Meanwhile:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7454138.stm
But, at least David Healy has been given a well-deserved MBE.
The All New Northern Ireland
Well our friend Iris has been on top form again today.
During a debate on abortion on the Nolan show this morning, she phoned in to give more of her opinions. She says that abortion is wrong in all circumstances. No exceptions. Rape, whatever, doesn't matter. Not really a surprise given her Christian Taliban track record, but when you remember that she chairs the Health Committee at Stormont it all starts to get more than a bit uncomfortable.
But that wasn't what started the main row. She said “the government have the responsibility to uphold God’s law.” Who's god she didn't say. Just her's presumably.
Cue a sharp intake of breath from the other participants in the debate.
Curiously, shortly afterwards she hung up and refused to come back on to discuss her comments further. Perhaps her husband (the First Minister, for those not paying attention) confiscated her phone.
This woman needs to decide if she is a politician or a preacher. Preferably soon.
During a debate on abortion on the Nolan show this morning, she phoned in to give more of her opinions. She says that abortion is wrong in all circumstances. No exceptions. Rape, whatever, doesn't matter. Not really a surprise given her Christian Taliban track record, but when you remember that she chairs the Health Committee at Stormont it all starts to get more than a bit uncomfortable.
But that wasn't what started the main row. She said “the government have the responsibility to uphold God’s law.” Who's god she didn't say. Just her's presumably.
Cue a sharp intake of breath from the other participants in the debate.
Curiously, shortly afterwards she hung up and refused to come back on to discuss her comments further. Perhaps her husband (the First Minister, for those not paying attention) confiscated her phone.
This woman needs to decide if she is a politician or a preacher. Preferably soon.
Exactly the same as it does in the rest of the UK. The Queen is the Head of State.
The DUP, which was until recently led by Rev Ian Paisley (firebrand Protestant preacher and founder of the Free Presbyterian church) finds itself in the rather odd position these days of being in agreement with the Roman Catholic church on many moral issues though with the notable exception of gay rights, opposed only by the DUP. Strange, given our history.
History divided politics on religious grounds... being highly simplistic:
DUP: Loyalist Unionist Protestant
UUP: Moderate Unionist Protestant
Alliance: secular, middle class
SDLP: Moderate Nationalist Catholic
Sinn Fein: Republican Nationalist Catholic
In recent years the UUP and SDLP have both lost much ground to the more extreme parties, which finally agreed to share power last year. Until recently all elections have been fought on simplistic grounds - those in favour of the Union with the UK and those who opposed it. The only argument was who could oppose "the other side" best.
None of our politicians have ever found themselves in positions of power or responsibility until the formation of the Stormont Executive. As a result, none of them ever had to do anything except shout loudly and oppose (a) decisions made by Northern Ireland Office ministers and Secretaries of State and (b) each other. This didn't require much in the way of thinking. They were entirely populist in nature, ministers preaching to their respective choirs, if you like. Now though they find themselves having to tell the electorate that they're putting water charges/rates up and closing beds in hospitals. Most of them simply don't have the intelligence or know how to deal with things like that, or how to explain them to an increasingly politically aware public, now interested in what is becoming known as "bread and butter politics".
The DUP, which was until recently led by Rev Ian Paisley (firebrand Protestant preacher and founder of the Free Presbyterian church) finds itself in the rather odd position these days of being in agreement with the Roman Catholic church on many moral issues though with the notable exception of gay rights, opposed only by the DUP. Strange, given our history.
History divided politics on religious grounds... being highly simplistic:
DUP: Loyalist Unionist Protestant
UUP: Moderate Unionist Protestant
Alliance: secular, middle class
SDLP: Moderate Nationalist Catholic
Sinn Fein: Republican Nationalist Catholic
In recent years the UUP and SDLP have both lost much ground to the more extreme parties, which finally agreed to share power last year. Until recently all elections have been fought on simplistic grounds - those in favour of the Union with the UK and those who opposed it. The only argument was who could oppose "the other side" best.
None of our politicians have ever found themselves in positions of power or responsibility until the formation of the Stormont Executive. As a result, none of them ever had to do anything except shout loudly and oppose (a) decisions made by Northern Ireland Office ministers and Secretaries of State and (b) each other. This didn't require much in the way of thinking. They were entirely populist in nature, ministers preaching to their respective choirs, if you like. Now though they find themselves having to tell the electorate that they're putting water charges/rates up and closing beds in hospitals. Most of them simply don't have the intelligence or know how to deal with things like that, or how to explain them to an increasingly politically aware public, now interested in what is becoming known as "bread and butter politics".
