Recent days have seen significant complaints about the Planning Service in Northern Ireland and the overall conclusion appears to be that it is not fit for purpose. The Minister of Environment Sammy Wilson stated in the News Letter, 12th January, that
"Planning officers have a role in kick-starting the economy and in this case (Aurora Building) they have failed and failed abysmally... At a time when the economy needs a boost my view is we should be using the planning service to give it that boost."
The Institute of Directors have said (News Letter 13 January) that the Planning Service noe represents the "biggest single obstacle" to economic development.
Speed appears to be one of the most crucial factors in the faults with Planning Service. This is notable in both retail development and renewable energy development - wind farms. Taking any longer than six months to assess such crucial employment and strategic infrastructure projects cannot be accepted in this time of economic crises.
There is a consultation drafted and ready to be released to the public on strategic planning, but guess what, this has been delayed for months now. The delays have been caused by political infighting which led to the Executive not meeting and since they began to meet they have been playing catch up.
It is time all Ministers relaised the dire economic straits facing people and business and got on with meetings in order to at least clear consultations that will have an impact on all of us. This may mean having two meetings a week to get these issues dealt with.
Several £100m of investment and several thousand jobs are waiting to come here how many of these jobs in retail, green energy and construction will have to be lost before the Executive realises that planning reforms are needed, not in six months, but now?
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Monday, 12 January 2009
Financial Assistance Package
Well it was the first plenary session for the Assembly today. One of the main items on the agenda was the Financial Assistance Bill. This Bill will give the Executive a special fund to tackle emergencies this could include flooding and will include a £15m package for fuel poverty.
All good. But i have a potential issue. The present fuel poverty package needs to be introduced swiftly. It appears that the Office of First and Deputy First Minister are leading the charge on this issue. What role for Social Development? It is the job of this Department to lead and solve fuel poverty. Eventually the new funds will have to be distributed and Social Development is the only department set up to deliver this. There is much room for confusion and delay. This cannot be allowed to happen. No one will really care who is at fault, except those interested in points scoring rather than those in need, and people will continue to suffer.
If the funds were offered to 100,000 families as a financial credit then there is a possibility that it could be delivered more quickly and with more confidence that the money will be used for fuel.
It is essential that there are absolutely no delays and those who engage in making the issue of fuel poverty a points scoring excercise should be punished at the polls.
All good. But i have a potential issue. The present fuel poverty package needs to be introduced swiftly. It appears that the Office of First and Deputy First Minister are leading the charge on this issue. What role for Social Development? It is the job of this Department to lead and solve fuel poverty. Eventually the new funds will have to be distributed and Social Development is the only department set up to deliver this. There is much room for confusion and delay. This cannot be allowed to happen. No one will really care who is at fault, except those interested in points scoring rather than those in need, and people will continue to suffer.
If the funds were offered to 100,000 families as a financial credit then there is a possibility that it could be delivered more quickly and with more confidence that the money will be used for fuel.
It is essential that there are absolutely no delays and those who engage in making the issue of fuel poverty a points scoring excercise should be punished at the polls.
2009
Happy New Year! The Assembly is back and so am I. So what kind of 2009 are we facing? Not good so far. We have a war in the Holyland that is pitting the might of Israel against Hamas in Gaza. As usual it is the ordinary people who are suffering.
Ordinary people across the world are also suffering from the global economic recession. Billions of various currencies are being thrown around and pale into insignificance against the challenges that economies face. In the USA President Elect Obama is asking for $770bn to solve the economic problems. Critics are saying the stimulus package needs to be at least $1000bn to make an impact. Where will this money come from? Who will pay the debts of nations? Ordinary people.
Is there hope? Yes there is and a lot of it rests with Obama and his new administration. The President Elect has a team of massive experience around him. This is telling that he has got intelligent and experienced people around him rather than just friends from home. However, Obama needs to be given a chance to deliver and 100 days may not be enough to even start tackling all problems. So much is expected from one man and inspite of the Spiderman comic he is not a superhero but an intelligent man who will do his best.
Having worked for a brief time on his campaign I can say that if anyone can turn things around it will be Obama and his team. The new approaches to greater Wall Street regulation and a Green economy will need to be replicated by others across the globe.
2009 will test all our politicians to help the ordinary people with jobs and support. One leader cannot do it alone but he can make a start. Will anyone have the bravery and intelligence to follow?
Ordinary people across the world are also suffering from the global economic recession. Billions of various currencies are being thrown around and pale into insignificance against the challenges that economies face. In the USA President Elect Obama is asking for $770bn to solve the economic problems. Critics are saying the stimulus package needs to be at least $1000bn to make an impact. Where will this money come from? Who will pay the debts of nations? Ordinary people.
Is there hope? Yes there is and a lot of it rests with Obama and his new administration. The President Elect has a team of massive experience around him. This is telling that he has got intelligent and experienced people around him rather than just friends from home. However, Obama needs to be given a chance to deliver and 100 days may not be enough to even start tackling all problems. So much is expected from one man and inspite of the Spiderman comic he is not a superhero but an intelligent man who will do his best.
Having worked for a brief time on his campaign I can say that if anyone can turn things around it will be Obama and his team. The new approaches to greater Wall Street regulation and a Green economy will need to be replicated by others across the globe.
2009 will test all our politicians to help the ordinary people with jobs and support. One leader cannot do it alone but he can make a start. Will anyone have the bravery and intelligence to follow?
Monday, 15 December 2008
Executive Tackles Credit Crunch
They Work For You has a good summary of the decisions announced by Nigel Dodds and Peter Robinson from the Assembly today.
