Lost in the Maze?

What sort of transport arrangements do they envisage? Who's tosay?

Then suddenly this week NIO minister David Hanson made anunexpected revelation about what he describes as the 'Maze/Long KeshMasterplan'.

The Government's looking for backers to help footthe pound(s)400m bill.

Exactly. Four hundred million pounds.

This should be interesting.

According to MinisterHanson, the private sector is just gagging to throw money at theproject.

At least that's what he appears to be saying when heannounces: "I am delighted that the market's strong message has beenthat the site represents a significant development opportunity forthe whole region and, indeed, for the whole island."

True,there may be aspects of the plan (such as housing development and abusiness park) which may represent a good investment. But you have towonder how many private investors will be lining up to back thestadium itself.

Those of us who worry about the white elephantpotential of a stadium being built miles and miles from the centre ofanywhere, won't be joining the queue.

Especially since it's been revealed that a rival stadium isto be built in Belfast close to the city centre and existingtransport links - and, perhaps more pertinently, close to hotels,restaurants, carry-outs and any number of local hostelries.

The Government makes much of the fact that the Maze plan has thesupport of both the DUP and Sinn Fein.

But it isn't cross party political support a sports stadiumneeds to make it a winner.

It's the support and, moreprecisely, patronage of sports fans.

The Maze prison was builton that particular site because it was well out of the way. But whatworks for a prison doesn't necessarily work for a major entertainmentfacility.

The artist's optimistic impression of the proposedsports stadium show crowds flocking to its doors. A lot of them, Inotice, are carrying hand baggage. Are they coming prepared to campout for the night?

Put it like this - the Government assures usthat it will be able to efficiently and effortlessly transport 35,000people to and from the site.

Bearing in mind the current regular hold-ups on the M1, which theGovernment appears to be powerless to do anything about, we'll takethat one with a spoonful of caution.

Caution, of course, issomething you tend to associate with private investors.

Sohere's the question.

What if investors don't come up with therequired whack of the pound(s)400m bill that the Governmentenvisages?

Will the Maze Masterplan still be realised?Downgraded? Or just quietly forgotten all about?

That issomething taxpayers here will have to think about long after MessersHain and Hanson have vacated these shores for a whole new politicalball-game.

All we want for Christmas is a bit of commonsense

I'm fast coming to the conclusion that the most divisiveelement in society today is not - as some would argue - religiousfanatism, but the legal profession.

What lies at the back of all those stories we are dailybombarded with, about how this or that firm has cancelled Christmason the grounds that decorations may injure or offend, is fear oflitigation.

It's not the concern that a worker may be taken outby low-flying tinsel or that a colleague could take the hump at thesight of a nativity scene that actually has bosses hyperventilatingwith worry.

It's the possibility that the aggrieved party mightbeat an immediate path to the door of Sue-it, Screw-it and Line-my-pocket and take a costly action against the company.

Of course,it's only fair that if a worker gets toasted on a set of dodgyChristmas lights he or she should have recourse to the law. Equally,those parties whose lives are made hell in the workplace should beable to turn to the courts.

But the law as it now stands - thelaw that sides with every perceived injury, 'offence' or slight, nomatter how minor - increasingly looks like an ass.

Doemployers' have to go along with this madness, though?

Whatever happened to common sense?

Or have we finallyreached the stage that before a firm chances using a bit of gumption,it has to first call in a team of consultants to assess any risk thismight entail?

Another week, another horror

Another week -another horror story concerning attacks on the elderly. This week, itwas a 92-year-old lady assaulted in her own home by five young men.

We're told they took her jewellery.

It goes without saying that they also took her peace ofmind. And could just as easily have taken her life.

So wouldn'tit be good to hear just a little more public outrage voiced by ourpublic representatives on the matter? Not just condemnation of thisweek's attack - but of all similar attacks on the elderly.

Ourpoliticians tend to have no problem making their presence felt overany issue they suspect there might be a vote or two in.

But lives are more important than votes. Their combinedpressure on this one would not only push it further up the newsagenda.

It would also put the onus on the authorities to dealmore forcefully with the lowlife who prey on vulnerable people livingin terror in their own homes.

A friend, indeed

Theformer head of the Armed Forces, General Sir Michael Jackson, saidthis week that for Britain to pull out of the wars in Afghanistan andIraq would be morally wrong.

When did being morally wrong ever bother the currentGovernment?

War games

IN the old days, when a celebritycouple insisted that they were "just good friends" it was taken asshorthand for being romantically involved.

These days, it's theother way round.

This week, Jennifer Aniston announced herbreak-up with Vince Vaughn by releasing a statement that says they'reno longer together but still " good friends".

With friends likethese Eurothe gossip columnists no longer expect wedding bells.

