Christmas Eve Can Kill You
Not the nor the Everly Brothers song, but the thoughts of some of the Stormont Business Committee members on being asked to put off their Christmas holidays?
The Executive meets on Thursday to discuss a local package to combat the credit crunch. A sub committee of ministers is likely to be created to finalise the details. The plan is for the extra £86 million freed up by yesterday's Chancellor's statement to be wrapped up together with any capital sums departments haven't spent. The pot will then be put towards bringing forward some construction projects. Ministers want the Assembly to put off their Christmas recess by one week in order to approve the economic package in special sessions on December 15th.
However some MLAs are objecting to the Executive short circuiting their scrutiny role. They think that, having failed to meet for 5 months, it's a bit rich for ministers to start arguing that the economic downturn is an emergency which must be addressed immediately. They believe they are being used as nothing more than a rubber stamp for the Executive's plans. So today's Business Committee session ended without agreement.
The argument may have its merits but it's a risky one. Voters might easily jump to the assumption that MLAs are more concerned about their Christmas holidays than the credit crunch. For that reason, with no politician wanting to be cast in the Scrooge role, I predict that this Christmas controversy will be sorted out in good time.
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