Available on link below
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/your-executive-working-for-you.pdf
Available on link below
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/your-executive-working-for-you.pdf
Friday, 12 December 2008
Fuel Poverty and the Executive
Hi sorry its been a while. Place is bit busy in run up to Christmas.
As some of you will be aware from the Lets Make Fuel Poverty History in Northern Ireland/Ireland facebook site things have been getting interesting in recent days. It started with questions to the First and Deputy First Minister on Monday that were being answered by Martin McGuinness. Several Alliance and SDLP MLAs asked why the Executive had not done anything about fuel poverty the response was a fairly non committal we will look at it at our earliest opportunity nothing was coming.
So after some pushing and prompting from some organisations and individuals the parties decided to talk about it at the Executive yesterday! So 176 days since the paper went to the Executive the games have stopped and the issue will be discussed.
Whilst we dont know any details of what will be announced (on Monday) we can guess that a contribution in the region of £150 - £200 will be paid into the electricity accounts of the most vulnerable in Northern Ireland. This will cost approximately £13m.
SDLP Leader Mark Durkan informs us today that there is expected to be an announcement next week on electricity costs being reduced by 10% not much more than a gesture when prices rose by 50%. Also Phoenix Gas prices are expected to be lowered by 20% in the run up to Christmas. So a few gifts to the fuel poor then.
It should be noted that these short term measures will do little to rid us of fuel poverty. This is going to take a massive leap forward in imagination and creativity from politicians, energy companies, charities and others.
As some of you will be aware from the Lets Make Fuel Poverty History in Northern Ireland/Ireland facebook site things have been getting interesting in recent days. It started with questions to the First and Deputy First Minister on Monday that were being answered by Martin McGuinness. Several Alliance and SDLP MLAs asked why the Executive had not done anything about fuel poverty the response was a fairly non committal we will look at it at our earliest opportunity nothing was coming.
So after some pushing and prompting from some organisations and individuals the parties decided to talk about it at the Executive yesterday! So 176 days since the paper went to the Executive the games have stopped and the issue will be discussed.
Whilst we dont know any details of what will be announced (on Monday) we can guess that a contribution in the region of £150 - £200 will be paid into the electricity accounts of the most vulnerable in Northern Ireland. This will cost approximately £13m.
SDLP Leader Mark Durkan informs us today that there is expected to be an announcement next week on electricity costs being reduced by 10% not much more than a gesture when prices rose by 50%. Also Phoenix Gas prices are expected to be lowered by 20% in the run up to Christmas. So a few gifts to the fuel poor then.
It should be noted that these short term measures will do little to rid us of fuel poverty. This is going to take a massive leap forward in imagination and creativity from politicians, energy companies, charities and others.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Fuel Poverty and Facebook
To the one or two people who might look at this. Following on from the Obama campaign which was impressive in the use of the social media, including Facebook, I have set up a site on Fuel Poverty.
Its called 'Lets Make Fuel Poverty History in Northern Ireland/Ireland'. I hope you will join and send your ideas for action and register your support for calling on the Executive to do something.
Feel free to make suggestions! Thanks.
Its called 'Lets Make Fuel Poverty History in Northern Ireland/Ireland'. I hope you will join and send your ideas for action and register your support for calling on the Executive to do something.
Feel free to make suggestions! Thanks.
Monday, 1 December 2008
165 Days and Counting
165 days and Counting. This is the number of days that have gone by since the Executive has seriously considered the issue of fuel poverty.
It is estimated that fuel poverty is affecting at least 100,000 households across Northern Ireland. Given the temperatures in recent days it must be anticipated that a mixture of high energy prices and the weather will mean that many other households will be affected.
The Assembly will be briefed on a very timely and valuable report from Save the Children.They commissioned Professor Christine Liddell from University of Ulster to write a report ' The Impact of Fuel Poverty on Children'. In this report she highlights that
"The fuel poverty rate among families with children here is one of the highest in the developed world...Lone parent families are hardest hit."
So can our Assembly do anything about Fuel Poverty. For once the answer is yes.
The Minister of Social Development Margaret Ritchie has had a paper waiting to go before the Executive for several months. Elements of the paper will have direct financial benefits to the fuel poor as well as setting in place some measures to tackle the problem more widely. It was expected to be discussed last Thursday, however, it was not.
It has to look now very unlikely that any real effort to tackle fuel poverty will be made in time for Christmas. Come on Executive - sit down - talk - save lives in time for Christmas.
It is estimated that fuel poverty is affecting at least 100,000 households across Northern Ireland. Given the temperatures in recent days it must be anticipated that a mixture of high energy prices and the weather will mean that many other households will be affected.
The Assembly will be briefed on a very timely and valuable report from Save the Children.They commissioned Professor Christine Liddell from University of Ulster to write a report ' The Impact of Fuel Poverty on Children'. In this report she highlights that
"The fuel poverty rate among families with children here is one of the highest in the developed world...Lone parent families are hardest hit."
So can our Assembly do anything about Fuel Poverty. For once the answer is yes.
The Minister of Social Development Margaret Ritchie has had a paper waiting to go before the Executive for several months. Elements of the paper will have direct financial benefits to the fuel poor as well as setting in place some measures to tackle the problem more widely. It was expected to be discussed last Thursday, however, it was not.
It has to look now very unlikely that any real effort to tackle fuel poverty will be made in time for Christmas. Come on Executive - sit down - talk - save lives in time for Christmas.
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