While you've been away, she's caused the biggest row yet...
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... 13517.html
The editor of Hansard checked and said that having listened back to the audio she was satisfied that the record was accurate.
I'm glad it's causing a major row over here.
In other news, the Ulster Unionists appear to be take the Conservative whip.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... 13517.html
She later retracted her position slightly further, that she hadn't said homosexuality was worse than child abuse (probably after her husband had a word) and claimed said that Hansard was wrong.Iris Robinson has walked into her biggest controversy yet after stating in Parliament that homosexuality is “viler” than child sex abuse, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.
The First Minister’s wife made the controversial comments in the House of Commons in front of Policing and Justice Minister Paul Goggins and a committee of UK MPs during a debate on the assessment and management of sex offenders.
Speaking about community concerns over sex offenders Mrs Robinson then stated: “There can be no viler act, apart from homosexuality and sodomy, than sexually abusing innocent children.”
Her comments have not been omitted from a written transcript of the debate which has been published on the Parliament website.
When contacted by the Belfast Telegraph Mrs Robinson said she stood by her views and stated that homosexuality was “comparable” to child sex abuse.
“Let’s look at it. Can you think of anything more vile than man and man or woman and woman and sexually abusing children? What I say I base on biblical pronouncements, based on God’s word. I am amazed that people are surprised when I quote from scriptures. It shows the churches either aren’t preaching God’s word or are watering it down,” she said.
Mrs Robinson added: “I cannot think of anything more sickening than a child being abused. It is comparable to the act of homosexuality. I think they are all comparable. I feel totally repulsed by both.”
She then said that her comments were not made out of hate.
The editor of Hansard checked and said that having listened back to the audio she was satisfied that the record was accurate.
I'm glad it's causing a major row over here.
In other news, the Ulster Unionists appear to be take the Conservative whip.
Yes....I wonder how the Tories are going to combine wining and dining the UUP with their West Lothianesque desire for English MPs only voting on English issues?marksi wrote:In other news, the Ulster Unionists appear to be take the Conservative whip.
And enough about the Labour Party not being able to look after sensitive data or losing laptops on trains.... Call-Me-Dave Cameron can't even look after his bike!!!
There have been calls from all other parties for her to be removed from her position as Chair of the Health Committee; Stormont is on it's summer holidays so nothing can be done until the session resumes. Unfortunately by then the row is likely to have died down (unless she opens her gob again).
The most shameful position of all is that of the "Democratic" Unionist Party. No party member has so much as mildly criticised her; it's all a media witch-hunt against her apparently. The Finance Minister Sammy Wilson refused to confirm or deny if her views were party policy, the press office is silent.
The UUP's new Conservative alliance has apparently been brought into the public domain at this point to try and bring on board the moderate unionist electorate who have in the last few years swung to the DUP; the vast majority of this section of the population seems to have been rather taken aback by the DUP's new Minister for Homophobia. The UUP, by suggesting that any of their MPs (though they currently only have one - Lady Sylvia Hermon) could in future take Westminster government positions, are trying to move NI away from the old tribal politics, and that's to be welcomed.
The SDLP has long been rumoured to be merging with Fianna Fail, one of the largest parties in the Republic.
There is a petition on the Downing Street website in protest at Iris Robinson's comments:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Robinson-Gay/
Its now heading towards 12000 signatures.
The most shameful position of all is that of the "Democratic" Unionist Party. No party member has so much as mildly criticised her; it's all a media witch-hunt against her apparently. The Finance Minister Sammy Wilson refused to confirm or deny if her views were party policy, the press office is silent.
The UUP's new Conservative alliance has apparently been brought into the public domain at this point to try and bring on board the moderate unionist electorate who have in the last few years swung to the DUP; the vast majority of this section of the population seems to have been rather taken aback by the DUP's new Minister for Homophobia. The UUP, by suggesting that any of their MPs (though they currently only have one - Lady Sylvia Hermon) could in future take Westminster government positions, are trying to move NI away from the old tribal politics, and that's to be welcomed.
