Playing Catch Up
I have been away for a couple of days, so I am playing catch up back in the office. So what happened whilst I was away? Well President McAleese spelt out what the Taoiseach has already said a few times - that a ground breaking visit by the Queen to Dublin is conditional on the devolution of justice. Unionists fulminated about what Danny Kennedy called an "unwelcome, unwise, clumsy and ill-judged" attempt to embroil the Queen in political controversy. I am simply perplexed. Are the DUP so desperate to see the Queen visit the Republic that this will act as a lever on them to do a deal? Has Peter Robinson been handed the right of veto over any future Royal visit?
I think someone will have to open up a back channel between the Aras, Buckingham Palace and DUP HQ to sort this one out. Which brings me, of course, to Jonathan Powell's book. There were strong rumours about a DUP-Sinn Fein back channel between the Leeds Castle talks and last year's deal. A colleague made good progress investigating it, but never got to the point where we felt there was evidence which would stand up in court. However now we have a Powell confirmation and a DUP denial. We also have an assertion that a journalist was involved. All I can say is "not me, guv."
Although I have been away, the main website has published a couple of pieces I prepared earlier, dealing with the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
Here is one on the contested nature of the anniversary.
Here is another about the fate of some of the agreement's brokers.
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Mark
ULSTER DESERVES ITS OWN ANNUAL MAUNDY MONEY CEREMONY
President Mary McAleese has shown herself again to be nothing more than a political Nora Batty with her unwelcome comments linking a visit by the Queen to Dublin to the devolution of Policing & Justice. McAleese’s unhelpful intervention was the only discordant note during what was a wonderful visit by Her Majesty.
Without doubt, the highlight of the visit was the Maundy Thursday Money service. Dating back to the 13th century the annual Maundy Money ceremony ranks high in the list of great British traditions. Given that the ceremony usually takes place at a Cathedral in England it was particularly pleasing for we Royalists to have the opportunity to watch the Queen distribute the Maundy Purses in Armagh. Ah, most gratifying.
It is extremely unlikely that the Queen will ever again perform the Maundy Money ceremony in Ulster, which is a great pity. However, there is a simple way in which we here could share in the tradition on an annual basis. I’m suggesting that we introduce our own bespoke Ulster Maundy Money service. [Now listen, Mark, this is a serious proposition. Hear me out!].
I propose that an Ulster Maundy Money service should start from next year in Parliament Buildings. Who better to perform the ceremony than the fiercely royalist Rev Dr Paisley. What with his going into semi-retirement I believe he would be more than happy to find the time to distribute Ulster Maundy coins to deserving recipients.
To get the ball rolling, I propose that from Maundy Thursday, 2009, and every year thereafter, Dr Paisley distributes thirty silver coins to each of his Party’s MLAs. This new tradition, to be called Ulster Lundy Maundy Money, would serve as an annual reminder to the Electorate of the betrayal of Ulster by Dr Paisley and his Party.
Mark, I think this is an idea whose time has come. I bet Jim Allister will give serious consideration to supporting its implementation.
Susie
Carryduff
21 March, 2008