21/10/2012 Sunday Politics Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland: the AA, may was the slogan. After Ulster are to

protests, we asked politicians, how are the improving the local

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2279 seconds

Hello and welcome to Sunday Politics. It's been another bad

week on the economic front with unemployment here up once again

while it is on its way down in the rest of the UK. The issue is on the

agenda in the Assembly tomorrow. The SDLP's Patsy McGlone and Sinn

Fein's Daithi McKay join me to discuss what, if anything, they can

do about it. And after trade unions lead a rally against austerity in

Belfast, we find out how the cuts are now affecting people's lives.

63,400 people are jobless here and a large number of them are young

people. The SDLP is bringing a motion to the Assembly tomorrow, so

what is its plan of attack? With me are the SDLP's Patsy McGlone, chair

of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee, and Sinn

Fein's Daithi McKay, who chairs the Finance Committee. You have got a

plan, Patsy McGlone, and you have brought this motion to the Assembly.

What is it? There are a number of issues we must look at and we have

spent time on this matter and I am the chair of the working group and

we have had deliberation. Firstly, we want to see increased support

for small and medium-sized businesses. We want to see a

sharpening of research, development and innovation because that is

where growth is. I was talking to a director of a major firm in Belfast

who cannot get people to work in software development and they have

to go to Poland. That involves skills and different departments at

the Assembly, enterprise, trade and investment, education, working

collaboratively for the future to offer those many young people

currently unemployed and 21% are in that 18 - 24 or year-old age

bracket. You are not saying anything I have not heard

politicians say six years ago. is about bringing sharpened focus.

What does that mean? Holding the Minister to account and I am

disappointed that Invest NI could not say it within their remit to

have somebody come along today. They need to sharpen up. I'll give

you an example. We did and on it in the constituency and what I'm

hearing from small businesses is they cannot get access to

information about funding, which is there. At the EU and local level.

They cannot get information. At the community, we had a report into

research, innovation and development and we held the

department to account and we have seen the proposals being brought

forward to address those measures. Is there anything in the SDLP

motion that will be tabled tomorrow that you disagree with? The debate

has to be welcomed, regarding the New Deal and the jobs plan. One of

the main issues in the jobs plan was chasing up the issue of

Corporation Tax and the transfer of that. The executive in its entirety

are not only a feeling of the tools they have but also, we only have

half of the economic levers. We need to look at boosting eco-

tourism and opening up new flights and the legislation going into

place regarding the New York flight, we need to research how the other

band things will be affected if this was abolished. Or what is your

assessment of why the economy in Northern Ireland seems to be

lagging behind elsewhere. We are above average in terms of

unemployment figures at the moment. It possibly seems to me that the

corners have been turned elsewhere but not here. It is a very

different economy and we need different economic policies to

adapt. The certainly, if we are looking for economic recovery, the

way to do that isn't by cutting so deep that the economy grinds to a

halt. Obviously, not only will we be pursuing the British government

in terms of the likes of Corporation Tax but also ensuring

that we invest in the whole economy on projects like the roads,

Altnagelvin and things that the executive are pushing for. A what

is your assessment of why be you are lagging behind? We have to

sharpen up in what we do much better. That is a local government

level thing and through the investment strategy but also,

through the week we had an internal party meeting and we saw the level

and scale of patents in Northern Ireland, new products, which can be

put into the overseas market to increase jobs to Northern Ireland,

and that is very low. That reflects on our inability to have research,

innovation and development at the scale that is needed. You mentioned

Corporation Tax. Let's talk about that. We know that it is a Prime

Minister's call as to whether local politicians will be given power

over Corporation Tax rates. Peter Robinson spoke to us when he

returned from his final meeting with the Treasury and asked them

the burning question. How much? They depends on the mechanism. You

might start on Treasury figures then the 300 - �400 million mark

but using the mechanism the Treasury wants, it could even go up

to around �700 million within the next 15 years. The Secretary of

State in her first interview sitting in that's it said she was

going to be a persuader for this development. Is that how she played

it? Teresa and her predecessor, Owen Paterson, have been supportive

and they have been speaking to the business community in Northern

Ireland and they can also saying a the impact that we are undergoing

with the recession and I went to the meeting today through the

Belfast Telegraph on the table to give them some sense of the

difficulties we were facing and I was in to getting at furrier

sectors that we're down by considerable percentages. If it was

right when the Prime Minister came to Northern Ireland when we had a

lower level of unemployment, it must be even more right that we

have the issue addressed now. you had to call it, do you think

this is going to happen? We have done our work. It is now with the

Prime Minister and he indicated stoutly during a campaign that he

was in favour of rebalancing the economy. He had his ministers

extending a very considerable amount of time and energy on this

and officials have been working on this for years. I hope that is the

road they will take. There were four ministers representing today,

three from the DUP and one of them from Sinn Fein. Were you singing of

the same song sheet? Completely. And we have been at all meetings.

