The Stormont Ministry Choices- What It Means

There is no doubting that yesterday’s development which saw the four main parties agree which ministries they would seek in the assembly was a positive step forward- who would have thought that by April we would have seen the Paisleyites and the Provos sitting face-to-face divvying up ministerial seats alongside the UUP and SDLP?

The choice of ministries the parties have made generally reflects the tack they will be taking when devolution is restored.

Democratic Unionist Party

The DUP took Finance, Trade and Enterprise, Environment, and Culture, Arts and Leisure.

In recent weeks the DUP has been casting itself as the tough negotiator in terms of squeezing cash from a tight-fisted British Treasury- clearly it intends to continue in this role, opting to control the purse strings of the assembly.

The selection of the Trade and Enterprise portfolio has been designed by Paisley’s party as a way of curbing North-South cooperation. If the DUP cut back on links, it will only be to the detriment of people across this island- although the island of Ireland is one nation, the fact remains that it is administered as two separate entities- as such, our friends in the republic are our nearest neighbours. It makes perfect sense to not only benefit from the economies of scale cross-border cooperation would bring, but also to capitalise on the success of the Celtic Tiger by allowing the benefits it has brought to permeate through the border to the north-eastern counties. Can the DUP continue their move beyond rhetoric, or will they continue to see northsouthery as anathema despite the fact that it would bring benefits?

The selection of the Environment ministry may be a sop to Jim Wells- there have been rumblings of discontent from the South Down MLA over the DUP’s decision to enter government with Sinn Féin, and it is understood that he was the only MLA who voted against the move at the recent party executive meeting. Last year he stood down as the party’s environment spokesperson, but his background in the RSPB and interest in nature may see him elevated to the role of Environment Minister in order to keep the assembly party unified.

The selection of the Culture, Arts and Lesiure portfolio can be viewed as a direct attempt by the DUP to stymie moves to introduce an Irish Language Act. Only this week, Ian Paisley said that he would not countenance any such legislation being passed by Stormont. Even if the act is passed by the Westminster Parliament, the DUP may use this ministry to frustrate its implementation.

Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin chose Education, Regional Development, and Agriculture.

Some commentators were surprised at Sinn Féin choosing to head-up Education again, but with Martin McGuinness having enjoyed a high level of publicity during his ‘reign’, particularly in relation to the eleven-plus, Sinn Féin will see the selection of this ministry as enabling them to finish what they started under the previous assembly. The proposal to abolish the eleven plus is popular among nationalists, with both the SDLP and Sinn Féin calling for it to be scrapped, so Sinn Féin will wish to capitalise on the idea that under the old assembly they started the move to get rid of the dreaded transfer test, and under the new assembly they will replace it with something altogether better.

The Regional Development portfolio is a potential hot potato for Sinn Féin, given that they will have to deal with issues such as water rates. Indeed, only yesterday Mitchel McLaughlin appeared on television stating that people will have to pay for their water, which is bizarre given the barrage of attack Sinn Féin has mounted against the SDLP for apparently saying the same thing a few years ago.

Sinn Féin’s decision to deal with Agriculture comes as no surprise- with the exception of West Belfast, Sinn Féin’s Westminster MPs all come from largely rural constituencies, the same constituencies in which the party did particularly well in the recent assembly elections. With a line of dark green stretching from West Tyrone round to Newry & Armagh, Sinn Féin will see delivery on agricultural issues as a way of maintaining their strength in these areas.

Ulster Unionist Party

The UUP has taken Health and Employment and Learning.

The Ulster Unionists recently said that Health Education was the ministry they would be targeting, and so it has has not come to pass. Although the Health portfolio is fraught with danger, there is no doubting that it is high profile and the UUP could definitely benefit if they box clever and deliver. Bairbre de Brún, despite producing mixed results when she was Health Minister, managed to use the role to boost her personal profile to the extent that she easily took a seat in 2004 when she ran for Sinn Féin in the European parliamentary elections. Indeed, there is a strong chance that UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy could take up the Health ministry, paving the way for his candidacy in the 2009 European elections where, if he decides to run, he will be seeking to hold the seat of his erstwhile constituency-mate Jim Nicholson.

The UUP’s selection of Employment and Learning will see them dealing with issues such university tuition fees, again something from which they could benefit if they do a good job. They may also need to deal with pay issues in Further Education colleges where lecturers have been forced to strike repeatedly on account of the British government holding back on pay rises to which they are entitled.

Social Democratic and Labour Party

The SDLP has taken Social Development.

This is an interesting choice from the SDLP, but one which may enable them to get back to their community roots. One of the SDLP’s biggest problems in recent years has been the party’s perceived detachment from grassroots politics. If they are seen to deliver for communities and people living in disadvantaged areas, it could lay the foundation for a rejuvenation of the SDLP’s strength at local level across the north. There is also the prospect that they may be able to call a halt to the British government’s proposed bankrolling of the UDA, a move which would be a vote winner in nationalist (and likewise many unionist) areas. Indeed, this ministry could enable the SDLP to guide funding for disadvantaged areas away from paramilitary-linked organisations and towards groups who exist to genuinely improve the lot of people living in their respective communities.

Although these choices are not set in stone, yesterday’s gentleman’s agreement will most likely see them remain as they stand. The question now is- how will they perform?