Scottish Political News

Tom from Peterhead wrote on 1 Oct 2006

Sorry guys but if had asked me two years ago for my opinion of the Police I would have told you that they were a fair and professional service. However after seeing the other side of them I am sorry to say the testing should be done independently and should start with those in the job now. We are as tax payers spending a fortune training the new recruits only to turn the loose with the bad eggs that are already out there.

We have a culture of bad practice and no matter how many senior police officers stand and spout how the are behind the latest topic of the day unless those at the coal face are behind it then there will never be any change. We need to root out the bad eggs and start a new programme of retraining and the testing should be repeated every few years along with the a personal assessment system that reflects how the officer has performed over the past year.

In short we should have a Police service to be proud of, what we have is a complacent self-centred self-righteous service staffed by people who think the uniform gives them the right to act as they please.

For full context of this comment
see Police may extend screening tests to bar bigots at http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1420242006

Tom from Peterhead wrote on 1 Oct 2006

Sorry guys but if had asked me two years ago for my opinion of the Police I would have told you that they were a fair and professional service. However after seeing the other side of them I am sorry to say the testing should be done independently and should start with those in the job now. We are as tax payers spending a fortune training the new recruits only to turn the loose with the bad eggs that are already out there.

We have a culture of bad practice and no matter how many senior police officers stand and spout how the are behind the latest topic of the day unless those at the coal face are behind it then there will never be any change. We need to root out the bad eggs and start a new programme of retraining and the testing should be repeated every few years along with the a personal assessment system that reflects how the officer has performed over the past year.

In short we should have a Police service to be proud of, what we have is a complacent self-centred self-righteous service staffed by people who think the uniform gives them the right to act as they please.

For full context of this comment
see Police may extend screening tests to bar bigots at http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1420242006

The proposition being put forward by some members of the Westminster cabinet that, if Roman Catholic adoption agencies wish to continue to function, they should be prohibited from carrying on their existing practice of referring on gay prospective adopters to other agencies is part of what I perceive to be a very dangerous trend. At the moment it would appear that the present head of that cabinet is unable or unwilling to resist the proposition and that his heir apparent doesn't want us to know what he thinks.

It is one thing, and clearly right, to say that neither the Christian community nor any other faith community in Scotland or any other nation can or should demand or expect that the civil law of the nation will be some kind of legal embodiment of their particular faith positions-indeed at least from a Christian perspective I would argue that it would be a theological nonsense to expect that it ever could be.

It is quite another thing to suggest that Christians or the members of any other faith community should quite unnecessarily be compelled to act against their consciences as instructed by their faith as the price of participating in and making a valuable contribution to the national community. I can only describe such a proposition as a species of secular fascism although I well appreciate that it is not only the Christian and other faith communities in Scotland who will resist it and that there are many committed atheists and uncommitted agnostics who find it wholly unacceptable.

I do not believe that such a trend sits well with Scotland's history or present psyche. I hope that it will not take any root in the psyche of the new Scotland. I know that the only proper Parliament in which to debate and work out great issues that are at the very heart of Scotland's being is the Parliament of the nation herself. Lachie McNeill

(Via) This: ... seven in every 10 people think compulsory identity cards for all adults would be "a price worth paying" to reduce the threat of terrorism Pah. At least 9 would consider them a price worth paying for world peace and as many Wonka bars as you can eat. And that figure rises to 10 if you throw in the missing Oxford United left-back from the Panini 1986 sticker album. Who writes these

I have a post up at Transport Blog.

Obviously I don't need to tell you about the blog war that is currently in progress between Tim Ireland and Guido Fawkes. I have nothing to say on the matter, I'm just enjoying the bun fight.

However, via a link in a comment on one of the posts, I came across this wonderful anecdote about the mathematician Serge Lang:

When attending others' math lectures, he was not reticent about telling the lecturer "your notation sucks"; this trait was reliable enough that he was successfully goaded into saying it at a lecture where he was then presented with a T-shirt bearing this phrase.

The offending notation, pronounced "Xi over Xi-bar", is written:

`Xi / bar(Xi)`

The usual caveats about the reliability of Wikipedia apply. By the way, getting that formula to come out properly requires a java-script, so it won't work from an RSS reader.

I had been looking forward to ‘The Trial Of Tony Blair’, a Channel 4 satire about Tony Blair’s legacy after he leaves Downing Street, but I was disappointed. These kind of one-offs are hardly ever slaves to realism, but I find it uncomfortable to watch events unfold on the screen that could never, ever occur in real life.