We recognise that it is advantageous and it has to be done

in the context of something that is affordable. But all of us were

arguing the same case. That was Peter Robinson talking to be. The

First Minister says he were all singing from the same song sheet.

One when the Prime Minister decide in one month. What is Plan B? What

if they say no or, it is deemed too expensive? We then need to focus on

the first plan. Within a number of weeks we will have the decision

from the British Prime Minister regarding this. That all the eggs

in one basket? No, there are other avenues. This is hundreds of

millions. Air Passenger Duty is interesting, PriceWaterhouseCoopers

said it could be equally as beneficial to the economy as

Corporation Tax. The British Prime Minister has a decision and he will

make a political decision based on what is going on in Scotland.

has to happen? Yes. We have to bear in mind that Corporation Tax is

only one that lever. Companies who wish to invest in the North will

want to see a very highly skilled workforce, good infrastructure.

has been built into this enormous issue. So many people have so much

riding on this because they see the potential that exists to attract

overseas investment and they see us on a par, able to compete with, the

rest of the island of Ireland. It is only one lever. A very expensive

one, it could cost hundreds of millions. It is a big gamble.

it has the potential to generate thousands of jobs, increased

expenditure in the economy. It is probably arrest that has to be

taken. Let's talk about something else. The First Minister thought

that Sinn Fein is looking over its shoulder at the SDLP and that is

paralysing decision-making. Are you? The First Minister is having

something and a hissy fit regarding this. I am obviously not looking

over my shoulder today. When we talk about the tail wagging the dog,

we have seen the Orange Order was wagging the DUP. He has some

chicken coming out with comments like that. Are you wagging her tail

and that is wagging the big Sinn Fein dog? I am proud to stand up

for people and their rights. We have taken a motion of no

confidence, which eventually Sinn Fein supported us with. And we set

up for people's rights and welfare reform and introduced a petition of

concern which Sinn Fein it back. You support is an elegy. It is good

news a Sinn Fein is looking over its shoulder? FEC is a standing up

for our constituents, that is what we are elected to do. We shall

discuss this further later on. Thank you both very much. MLAs will

discuss the controversial Welfare Reform Bill once again tomorrow. It

follows a march and rally in Belfast yesterday against

government austerity measures. Around 1,000 people took part in

what was part of a series of demonstrations across the UK

organised by trade unions. Seamus McAleavey of NICVA is with me.

people making these cuts, they will propose changes to welfare, they

will impoverish the workers who are dependent on welfare. The people

who are not working, they depend on benefits, and they will have

changes imposed upon them not by Westminster but Stormont. If that

is what the politicians have to wonder stand. -- understand. Do

demonstrations make any difference in the long run? It showed people

the opposition the rest are some aspects of government policy. But

it does require more. Our organisations and the community and

voluntary sector have been lobbying and influencing government at

Westminster and local level regarding these issues. The biggest

changes that will take place regarding the welfare system, we

have had a lot of them put to get something that suits Northern

Ireland. The situation is difficult and unemployment is up and output

is down. People tell us that the welfare reform could have a bigger

impact on people in Northern Ireland than it might have

elsewhere. Disabled groups, for example. How bad is the situation

and how much worse might get? reckon about �400 million is coming

out of the system and we will see reductions in housing benefits and

things like that. Our situation in Northern Ireland is very different

than in England. We have an economy that is at least 66% driven by the

public sector and they want to reduce jobs. One of the big

problems will be finding work for unemployed people and we are saying

to the Northern Ireland Assembly regarding welfare reform and the

new unemployment programme, if we simply copied the mechanics of

these things as carried out in England, there isn't much point in

having to volition. There has to be a local solution? Yes, we have to

think about the greater difficulties there will be

regarding helping people find employment. The cleric, we are

trying to attract jobs in Northern Ireland and we have to be able to

match the skills. Do you get a sense that local politicians are

aware of that and agree with you and have the knowledge and skills

necessary to actually get this right in terms of legislating?