The SDLP has long been rumoured to be merging with Fianna Fail, one of the largest parties in the Republic.
There is a petition on the Downing Street website in protest at Iris Robinson's comments:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Robinson-Gay/
Its now heading towards 12000 signatures.
I suspect most people would feel "totally repulsed" by her abhorrent comments sooner than they would homosexuality.Mrs Robinson added: “I cannot think of anything more sickening than a child being abused. It is comparable to the act of homosexuality. I think they are all comparable. I feel totally repulsed by both.”
It astonishes me that anyone could be so bigoted. I am not a religious person, and it disappoints me that so many faiths continue to condemn homosexuality. Still, people are entitled to their opinions in a free society, and I would never seek to silence the expression of people's beliefs. But to conclude that sexual abuse of children is in any way comparable to a relationship between consenting adults beggars belief. It insults gays and lesbians obviously, but it demonstrates remarkable insensitivity to those who have been abused as children. If God does exist, he would do well to smite this vile woman and save us all from her disgraceful rantings.
There's a wonderful debate raging now on the Belfast Telegraph website over whether William of Orange (King Billy to his mates) was in fact a poove. This is coming as something of a shock to the Free Presbyterian bible thumping loyalists who have looked at him as a hero for the last 318 years, since he crossed the River Boyne and defeated the catholic King James, thereby allowing religious liberty for, well, most, and arguments that have raged ever since.
There's a piece on tonight's PM on Radio 4 if you're interested in such things. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pm
It's Belfast Pride on Saturday and there's a suggestion that a William of Pink will be leading the parade on his white horse (as is traditional on Twelfth of July Orange Order parades... not with a pink one though...)
It's great fun, these fundamentalist religious types are easily wound up, and it seems they've managed to bring together the "gay community" in Belfast/NI in a way never seen before.
There's a piece on tonight's PM on Radio 4 if you're interested in such things. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pm
It's Belfast Pride on Saturday and there's a suggestion that a William of Pink will be leading the parade on his white horse (as is traditional on Twelfth of July Orange Order parades... not with a pink one though...)
It's great fun, these fundamentalist religious types are easily wound up, and it seems they've managed to bring together the "gay community" in Belfast/NI in a way never seen before.
Had a good day out today.
The religious fundamentalist protestors were given a little pen outside City Hall to protect them from the gayers. It was about 20 feet by 20 feet of crowd barriers and contained about 30 people. They were behind the crowds watching the parade which were about 4 deep there, and so you couldn't even really see them. So everyone ignored them. Which was nice.
There was a concert with various non-entity acts in Custom House Square, held together by some bloke who I'm told is in Hollyoaks. All terribly cheesy and fun, and free.
The two fit athletic/gymnastic blokes from Britain's Got Talent were performing to people with their tongues out in Union Street (the street itself, not the pub of the same name) which had been closed off for the day. Then some randoms from various TV shows like X Factor and I'd Do Anything did some singing.
All the pubs and clubs around Cathedral Quarter seemed very busy.
Good to see a Belfast's biggest ever turn out for Pride. Cheers Iris. (I'm told there were representatives of all political parties there somewhere, with the exception of the DUP).
The religious fundamentalist protestors were given a little pen outside City Hall to protect them from the gayers. It was about 20 feet by 20 feet of crowd barriers and contained about 30 people. They were behind the crowds watching the parade which were about 4 deep there, and so you couldn't even really see them. So everyone ignored them. Which was nice.
There was a concert with various non-entity acts in Custom House Square, held together by some bloke who I'm told is in Hollyoaks. All terribly cheesy and fun, and free.
The two fit athletic/gymnastic blokes from Britain's Got Talent were performing to people with their tongues out in Union Street (the street itself, not the pub of the same name) which had been closed off for the day. Then some randoms from various TV shows like X Factor and I'd Do Anything did some singing.
All the pubs and clubs around Cathedral Quarter seemed very busy.
Good to see a Belfast's biggest ever turn out for Pride. Cheers Iris. (I'm told there were representatives of all political parties there somewhere, with the exception of the DUP).
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I saw a chunk of it on BBC News channel. Sissons spluttered out Iris' quote before throwing to a live at the roadside. Weather looked shocking.
Glad you had a good time.
Glad you had a good time.