You'd think Margaret Ritchie had enough on her hands trying to get the UDA to disarm and trying to provide people with affordable homes. But, as Social Development Minister, she also has to worry about issuing licences to people who want to kill or deal in game. Apparently about 1200 people hold licences at a cost of £4 each. That might have been fairly expensive when the licences were introduced back in the 1960s. But, given inflation, it now costs more to collect the fees than the department makes from the scheme. Moreover there are thought to be around 12,000 game shooters out there - so the licences are not exactly doing their jobs.
What to do about the poachers and the gamekeepers will be discussed tomorrow by the Social Development Committee. I suspect Ms Ritchie will continue to concentrate on a different kind of gun altogether.
Those of us who covered the negotiations leading up to the Good Friday Agreement have distinct if not particularly fond memories of Castle Buildings, the place where the "hand of history" plonked itself on our shoulders. The DUP's Jim Wells doesn't like it much - he told the Committee for Office of the First and Deputy First Minister that about a week inside the rabbit warren like building was quite enough for him.
So pity the Public Appointments Commissioner, Felicity Huston, who has been stuck there for about a year. Officials giving evidence to the Committee seemed unaware that the Commissioner is suffering a bout of cabin fever. But Committee members appeared to be of the opinion that she wants out and also wants more independence so far as staffing her office is concerned.
How times have changed. Nine years ago Felicity Huston was a women's peace campaigner keen to get as close as she could to Castle Buildings. Indeed she and her two young boys presented Gerry Adams with an orange balloon with "Peace" written on it. Now she needs a hot air balloon to carry her away from the place.
I'm 
