"The Joint First Ministers obviously don't do irony!

 

"Today they trumpeted a new 'shared future'. However, such is the sharing within the dysfunctional Executive that they didn't even tell Executive colleagues of their plans, even those, like the DEL Minister, whose authority they usurped to announce what is claimed will be 10,000 placements for NEETs young people. DEL already runs NEETs programmes, but, it seems, the minister wasn't even consulted!

 

"In an announcement, hallmarked by the panic of needing to be seen to posture as statesmen, the truth is they sidestepped most of the difficult issues, invoking the well tried dodge of another Working Party.

 

"The fact that things are such a mess in the community is testimony to the abject failure of the Belfast Agreement, which was hailed as the way to binding up a broken society. What a con that proved, as Northern Ireland is more riven today than ever, in large measure because the failed Belfast Agreement is built on ghettoising politics through the "genius" of mutual vetoes.

"Instead of facing up to these realities the Robinson/McGuinness formula is more of the same.

 

"However, unionists should be alert to the driving force in many of these proposals. Who will drive the 'shared education' and the 'shared sport'? Two divisive Sinn Fein ministers whose handiwork we've seen in the continuing decline of opportunity for Protestant boys in deprived areas and the fate of Sandy Row Boxing Club under the gentle care of Minister Cullen!

 

"With many feeling their Britishness under attack, I discern nothing in these proposals to help. Further fusion with Irishness seems to be the Robinson/McGuinness way."