As a Robert Lindsey fan, I was expecting a lot from his portrayal of Tony Blair, but I was in the end disappointed with his handling of the role, I suspect a lot of this was down to the script itself. Blair is portrayed in this film as a bumbling, politically inefficient character who appears to have no idea, despite being having been a lawyer, how law or indeed politics works. Even for one involving Blair, the plot is seriously hard to swallow. He finds himself an ex-Leader rejected by the entire world, converts to Catholicism before facing a war crimes tribunal in the Hague for his support of the war in Iraq.

Gordon Brown, America and just about everybody turn against Tony Blair only days after he leaves office, and in the end he is being driven off in the back of a Reliance prison van. I always challenge those who say politics is boring, but on the other hand, it is not this exciting.

There were enjoyable parts to the film, - the part where he is in the publisher’s house and reveals that he felt the hands of history on his shoulders more than twenty nine times, and Lindsey did at points take on a stark resemblance to Blair. I guess I had the wrong expectations, maybe this was intended to be off the wall, I thought it was going to be like The Thick Of It.

The only part of this that was convincing was his converting to Catholicism, which he may well do. I’ve just realised I’m writing a film review.

The Scottish Executive has called for North Lanarkshire Council "to respond appropriately in terms of enforcement" to the news that Council Leader Jim McCabe lit up a cigarette during a magazine interview conducted on council premises, in contravention of laws passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Read the story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6265105.stm

The Executive appears to be less eager to call on Strathclyde Police "to respond appropriately in terms of enforcement" when it comes to compliance with laws, also passed by the Scottish Parliament, relating to police recruitment.

The Police (Scotland) Regulations state quite clearly that Scottish Ministers set the eyesight standards which should be applied to police recruitment.

Yet Strathclyde police are refusing to apply these standards in relation to colour vision and have rejected at least eight applicants who were deemed fit in every other way to serve as a police constable.

This matter was raised last Thursday in the Scottish Parliament by Linda Fabiani MSP who called on the Executive to "undertake to ensure that the one Scottish police force that contravenes these regulations amends their recruitment procedures and makes amends to those applicants who are unfairly and unjustly disadvantaged."

The Executive has been quick to call for enforcement against smokers. For some reason they seem reluctant to call for the police to comply with the law.

The Scottish Executive has called for North Lanarkshire Council "to respond appropriately in terms of enforcement" to the news that Council Leader Jim McCabe lit up a cigarette during a magazine interview conducted on council premises, in contravention of laws passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Read the story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6265105.stm

The Executive appears to be less eager to call on Strathclyde Police "to respond appropriately in terms of enforcement" when it comes to compliance with laws, also passed by the Scottish Parliament, relating to police recruitment.

The Police (Scotland) Regulations state quite clearly that Scottish Ministers set the eyesight standards which should be applied to police recruitment.

Yet Strathclyde police are refusing to apply these standards in relation to colour vision and have rejected at least eight applicants who were deemed fit in every other way to serve as a police constable.

This matter was raised last Thursday in the Scottish Parliament by Linda Fabiani MSP who called on the Executive to "undertake to ensure that the one Scottish police force that contravenes these regulations amends their recruitment procedures and makes amends to those applicants who are unfairly and unjustly disadvantaged."

The Executive has been quick to call for enforcement against smokers. For some reason they seem reluctant to call for the police to comply with the law.

Oh dear. The chancellor, who in case you haven't realised it, has been in power for almost a decade now and who has shaped the current state of Britain as much as Blair, is now getting tetchy about some annoying little northerners with a plan that might scupper his career and retirement plans. Like the absent landlords before him, he fulminates in rage against the irritating peasants on his estate that are getting ideas above themselves. He snorts with derision as they say, "hang on, wouldn't it be fairer if we just took care of our own problems ourselves?" Bloated after years of state dinners and metropolitan soirees, sycophantic grovelling at the feet of the capitalist class, smooching with celebrities and exhausted by the strain of pygmalion-like accent supporession he's finally woken up to the fact that some people have sussed that the Britain he has created is an economic, moral and environmental failure.
Now he's been hoisted onto St George's horse and, bow-legged, it staggers North to quell the rebellion, like some latter day Don Quixote, ranting and raving with delusions of grandeur in a completely fictitious dreamworld of union jacks and bulldogs.

