Commentary
The end of one election, the dawn of another
by Quintin Oliver, director, Stratagem
f you thought that election time was over, think again‑ in Northern Ireland, it is only just beginning again. We can expect a year of feverish activity in the Assembly and the Executive with all parties keen to deliver as much vote‑winning policies and
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legislation that the remaining time of this parliamentary term permits.
The devolved administration has been moving quickly to endorse long‑standing policy pledges, such as legislation recently introduced that will provide Northern Ireland with an Older Peopleʼs Commissioner. The newly devolved Justice Department has pledged a fundamental reform of the justice system in Northern Ireland and there are plans to introduce a wide‑ranging Justice Bill after the summer recess. The Bill will come at a particularly interesting time given the financial pressures brought about by cuts in the central funding made available to Northern Ireland. Issues such as the cost of legal aid, which is currently much higher in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the UK, are at the forefront of the reforms and will have a more immediate implication for the Justice system here.
Reform of Northern Irelandʼs prisons, tackling delay in the system and reducing the levels of re‑offending will prove a more costly, protracted and prolonged process, although the long‑ term savings will be significant if the reforms are effective. Whilst the Justice Minister has made it clear that the wide‑ranging bill will be introduced in September, he is likely to face a long, hot summer of consultation and deliberation. One thing is for sure, the legislation will certainly pose a significant challenge for even the most experienced of Assembly legislation drafters. However, despite the moves to devolve and reform the justice system within the new political climate, Northern Ireland was reminded of its bloody past following the murder of Bobby Moffett by the Ulster Volunteer Force recently. The political consequence was significant, as Dawn Purvis MLA resigned as leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, becoming an Independent in the Assembly. Ms Purvis said she was leaving because the PUP was "severely restricted because of its
relationship with the Ulster Volunteer Force.” Both business and the wider public will hope that Northern Ireland continues to progress along the peaceful path it has beaten over the past number of years and that incidents of violence remain nothing more isolated reminders of our past. Across at Westminster, the Chancellorʼs announcement of £6bn worth of public expenditure cuts, resulting in a reduction of £128m in the Northern Ireland block grant, will have ramifications for the political aspirations of Executive and Assembly Members wishing to push popular policies in the run up to the Assembly election. The Assembly, and likewise its Scottish and Welsh counterparts, has been given the option to defer the cuts. Debate is rife as to whether deferral is the best option, and criticism of Sammy Wilson will surely follow no matter which path the Finance and Personnel Minister recommends the Executive takes. Mr Wilson has called on the Executive to work together to manage the impact of budget cuts and added that “we can no longer afford to deliver the full range of commitments set out in the Programme for Government”, emphasising that no Department would be immune from cuts and that the Executive needs to address the number of Departments and quangos.
And speaking of Westminster issues, the decision by some parties to end double‑jobbing after a number of MLAs were elected to Parliament means Stormont will be seeing a raft of new faces making their maiden speeches in the Chamber over the next year, as well as some old ones changing roles. Already Lagan Valley has a new MLA in the form of Lisburn DUP Councillor Paul Givan, who replaces the MP for the area Jeffrey Donaldson in the Assembly, while Margaret Ritchie has stepped down as Social Development Minister after securing the South Down Westminster seat.
Come 2011, of course, all of us will have the opportunity to pass judgement on each of our Assembly members after four years of (reasonably!) stable devolved governance.
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