Conor Murphy is in Rathlin Island to survey the ferry service and to meet members of the Rathlin Island development association. It seems the islanders want special status similar to that bestowed on the Aran Islands. The event is being marked by a performance by Frances Black whose father hailed from Rathlin. Too bad nobody invited the television cameras to highlight this lovely story!
Anyway, the fact that the Private Office could not inform Mr Coulter (see above) of the minister's whereabouts for security reasons was down to protocol. It seems especially odd since members of Mr Coulter's party, and other unionists were invited to attend the event!
The Regional Development minister Conor Murphy is in County Antrim today on a visit. How do I know this? Because Ulster Unionist Robert Coulter was informed by the DRD in an email that the minister would be in the member's North Antrim constituency. But that's all I can tell you. Because when Mr Coulter asked the department where the minister was and why, he was informed that for "security reasons" the department couldn't tell him.
With Mark Devenport back on holiday, the Devenport Diaries have just become the Purdy Paragraphs (Mark's description). It feels like everyone is on holiday this week, what with the assembly in recess. But before departing the Assembly Commission (a cross party commission headed by the Speaker which is responsible for the Stormont estate) certainly got its priorities right. Food and fitness.
Firstly the minutes for June 21 show that the Reverend Robert Coulter, an Ulster Unionist member, had raised concerns about the standard of food provided by the current catering provider, Eurest. It was agreed that Eurest should be invited to an early meeting of the Commission to discuss service level issues. The assembly catering does provide quite a range of food, everything from a steaming Ulster Fries to steak to delicious cheesecake, and lest members indulge a little too much, the DUP's Stephen Moutray also raised the issue of a health and fitness suite for MLAs and staff. However Mr Moutray was informed that members were able to avail of the Northern Ireland Civil Service's current fitness facilities. (or, says I, they could follow the DUP's Iris Robinson's example of power-walking in her trainers up and down the Stormont hill.)
Also, the Commission was going to receive more information about on-site shower facilities.
No sign of spa then?
PS Eurest did meet the Commission and Mr Coulter, who raised the issue on behalf of some members, says there's been a great improvement in the catering.
PPS One of my colleagues from the newsroom who was up at Stormont back in June says she doesn't know what they're complaining about. She had a three course meal in the canteen and her verdict? It was delicious!
|13:05 UK time, Monday, 30 July 2007
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