Well, let the battle commence, but don't be taken in by his press cronies who are doing their utmost to somehow disassociate him from the worst past excess of Blairism. Let's not forget that this has been a partnership between the two of them and he failed the moral test completely they day he endorsed the Iraq war. That could have been a turning point if he'd taken a stand, but he didn't, not out of fear, but simply because he too suffers the same delusion of the crusading christian vision of 'democracy' based on middle class values, personal aggrandisement and free markets.


Nice to see also he appreciates, respects and admires Margaret Thatcher. Seems keen to constantly tell us all this.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6258089.stm

The weather, as a bald poet once noted, is variable, and so are we. But I wonder, at the risk of succumbing to False Memory Syndrome, whether the weather is worse than it used to be. It is winter, of course, so we should expect extremes of cold, and frosts, and perhaps the odd dusting of sleet. In January, too, a little wind may blow. The January sales are accompanied by the January gales. I

Scottish Parliament General Questions Thursday 11th January 2007

Linda Fabiani
To ask the Scottish Executive whether police forces are required to follow its guidance on recruitment, contained in police circular 8/2003. (S2O-11662)

Cathie Jamieson
As the member will be aware from previous parliamentary questions she submitted, issues relating to police recruitment are an issue for individual chief constables. Yje guidance provided in Police Circulars is provided to chief constables to advise them in their operational decision making and it is for chief constables alone to determine which individuals are or are not suitable for appointment to the police service.

Linda Fabiani
The Minister is correct, I have had these answers, however I now have a copy of a letter here from her department to a constituent, intimating that this guidance actually became Regulation with the Police Regulations 2004. Is the Minister aware that Strathclyde Police, alone amongst Scotland's police forces, discriminate against recruits with a particular minor form of colour blindness, against these regulations; and will she now undertake to ensure that the one Scottish police force that contravenes these regulations amends their recruitment procedures and makes amends to those applicants who are unfairly and unjustly disadvantaged.

Cathie Jamieson
I think it is important of course to recognise that Miss Fabiani has of course tabled questions and there has indeed been correspondence on this issue over a period of time and I'm not able to comment on a particular case in relation to this because I understand it is the subject of some employment tribunal proceedings. As a general response however, revised guidelines have been issued to Scottish police forces that must be taken account of in recruitment procedures. At the end of the day, in some instances, it may simply be the case that there are other matters which will be taken into account in terms of recruitment and it is, of course, for the chief constables themselves to make the decision who the most appropriate individuals are to have in their forces.



NOTES
1. Strathclyde Police have admitted to rejecting eight candidates as a consequence of their colour vision
2. In each of these cases the rejection was solely on the grounds of their colour vision, the candidates being deemed suitable for appointment to the post of police constable in every other way
3. Rejection of these candidates was contrary to the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Scottish Parliament General Questions Thursday 11th January 2007

Linda Fabiani
To ask the Scottish Executive whether police forces are required to follow its guidance on recruitment, contained in police circular 8/2003. (S2O-11662)

Cathie Jamieson
As the member will be aware from previous parliamentary questions she submitted, issues relating to police recruitment are an issue for individual chief constables. Yje guidance provided in Police Circulars is provided to chief constables to advise them in their operational decision making and it is for chief constables alone to determine which individuals are or are not suitable for appointment to the police service.

Linda Fabiani
The Minister is correct, I have had these answers, however I now have a copy of a letter here from her department to a constituent, intimating that this guidance actually became Regulation with the Police Regulations 2004. Is the Minister aware that Strathclyde Police, alone amongst Scotland's police forces, discriminate against recruits with a particular minor form of colour blindness, against these regulations; and will she now undertake to ensure that the one Scottish police force that contravenes these regulations amends their recruitment procedures and makes amends to those applicants who are unfairly and unjustly disadvantaged.

Cathie Jamieson
I think it is important of course to recognise that Miss Fabiani has of course tabled questions and there has indeed been correspondence on this issue over a period of time and I'm not able to comment on a particular case in relation to this because I understand it is the subject of some employment tribunal proceedings. As a general response however, revised guidelines have been issued to Scottish police forces that must be taken account of in recruitment procedures. At the end of the day, in some instances, it may simply be the case that there are other matters which will be taken into account in terms of recruitment and it is, of course, for the chief constables themselves to make the decision who the most appropriate individuals are to have in their forces.



