning it off by heart. Think of it as an investment in your future. It might make life easier when you're here.
is as comprehensive a list of our acronyms as you will find anywhere. Part of a good website if you want to find out a lot of stuff about the conflict here.
Yo Toni Christopher
GOD BLESSUS, AMERICA!
Your post demonstrates pithily the insularity and arrogance typical of many Americans. You are planning to live here and already you want us to change to suit you. On a grander scale your Government is applying the same principle in Iraq: do things our way or else. Is it any wonder that your country is so unpopular throughout the World?
Just to show, in a small way, that Iβm not anti-American (well, not much) I have added a link below that defines the acronyms that have been used in the context of our recent History/Troubles
I hope you find the list useful.
You be Good, Yβhear
Bill
Carryduff
Bill, was there any need for that? You are not demonstrating - pithily or otherwise - the alleged world famous friendliness of our people.
The man just asked for a bit of help. You were rude.
Mark
RUDE β MOI?
RJ - Just a couple of points about your Post:
1 ββ¦β¦β¦..the alleged world famous friendliness of our people.β Yes, Edwin Poots and officials from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board proclaim our friendliness all the time. A more accurate reflection of how graciously we treat foreigners might be found, inter alia, in the widespread racist attacks perpetrated by members of the indigenous population [EDIT]
2 βThe man just asked for a bit of help.β Given that Toni is a female, I think you were the Rude Boy (or Girl).
You be a Good Ole Boy (or Girl), Yβhear.
Bill
Carryduff
..or woman.
1. That's why I said "alleged".
2. That's why I posted that next comment (before your reply appeared).
In assuming anybody called Toni must be a bloke, I am demonstrating another feature of the people of this place. I'm not too sure what it's called, but it's the opposite of cosmopolitan.
Finally, if that's the same toni christopher that's coming to live here, I need a lodger.
Mark
HELPFUL AS USUAL
RJ
ββ¦β¦β¦β¦β¦ I am demonstrating another feature of the people of this place. I'm not too sure what it's called, but it's the opposite of cosmopolitan.β The antonym of βcosmopolitanβ is βinsularβ. Youβll get on well with your new Lodger.
You behave, Yβhear.
Bill
Carryduff