Lost in the Maze?

What sort of transport arrangements do they envisage? Who's tosay?

Then suddenly this week NIO minister David Hanson made anunexpected revelation about what he describes as the 'Maze/Long KeshMasterplan'.

The Government's looking for backers to help footthe pound(s)400m bill.

Exactly. Four hundred million pounds.

This should be interesting.

According to MinisterHanson, the private sector is just gagging to throw money at theproject.

At least that's what he appears to be saying when heannounces: "I am delighted that the market's strong message has beenthat the site represents a significant development opportunity forthe whole region and, indeed, for the whole island."

True,there may be aspects of the plan (such as housing development and abusiness park) which may represent a good investment. But you have towonder how many private investors will be lining up to back thestadium itself.

Those of us who worry about the white elephantpotential of a stadium being built miles and miles from the centre ofanywhere, won't be joining the queue.

Especially since it's been revealed that a rival stadium isto be built in Belfast close to the city centre and existingtransport links - and, perhaps more pertinently, close to hotels,restaurants, carry-outs and any number of local hostelries.

The Government makes much of the fact that the Maze plan has thesupport of both the DUP and Sinn Fein.

But it isn't cross party political support a sports stadiumneeds to make it a winner.

It's the support and, moreprecisely, patronage of sports fans.

The Maze prison was builton that particular site because it was well out of the way. But whatworks for a prison doesn't necessarily work for a major entertainmentfacility.

The artist's optimistic impression of the proposedsports stadium show crowds flocking to its doors. A lot of them, Inotice, are carrying hand baggage. Are they coming prepared to campout for the night?

Put it like this - the Government assures usthat it will be able to efficiently and effortlessly transport 35,000people to and from the site.

Bearing in mind the current regular hold-ups on the M1, which theGovernment appears to be powerless to do anything about, we'll takethat one with a spoonful of caution.

Caution, of course, issomething you tend to associate with private investors.

Sohere's the question.

What if investors don't come up with therequired whack of the pound(s)400m bill that the Governmentenvisages?

Will the Maze Masterplan still be realised?Downgraded? Or just quietly forgotten all about?

That issomething taxpayers here will have to think about long after MessersHain and Hanson have vacated these shores for a whole new politicalball-game.

All we want for Christmas is a bit of commonsense

I'm fast coming to the conclusion that the most divisiveelement in society today is not - as some would argue - religiousfanatism, but the legal profession.

What lies at the back of all those stories we are dailybombarded with, about how this or that firm has cancelled Christmason the grounds that decorations may injure or offend, is fear oflitigation.

It's not the concern that a worker may be taken outby low-flying tinsel or that a colleague could take the hump at thesight of a nativity scene that actually has bosses hyperventilatingwith worry.

It's the possibility that the aggrieved party mightbeat an immediate path to the door of Sue-it, Screw-it and Line-my-pocket and take a costly action against the company.

Of course,it's only fair that if a worker gets toasted on a set of dodgyChristmas lights he or she should have recourse to the law. Equally,those parties whose lives are made hell in the workplace should beable to turn to the courts.

But the law as it now stands - thelaw that sides with every perceived injury, 'offence' or slight, nomatter how minor - increasingly looks like an ass.

Doemployers' have to go along with this madness, though?

Whatever happened to common sense?

Or have we finallyreached the stage that before a firm chances using a bit of gumption,it has to first call in a team of consultants to assess any risk thismight entail?

Another week, another horror

Another week -another horror story concerning attacks on the elderly. This week, itwas a 92-year-old lady assaulted in her own home by five young men.

We're told they took her jewellery.

It goes without saying that they also took her peace ofmind. And could just as easily have taken her life.

So wouldn'tit be good to hear just a little more public outrage voiced by ourpublic representatives on the matter? Not just condemnation of thisweek's attack - but of all similar attacks on the elderly.

Ourpoliticians tend to have no problem making their presence felt overany issue they suspect there might be a vote or two in.

But lives are more important than votes. Their combinedpressure on this one would not only push it further up the newsagenda.

It would also put the onus on the authorities to dealmore forcefully with the lowlife who prey on vulnerable people livingin terror in their own homes.

A friend, indeed

Theformer head of the Armed Forces, General Sir Michael Jackson, saidthis week that for Britain to pull out of the wars in Afghanistan andIraq would be morally wrong.

When did being morally wrong ever bother the currentGovernment?

War games

IN the old days, when a celebritycouple insisted that they were "just good friends" it was taken asshorthand for being romantically involved.

These days, it's theother way round.

This week, Jennifer Aniston announced herbreak-up with Vince Vaughn by releasing a statement that says they'reno longer together but still " good friends".

With friends likethese Eurothe gossip columnists no longer expect wedding bells.