NOTES
1. Strathclyde Police have admitted to rejecting eight candidates as a consequence of their colour vision
2. In each of these cases the rejection was solely on the grounds of their colour vision, the candidates being deemed suitable for appointment to the post of police constable in every other way
3. Rejection of these candidates was contrary to the Police (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

from Scottish Perspective in Chamber HR


An interesting case is pending against Scotland's largest police force. Strathclyde police face a challenge following the rejection of eight candidates, in the past two years, because they had a form of red green colour blindness that is more prevalent in men. In the case of Webster v. Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary, an officer with some ten years service suffered discrimination because he had a form of colour blindness, where he could not distinguish shades of green. The Tribunal confirmed that this could amount to indirect sex discrimination.

The case against Strathclyde was initially rejected as being out of time but an appeal has been lodged. Employers need to take especial care with issues such as this, where there is a medical condition that might have a greater impact on one sex than the other, as this not only raises an issue of a disability claim but also a potential sex discrimination claim.

What may seem a simple matter for an employer can turn out very different in Tribunal. Never make assumptions about an employee, always take medical and professional advice and ensure that all options are considered. Seek professional help with what adjustments can be made and what funding could be available through the Access to Work Scheme.

Read original article

from Scottish Perspective in Chamber HR


An interesting case is pending against Scotland's largest police force. Strathclyde police face a challenge following the rejection of eight candidates, in the past two years, because they had a form of red green colour blindness that is more prevalent in men. In the case of Webster v. Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary, an officer with some ten years service suffered discrimination because he had a form of colour blindness, where he could not distinguish shades of green. The Tribunal confirmed that this could amount to indirect sex discrimination.

The case against Strathclyde was initially rejected as being out of time but an appeal has been lodged. Employers need to take especial care with issues such as this, where there is a medical condition that might have a greater impact on one sex than the other, as this not only raises an issue of a disability claim but also a potential sex discrimination claim.

What may seem a simple matter for an employer can turn out very different in Tribunal. Never make assumptions about an employee, always take medical and professional advice and ensure that all options are considered. Seek professional help with what adjustments can be made and what funding could be available through the Access to Work Scheme.

Read original article

from The Journal Online
the online members magazine of the Law Society of Scotland

Sex discrimination case threat for male-only medical condition

News, 16 October 2006

---

Strathclyde Police could be facing a number of sex discrimination cases brought by potential male recruits rejected for a form of colourblindness.

The force has rejected eight candidates in the last two years for the condition, which is usually only found in men. However, a recent legal case in England ruled that a colourblind officer had been the victim of indirect sexual discrimination by Herefordshire Constabulary for this reason.

Robin Dixon from East Kilbride, who has difficulties distinguishing between shades of green, was rejected by Strathclyde Police, despite being told that he would have made a good constable. He took his case to an employment tribunal, but his claim was rejected because it was time-barred.

The Disability Rights Commission's head of Scottish legal affairs, Lynn Welsh, said the issue should be made clearer, as it depended on whether an individual's colourblindness would have a substantial impact on their ability to do the job.

A spokesperson for Strathclyde Police said the force was unable to comment on the issue because Mr Dixon had lodged an employment tribunal appeal.

Read original article

from The Journal Online
the online members magazine of the Law Society of Scotland

Sex discrimination case threat for male-only medical condition

News, 16 October 2006

---

Strathclyde Police could be facing a number of sex discrimination cases brought by potential male recruits rejected for a form of colourblindness.

The force has rejected eight candidates in the last two years for the condition, which is usually only found in men. However, a recent legal case in England ruled that a colourblind officer had been the victim of indirect sexual discrimination by Herefordshire Constabulary for this reason.

Robin Dixon from East Kilbride, who has difficulties distinguishing between shades of green, was rejected by Strathclyde Police, despite being told that he would have made a good constable. He took his case to an employment tribunal, but his claim was rejected because it was time-barred.

The Disability Rights Commission's head of Scottish legal affairs, Lynn Welsh, said the issue should be made clearer, as it depended on whether an individual's colourblindness would have a substantial impact on their ability to do the job.

A spokesperson for Strathclyde Police said the force was unable to comment on the issue because Mr Dixon had lodged an employment tribunal appeal.

Read original article

Have you been rejected by Strathclyde Police on grounds of your colour vision?

If you have, we would like to hear from you.

