Jailhouse Politics
I'm about to record tomorrow's Inside Politics. This weekend's guest is the Security Minister Paul Goggins who will be talking about a Criminal Justice Order he is publishing next week ending 50% remission for violent and sexual offenders. Given that his predecessor David Hansen promised this change in December 2006 and the new order is unlikely to come into force until the spring of next year, many people's reaction will be - what is taking you so long?
I also hope to get in questions about the loyalist decommissioning which took place in Ballykinlar army base and the security force's assessment of the Paul Quinn murder.
The programme goes out at 12.45 tomorrow on 大象传媒 Radio Ulster, by which time I hope to be in Armagh at the SDLP conference.
I'm 
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HERE IS THE NEWS鈥
When is decommissioning, not decommissioning鈥hen the Marx Brothers are involved!
The IICD has been designated by the South East Antrim UDA as liars for allegedly making an untrue statement. The IICD will of course not be publishing an inventory. So the public has to rely upon rumour. One such rumour circulating is that only a small amount of weapons is involved:
鈥 Six water pistols;
鈥 two catapults;
鈥 and a consignment of spent sparklers.
Brigadier 鈥楪roucho鈥 has refused to make any further comment, but his next in command, Private 鈥楪ummo鈥 may be making a statement on the UDA鈥檚 future within the next few weeks.
It is anticipated that the UDA membership is about to go into retirement, but difficulty has arisen over the financial package and pension entitlement. Minister Ritchie has for the moment called off negotiations to see if an alternative package can be arranged wit the Northern **** in time for Christmas.
Totally unrelated, I am re-鈥榤inded鈥 of Liberace鈥檚 rock solid adage 鈥淚鈥檓 laughing the whole way to the bank鈥.