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Good publicity?

• Mark Devenport
• 5 Mar 07, 05:56 PM

They say all publicity is good publicity, but I am not so sure about a Sinn Fein advert in the Irish News. It urges readers to watch Gerry Adams Ard Fheis speech live on RTE on Saturday 3rd March. The date of the paper? Monday 5th March....

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Overheard 2

• Mark Devenport
• 5 Mar 07, 03:27 PM

I have just watched the tape of my colleague Mark Simpson's interview with Ian Paisley at the City Hall. The DUP leader proclaims, no doubt inadvertently, "this has been a good erection for democrats".

Reminds me of the day when I was reporting on the Ormeau Bridge on a contentious march by the Apprentice Boys. The marchers agreed with the police to halt at the bridge and then board buses which would take them on their way. An enraged loyalist protestor shouted into my microphone "this is a total and utter copulation".

On the subject of parades, the Secretary of State has been up at Schomberg House playing a Lambeg drum. He told the Orange Order they have a role to play in a shared future, and promised talks with insurance firms on providing cover for Orange Halls. Those in attendance included the local DUP MP Peter Robinson, the Mayor of Castlereagh and South Belfast candidate Jimmy Spratt, the DUP leader Ian Paisley and the UUP Fermanagh candidate Tom Elliot, who is Grandmaster of his county.

According to the "purdah" convention, during an election ministers and civil servants are meant to "exercise caution about taking policy decisions, initiatives or actions which might appear to favour a particular candidate or party." Is there a "purdah" issue here or not?

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Overheard

• Mark Devenport
• 5 Mar 07, 03:15 PM

At this morning's Alliance event. Party official Ian Parsley, rearranging the furniture, said "it's nice to have to add more seats at a function like this". His leader David Ford retorted "it's only the seats on Wednesday that will count".

And then he went and ruined it by adding "I only said that for Mark's election blog". Really David, this is not a time for soundbites....

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About Me (and Him)

• Mark Devenport
• 5 Mar 07, 03:05 PM

With a surname like McCrea it's important for the UUP's candidate in Lagan Valley to explain to the voters exactly who he is. However I think the photograph on my copy of Basil's election literature could still give rise to some confusion. Who is that man peeping over Basil McCrea's left shoulder? Oh yes, it's Jeffrey Donaldson, formerly of Basil's parish but now intent on harvesting the votes for the DUP.

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