Contact us by e-mail on absolutelypc@googlemail.com

Have you been rejected by Strathclyde Police on grounds of your colour vision?

If you have, we would like to hear from you.

Contact us by e-mail on absolutelypc@googlemail.com

In the debate regarding the suitability of men with colour vision deficiency to be able to carry out the role of an operation police constable, Strathclyde Police have maintained that they are not compelled to follow the guidance given to them by Scottish Ministers.

Linda Fabiani MSP is once again trying to ask a question on this matter in the Scottish Parliament.

This will be under General Questions sometime between 11.40 and 12 noon tomorrow (Thursday) - she is number 4 so there is a good chance her question will he heard.

The question is:-

4. Linda Fabiani: To ask the Scottish Executive whether police forces are required to follow its guidance on recruitment, contained in police circular 8/2003. (S2O-11662)

In the debate regarding the suitability of men with colour vision deficiency to be able to carry out the role of an operation police constable, Strathclyde Police have maintained that they are not compelled to follow the guidance given to them by Scottish Ministers.

Linda Fabiani MSP is once again trying to ask a question on this matter in the Scottish Parliament.

This will be under General Questions sometime between 11.40 and 12 noon tomorrow (Thursday) - she is number 4 so there is a good chance her question will he heard.

The question is:-

4. Linda Fabiani: To ask the Scottish Executive whether police forces are required to follow its guidance on recruitment, contained in police circular 8/2003. (S2O-11662)

Ah, the chattering classes have emerged from their hibernation abuzz with speculation as to whether this 300th anniversary of the Union will mark its end or not (1,2,3). It's perhaps (?) not particularly likely (until there is an even stronger poll showing) and, contrary to some correspondents' remarks, we have been here before with all the talk of independence and SNP gains, etc, but somehow at the last minute there's a lurch back. But perhaps this time is a little different in that we've dipped our toes into constitutional reform via the Scottish parliament and although its not all been rosy, neither has it been a disaster. Indeed, the most negative aspect of the whole experience is just how limited the parliament's powers (and the executive's imagination) has been. Sure, the smoking ban is great (another lesson from an indpendent neighbour, over here), but what about a ban on weapons of mass destruction? Potentially, we could save a lot more lives that way!

The truth of the matter is that the reason that small countries like Ireland are successful and Scotland lags behind, is that they do not forsee limits on their ability to steer a future course. There's no need to constantly ask "have we inadvertently stepped into a reserved matter?" or "but this is different to the Westminster party's line". Imagine how much freedom of imagination there would be if we could just set ambitious targets and aim for them with all our resources (human as well as financial) instead of being constrained both in terms of the constitution and in fear of difference or awaking desires for more power. Of course, the other fun thing about independence is the responsibility that goes with the freedom and that's where the politics gets messy, but having noone to blame except your own politicians is in itself liberating. When you realise that politicians in all countries have a common thread of mediocrity and that if you want the job done you need to take them on, campaign and challenge, then you've reached the level of political maturity that's largely missing in Scotland at the moment.

But it's interesting to note the contributions this week by two rich men (albeit in different leagues). One, setting up his unionist "common sense" party which for some reason will do the job properly if elected (don't all parties say this?)but doesn't have policies (who needs them?) or candidates yet (4). Whilst the other, Tom Farmer, saying something a bit more sensible about ambition and aspirations, even though he doesn't go so far as to take the argument to its logical conclusion, that the qualities he's looking for are unlikely to be found in a nation that doesn't yet want to be a nation (5).

Oh, don't get me wrong, terms such as "nation" and "ambition" are all heavily loaded, but what is surely what most of us would want is the "civic" form of "nationalism" (an ugly word with even worse connotations in a British context). It's not an argument based on culture, tribalism, tradition or any of those things, simply a focus on the most democratic and constitutionally clean solution. And, furthermore,in terms of economic impact, its even evidence-based, if you bother to look at Ireland, Norway, Iceland, and the rest of the small nations of Europe.

References:
(1) Iain Macwhirter
(2) Comment is Free
(3) Observer article
(4) Eejit party
(5) Tom Farmer's comments

As soon as the (cancelled)new year festivities faded, the campaigning for elections in both countries started in earnest. In Scotland we have Labour moving into their traditional fear and negativity claiming today, for example, that the SNP will sack 5,000 teachers if they come to power (1). All complete nonsense of course, but they do this moving from sector to sector to try to strike fear into those professions or social groups that would be most likely to switch from Labour to the nationalists. Sad to see that the same old pattern is being repeated, but then it has worked every time in the past so who can blame them for giving it a go again.

