Who is getting a gong?
A year on from the restoration of devolution, my colleagues on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ NI's "Politics Show" have decided to assess the performance of our MLAs.
A panel made up of four political observers sat down and made their selection in four categories: Politician of the Year; Best Communicator; Best Newcomer and Political Moment of the year.
Arguably the most coveted award - Politician of the Year - saw a number of high profile names considered including Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, Margaret Ritchie, Peter Robinson, Arlene Foster and Michael McGimpsey among others.
In the Best Communicator category there was a general bemoaning of the quality of many of the MLAs abilities to communicate. As one panel member put it: "I'd say out of 108 MLAs, 100 you wouldn't pay to see."
Another commented: "The pool - or rather puddle - of talent is so shallow, it's hard to draw up a medium-length shortlist even."
MLAs who did win praise included Sammy Wilson, Basil McCrea, Danny Kennedy, Barry McElduff, who was described as a cheeky chappie, Naomi Long, the First and Deputy First Ministers and Gerry Adams.
In the Newcomer category, the panel singled out Basil McCrea, Anna Lo, Michelle McIlveen, Daithi McKay and Simon Hamilton. Eventually they came to a unanimous decision - as they did in all the categories.
The only dissension as such was over the Political Moment of the Year. Among the events considered were the meeting of Gerry Adams and Ian Paisley last March, Devolution Day May 8th, Iris Robinson being ejected from Stormont, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness at Wall Street and with President Bush, and the resignation of Ian Paisley Jnr.
In the end it was all agreed amicably. To find out who the winners are, though, you'll have to join Jim Fitzpatrick for the Politics Show this Sunday starting at noon on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 1.
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