Back to School
Although MLAs were sitting in committees last week, today had that 'first day at school' feeling with the politicians taking their seats in the Stormont chamber for the first time. Certainly the Speaker came over as a fairly strict headmaster, warning MLAs about the need for good behaviour. Then, during Ian Paisley's questions, Willie Hay had to warn some UUP members not to shout from their seats. This was after the First Minister had berated them over the growth in the staffing numbers at the OFMDFM during the Trimble era.
Ian Paisley's decision to stand aside from January as Free Presbyterian Moderator provoked some gentle ribbing from the SDLP's Alban Maginnis and the UUP's John McAllister, but nothing too memorable.
The Environment Minister Arlene Foster's inclination to back a private developer's proposal for a new Giants Causeway Visitor Centre provoked some criticism from nationalists. It will be interesting to see what they have to say for themselves when the matter is debated in the Assembly chamber tomorrow.
The day closed with some predictable sparring over Sinn Fein's proposal that Stormont should be able to raise or lower taxes - an idea described by the DUP's Peter Weir as "ill judged and ill conceived".
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