think they do. We have been talking and we have talked to Lord Freud

regarding the English situation and Nelson McCausland and they can

certainly hear those forces. We need to produce the mechanics that

will make things suit Northern Ireland. Let's hear from the

politicians. Do you accept his. But you just cannot take the British

template and superimpose it on to Northern Ireland? The absolutely

not, we have a very long legacy of problems here and does reflect the

benefits. For example, people on disability and living allowance.

That reflects a lot of the problems that we have had and the legacy of

the path -- the past. That has affected in any other stress issues.

But the overall policy drive is the same as across the water? Posterity.

-- austerity. We did try but Sinn Fein would not support us. There is

a human face to this. We cannot ignore that. We do advocacy work on

Tribunals and we see the face of this. People in distress who have

had their benefits cut. That is the first point. We cannot ignore that.

Daithi McKay, you will not be an advocate for any Great British

solution. But let me put the same question to you. There is very

little you can do? You can talk a lot and bang the table but you

cannot magically produce hundreds of millions of pounds? We need to

be imaginative. In terms of the welfare, it was interesting is a

minister did not vote in the Welfare Reform Bill bit to which

she refers. We have to mature. There are a number of stages still

to come and there are other opportunities to be presented. But

we need to focus on mitigating as much as we can against the impact

of these cuts. What is your thought when you hear these politicians

talking? They say they take on board what you think. But can they

do anything? They cannot do a lot about the budget. Many of the

things that come up across Northern Ireland is the fear of the monthly

payment. We would like to see people paid more often than that.

At least fortnightly. The notion that the Government in the UK has

had, creating monthly payment makes it look as if you are in work.

People who earn less than �10,000 do not get paid monthly. But given

the overall policy drive, that is a tidy note in the margins? The jury

will be out regarding this. I say this as an observation, we need a

local solution. Thank you very much indeed. Corporation tax, adoption

and razor blades all feature as Chris Page takes a look back at the

political week in 60 seconds. Ministers had their final meeting

with the London governments about devolving Corporation Tax. The

decision is down to David Cameron. Peter Robinson accused Sinn Fein

are taking a responsible positions on important issues but said the

DUP were getting on OK with their main partners. If you had set the

Conservative and Labour Party down and said, he will have to work

together, I do not believe they would have done as well as we have.

Dozens of demonstrators on both sides of the argument came to

Belfast as Northern Ireland's first private abortion clinic opens. The

High Court ruled that gay and unmarried couples should be able to

adopt. If the Health Minister said he was going to appeal that

judgment. After angry opposition, the Environment Minister said he

would not impose any national park in the Mourne Mountains and Danny

Kennedy led us into one of the secrets of his successful political

career. Do not underestimate my own inability to talk at length! One

very little! The it Danny Kennedy let the cat out of the bag, there?

He can stand up on his hind legs for a very long time and talk about

nothing? That isn't something I would do. The but we have a welfare

did it a couple of weeks ago that went on to midnight and there were

enough long-winded politicians in that particular scenario.

secret of success, talking about nothing? We would think that we do

not talk about nothing but many others thing we do. I would like to

think, particular debate on welfare reform, if any members were coming

in with very sincerely held views and they try to work to keep it --

articulate the needs of the community. And he was smiling when

he said that, he was being ironic. Earlier, you said you have the

option of a petition of concern as far as the Welfare Reform Bill is

concerned? You could kill it in the water? There are a number of stages

to go through and the Social Development Committee or are

currently considering this and welcome back for consideration

before it is concluded. That is an option. You cannot and then we have

a bigger problem? A we don't mean to kill it, there are a number of

other opportunities that we can put forward that will not reach parity

as the DUP is so concerned about. And we can improve the lives of

those who represent. You are a member of the Justice Committee,

what about the offer to assist if there is an investigation into

Marie Stopes? I have no problem with that, the Attorney-General is

a very qualified man. Thank you. That's it for now. You can see this

programme again tonight at 10:30pm over on BBC Two. Join me for