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Signing On

• Mark Devenport
• 13 Mar 07, 03:01 PM

The 108 MLAs have now signed the roll. Alliance's 7 members joined the Green Party's Brian Wilson and the independent doctor, Kieran Deeney, in designating as United Community MLAs. The 9 intend to vote en bloc although they are not merging into a single party or angling for any ministerial office.

Stormont feels as if this is for real. Ian Paisley sounded very upbeat after meeting Peter Hain today - he said he had fallen out with some friends (now who was that a reference to?) but the electorate had backed him and this gave him room to manouevre. Senior Civil Servants who will be working with any new ministers believe it is "all systems go".

Who will those ministers be? I'm sure it wasn't an accident that Catriona Ruane accompanied Gerry Adams to the top table to sign the roll. One of Sinn Fein's leading women politicians, she is their candidate in South Down, a top target seat in any future Westminster election. By the same token, don't be surprised if Margaret Ritchie takes the only ministerial place open for the SDLP. I hear Mark Durkan does not want to combine being an MP and party leader with holding ministerial office. That way the party will be promoting a woman who is Eddie McGrady's heir apparent in South Down.

So far as the DUP is concerned Arlene Foster has to be in with a good chance. She is very able and hopes for greater things in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Promoting Arlene might also be seen as a way of thanking Jeffrey Donaldson for the triple defection he led back in January 2004.

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