Arlene Foster and the RHI scandal

awec

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GreenFolder2

It's a risk in NI because you've a political system that is far too focused on questions of national identity and which side of the divide you're on, rather than the boring but important day to day stuff - running the place.

A lot of things in NI happen because it's effectively being done by a very competent local civil service and administration layer that doesn't really pay any attention to the bonkers politics and just gets on with it and because of the UK government dealing with the big stuff. If it hadn't been for those people NI would have fallen apart several times as the politicians were bickering over flags and hurling insults.

In general I think NI probably needs a few tough to sort out scandals to start the electorate thinking about how competent their representatives really are.

It's about becoming a mature self-ruled democracy. There's clearly a bit to go before they're at that level.

It'd dealing with this kind of thing that will ultimately normalise politics.

K-9

It really is jaw dropping, I thought we were the masters at wasting Government money!

FrancieBrady

Should be an entertaining show.
Can't see Arlene surviving this. Anger seems to be high in the North atm.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/dups-jonathan-bell-ill-tell-the-truth-over-rhi-scandal-and-it-will-ruin-my-career-35296376.html

GreenFolder2

K-9 wrote: »

It really is jaw dropping, I thought we were the masters at wasting Government money!

To be fair, we're in the little leagues compared to a lot of places.

nice_guy80

Sinn Fein won't say anything as they've an agreement with the DUP

Convenient that the wood pellets companies are mainly located in Arlene's constituency!

FrancieBrady

NNesbitt making his play. Arlene is in a very weak position following her disastrous politicking over Brexit.

awec

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FrancieBrady

Is it my imagination or was there a clumsy edit/censorship just there?

awec

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FrancieBrady

He has had plenty of time to collapse heaven, smacks of jumping ship and career salvaging.
Just tell the story, leave god out of it, she/he has his own heating like the devil.

awec

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awec

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Kristopherus

awec wrote: »

This Foster interview is absolutely OUTRAGEOUS.

Lies.

She's very good at deflecting.:(

awec

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Kristopherus

awec wrote: »

She is trying her best to throw Jonathan Bell under a bus.

And buls****ing about intimidation now:(.

awec

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awec

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FrancieBrady

Arlene deflected the questions and went for character assassination.
I had difficulty believing both of them tbh. Truth is somewhere in between and who jumped first.

CrabRevolution

Is there any chance Sinn Féin are saying nothing because that's one sure fire way of ensuring many unionists rally behind Foster?

FrancieBrady

CrabRevolution wrote: »

Is there any chance Sinn Féin are saying nothing because that's one sure fire way of ensuring many unionists rally behind Foster?

The old political mantra applies, if they are doing enough damage themselves, leave them at it?

FrancieBrady

Interesting from a republican point of view to listen to how this story is being reported on the airwaves. Not to mention the lack of comment on here.
Tommie O'Gorman's starter 'This is just a good old 'normal politics' story' was curious too, if not hilariously funny. It's only going to be a 'politician gone bad/made mistakes' story.
If it concerned republicans we would almost certainly be told that this is how we expected these people to behave, that it 'confirms people's suspicions' etc etc. The story would certainly not get the 'this is normal politics' prefacing.

Considering what they have been 'explaining' for a while now, maybe Unionism is finding it difficult to run an honest ship in a normal political environment? They had after all, full control of the purse strings for long enough. Maybe it is Unionism harking back to their version of 'normal politics', who knows. Roll it there Tommie!

K-9

Well it is normal politics in the sense that it has nothing to do with parades and the usual normal N.I. politics. It's a good old tax payers money waste scandal!

ChippingSodbury

Watched both interviews last night. Bell is hard to listen to. Arlene Foster's interview was uncomfortable to say the least: her body language made me think she was lying through her teeth. She also blamed everyone except herself. It's hard to believe that a scheme could be put in place without knowing how much it will cost. She said she didn't have a crystal ball and hindsight is 20:20 but surely, the very first questions to be asked when designing a scheme like this are:
1. What is the maximum cost?
2. How will it benefit the participants?

The potential for unlimited liabilities for the scheme most certainly should have been noted when answering both of the above questions.

A Little Pony

Arlene Foster is an absolute disgrace, a terrible leader for Unionism and Northern Ireland. She makes Martin Mcguinness look competent. Resign now Arlene or Unionists will turn against you! You are a crook and I will happily tell this to you if I see you.

GreenFolder2

I wonder how this would go down if Westminster starts to investigate. The Tories LOVE public expenditure overruns by regions they know little about....

That money comes from somewhere and it's unlikely to be NI tax payers in reality.

A Little Pony

I will be emailing my MP David Simpson to ask him to put pressure on Unionist MLAs to support the motion of no confidence.

FrancieBrady

GreenFolder2 wrote: »

I wonder how this would go down if Westminster starts to investigate. The Tories LOVE public expenditure overruns by regions they know little about....

That money comes from somewhere and it's unlikely to be NI tax payers in reality.

Probably European funds, which has a certain irony.

GreenFolder2

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Probably European funds, which has a certain irony.

