An Accelerated Start to 2009
It's my first day back at work after the Christmas holiday and, having deleted several hundred e-mails, I now find myself back up at Stormont. I hadn't expected to be here today as the Assembly website entry for Today's Business still referred to the recess, which ended on Friday.
However MLAs have been at work today on a couple of committees. As I write the two Junior Ministers, Gerry Kelly and Jeffrey Donaldson, are giving evidence to the OFMDFM Committee about the Financial Assistance Bill which is being used as a vehicle to channel funds to those experiencing fuel poverty.
The bill is due to be introduced next week and the ministers are looking for the support of the Committee for it to be passed by accelerated passage. This would enable it to move through all its stages by the end of the month. Whilst the bill will be used for the £15 million fuel poverty programme in the first instance, the ministers are explaining that it could then be utilised for other crises, whether they are flash floods or disruption to the pork industry.
It looks like I wasn't the only one caught out by the accelerated nature of today's hearing. Sinn Fein's Barry McElduff sent his apologies, explaining that he only got word of the committee meeting this morning.
UPDATE: The Committee has agreed to support the bill being fast tracked through the Assembly, although the SDLP has expressed concerns about a "power grab" by the OFMDFM and Alliance's Naomi Long also sought assurance that measures would not be implemented over the heads of the relevant minister.
I'm 
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