The problem lies in the desire for power and to hold on to it at all costs rather than more lofty ambitions of transforming society and, this is the scary part these days, facing up to the challenge of climate change. I don't mean inventing new taxes on travel, since that shows the paucity of political intelligence these days, but really changing lifestyles and economic models to reduce carbon emissions. Tax schemes and carbon credits are all about buying your way out of actually doing something and passing the responsibility down the financial food chain.

Here in Ireland, for example, there is a major national programme of road building to bring the infrastructure up to a comparable level of other countries, the fact that this is based on a 1980s/90s model of a rampant capitalist economy drunk on fossil fuels and chucking waste left, right and centre doesn't figure in the planning process. More roads equals more traffic equals more pollution equals lower quality of life. No mainstream politician wants to jeopardise their career prospects by taking a radically different stance, yet ironically it would be more realistic given what is happening out there in the world of wind, rain and storms rather than in this idealised "second life" of contemporary politics and media. We've cocooned ourselves into an abstracted world of "free markets", competitiveness, acquisitiveness and career. Shame, since one day reality will hit us, when its too late and the money's been spent.

Ah well c'est la vie - while it lasts!

Over in Taiwan, meanwhile, they've at least almost completed a huge new bullet train route, linking the two major cities (2). big improvement on motorways, even if the project also involves a 30 year despoilation of countryside along the route by turning them into economic "development" zones.

Back to our own little parishes. The Ryanair counter-claim to the UK environment minister's accusation (3,4) of them being a polluter is based on more fuel efficient planes, but of course ignores the fact that the number of planes and routes, and hence the absolute level of emissions (ie the total per year) is on the up. Oh and let's not forget the extra carbon cost of travelling from the airport to the supposed actual destination city.

Nice to see the Irish Times (5) today take further note of the constitutional issue in Scotland with an article on the Lord Chancellor's fears for the ultimate break up of the UK into several constituent nations. Doesn't dawn on him that this might be a more equal arrangement and actually far from being a problem for Northern Ireland, might actually help speed along an appropriate constitutional solution.

References:
(1) Scotsman article
(2) BBC news item
(3) BBC news report
(4) BBC news report
(5) Irish Times (subscription link)

From a wind and rain battered Atlantic coast, "happy new year!" Not that out local celebrations were cancelled, there never were any in the first place. It is one of the strangest aspects of living here after so long in Scotland, that the whole New Year thing is very underplayed. No concept of folk visiting each other or staying up for the bells. Still we did our ex-pat (strange phrase that for Ireland) best by tuning into BBC Scotland around midnight and cracked open the chilled Irn Bru.

Nevertheless, it looks like an interesting year ahead for Ireland, with an election coming up in May, although as I mentioned in an earlier post, the polls seem to show the likelihood of Fianna Fail continuing in government, but Garret Fitzgerald countered that in his recent, regular, column in the Irish Times (can't link to it online since they charge membership/access fees). The Green Party is celebrating its 25th anniversary and interestingly will be holding its forthcoming national conference here in Galway. Fine Gael and Labour are trying to present a united front as part of a pre-election coalition deal, gradually releasing joint policy documents. The Progressive Democrats, the "junior" coalition partner, has a new leader in the shape of the justice minister, Micheal McDowell, and of course, Sinn Fein are focusing for the present on the issue of recognising the police force in Northern Ireland.

Still haven't heard of anyone here catching on to Jack McConnell's "union dividend." It's frustrating how an external perspective can shed so much light on the situation. I guess that's the old Burns adage of seeing ourselves as others see us, and in the case of citizens of other small nations looking at Scotland it probably can be summed up in "bemusement" at the bizarre arguments against independence that seem to hold sway. If any of them were true, none of these little countries would exist, never mind be doing successfully on many measures.

Don't get me wrong, living here, I am well aware of the drawbacks of Irish society and government. The lack of a decent public healthcare system, a legacy of underinvestment in education, public transport and other social provision (although much is being addressed with recent monies from the booming economy), but that is the fault of the political parties (and the electorate) and their priority setting, rather than a consequence of the constitutional settlement.

Wouldn't it be great if Scotland had noone to blame for its problems other than itself? Isn't it about time we took on the responsibility, rolled up our sleeves and got down to work?