They're particularly good at auditing and I'd say in no mood to he scammed by the UK.

midnight city

She won't resign either how very Irish. She would fit in well in our Dail.

ChippingSodbury

midnight city wrote: »

She won't resign either how very Irish. She would fit in well in our Dail.

Does anyone know for sure who is telling the truth? I'd guess that Bell is telling the truth but that's based purely on the body language of Foster in the interview. Is there any more concrete evidence in the public domain as to which version of events is closer to the truth?

Foster mentioned in her interview that Bell was a very aggressive individual. I don't know the guy from Adam but any NI'ers care to give their opinion on him?

awec

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Charles Babbage

GreenFolder2 wrote: »

I wonder how this would go down if Westminster starts to investigate. The Tories LOVE public expenditure overruns by regions they know little about....

That money comes from somewhere and it's unlikely to be NI tax payers in reality.

The money is 'paid for' by vulnerable NI citizens who cannot get health care or home helps because the funds for these things have gone up in smoke.

GreenFolder2

Charles Babbage wrote: »

The money is 'paid for' by vulnerable NI citizens who cannot get health care or home helps because the funds for these things have gone up in smoke.

It's quite literally gone up in smoke.

Seth Brundle

Bell has been suspended by the DUP.
"The party denied his claims and leader Arlene Foster strongly criticised him over his handling of the matter."

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/jonathan-bell-suspended-from-dup-following-series-of-allegations-on-bbc-programme-35302880.html

alchemist33

kbannon wrote: »

Bell has been suspended by the DUP.
"The party denied his claims and leader Arlene Foster strongly criticised him over his handling of the matter."

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/jonathan-bell-suspended-from-dup-following-series-of-allegations-on-bbc-programme-35302880.html

See that dust cloud over there? That's from the wagons being circled.

NIMAN

I wouldn't trust many NI MLAs as far as I could throw them, but I have to say that having watched the 2 interviews, Bell does come across as the one telling the truth. He answered every question put to him, didn't deflect like Foster did. He appears to be genuinely distressed during the interview, but maybe he is just a good actor?

As for Arlene, well her interview was shocking imho. She did a lot of personal attacks on Bell, basically saying he was a bully, rude, loud, scary and it wasn't just her who found him like that, ask any DUP member, MLA or business leader. A big accusation to make.

For me, Bell is looking for a full enquiry, judge led. Would you do that if you had anything to hide?

As for the overall outcome, not much will change, despite this being probably the biggest fincancial cockup in NI history. Politics in NI is orange v green, always will be. In any other right democracy where religion isn't the be-all and end-all, heads would roll for this, and parties would lose heavily in the next election. Not in NI though, your people will always vote you back in again, no matter how much of a bad job you do.

GreenFolder2

alchemist33 wrote: »

See that dust cloud over there? That's from the wagons being circled.

You sure it's not just wood smoke?

A Little Pony

Eastwood of the SDLP is correct. She should resign, I would vote for SDLP.

munsterlegend

Foster is clinging on with typical DUP
arrogance. How she or her party expects her to survive is amusing.

NIMAN

Dead man woman walking.

munsterlegend

NIMAN wrote: »

Dead man woman walking.

Listening to the DUP in stormont is like stepping back in time. The odd God reference thrown in for good measure.

NIMAN

Any politician/party who mentioned God so much would never get my vote.

realdanbreen

A Little Pony wrote: »

I will be emailing my MP David Simpson to ask him to put pressure on Unionist MLAs to support the motion of no confidence.

I'd say you would be wasting your time. SF were very nieve in asking her to step aside as any call like that from SF would only unite unionists.

gooch2k9

What's a Spad they keep mentioning?

munsterlegend

gooch2k9 wrote: »

What's a Spad they keep mentioning?

Special advisors. All their fault of course and bell but Arlene can't be expected to look at the details.

FrancieBrady

realdanbreen wrote: »

I'd say you would be wasting your time. SF were very nieve in asking her to step aside as any call like that from SF would only unite unionists.

Did the UUP not exit stage right? Hardly 'uniting'.
The power play between unionists will continue.
Between this and Brexit Arlene has made a right royal mess of it all.

munsterlegend

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Did the UUP not exit stage right? Hardly 'uniting'.
The power play between unionists will continue.
Between this and Brexit Arlene has made a right royal mess of it all.

Her days are numbered anyway.

realdanbreen

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Did the UUP not exit stage right? Hardly 'uniting'.
The power play between unionists will continue.
Between this and Brexit Arlene has made a right royal mess of it all.

Perhaps but I thought SF calling for her to step aside was a mistake. Their might have been a bit of a split in the DUP had SF kept out of it.

gooch2k9

McGuinness calling for other parties to support their motion for Foster to stand aside in January. Why wasn't he/his party there today?

munsterlegend

gooch2k9 wrote: »

McGuinness calling for other parties to support their motion for Foster to stand aside in January. Why wasn't he/his party there today?

As they want to get credit for motion and/or prob want some agreement over Xmas.