26/02/2012 Sunday Politics Northern Ireland

Well come. As we enter another big week for health reforms, is

Labour's scaremongering? The shadow health secretary joins us for our

top story. In his first major television interview since leaving

cabinet, Liam Fox on why George Osborne should defend -- depend on

A Lib Dem at Lord's and a troublesome Tory backbencher go

head-to-head. Our political panel of the bright

line things he to analyse British Are we doing enough to plug the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2029 seconds

Hello and welcome to Sunday Politics in Northern Ireland.

Recession? What recession? Business leaders tell us they can't get the

qualified people to fill many highly skilled jobs So are

politicians doing enough to plug The executive are keen on making

the economy central to government. ICT sector could be the engine of

growth. And he may be about to lose his own job, but can the Minister

for Employment deliver on his promise to pitch Northern Ireland

as a player in a global market But first with me for the next 20

minutes former Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey and Aoife Clarke from

the CBI. Is Peter Robinson right? It is not a news story because it

has been an ongoing issue. 10 years ago, I carried out some work on how

much coverage a bad news story on the economy got and it won every

time. It is easier to portray a closure of a factory with a

reporter outside it and it is to explain to people than another half

a dozen people got jobs. There is a tendency to look at the glass being

half empty and it is not new. course, a factory closing has a

massive impact on the workers and others. We cannot ignore it, can

we? No. But I do think, at times, we do not get the balance right and

that is a difficulty in broadcasting. There is a bit of an

emphasis on the dying side. I have sympathy with what Peter said in

that regard. Peter Robinson appears to be

favouring a hear no evil see no evil approach but some people argue

that had the media taking a more proactive role in the banking

crisis we wouldn't be a here and now? We live in a democracy,

thankfully. If there is bad news stories for the economy people need

to know about them. Maybe the sophistication of some of our

stories isn't where it could be. For example, some of the global

barometers on infrastructure or skills and maybe there is not

enough co-operation. We would like to see more of that to bring some

new ones to the story. unemployment figures, 18% youth

unemployment, which means 82% are in some employment or training. You

cannot tell that in a different way, can you? No. Ultimately, the figure

of those who aren't in work is catastrophic and it needs to come

down. It would be doing a disservice to the people in

Northern Ireland if we were to flip those figures just for a positive

headline. Amidst the gloom of rising

unemployment, here's some good news. A survey by a recruitment firm says

Belfast is one of the best cities in the UK to get a job in the IT

sector. But there's a reason for that, we've got a serious lack of

qualified people. In a moment, we'll be talking to the Employment

Minister, Stephen Farry, but first Who says science isn't fun? STEM

subject, science, technology, engineering and maths are

celebrated here at the centre here. It is all about putting the wow

factor backing for students. But too many students are not choosing

STEM subject. An American insurance company, at Allstate, employs many

people here but they cannot find the right people with skills.

getting close to crisis levels and it is disabling asked to grow our

business. I think the executive are keen on making the economy part of

what is central to government. The ICT sector could be the engine for

growth. It is ironic when you have this sort of situation coinciding

with a substantial level of unemployment. Some of this is not

surprising when you look at the fact that the economy is changing

and the education and training system will struggle to keep pace

with that. At least 15,000 people work in the technology sector here

and thousands more use computer skills in other businesses. There

are around 700 ICT companies and international investors. More than

60% have a degree and there are around 1000 graduates per year in

ICT and related subjects. Employers say more graduates are needed and

they are calling on government to go a step further. We need to set

targets for the number of science and technology A-levels people do.

The number of people who do maths as well. A good starting point

would be 30% or 40% of subjects in STEM subjects were the first choice

for the students at Dungannon College. People weren't interested

in science as it was seen as difficult or uncool. Now, with

media and TV shows, I think it is becoming more exciting and

appealing. I wanted to do i t fall time because I have a passion for

it. I saw the course here and decided I would apply. Some

employers have called for a cut in tuition fees for science and

technology degrees. It would encourage more students to study

the subject because there are a lot of jobs revolving around science.

South-west College has bent over half a million pounds creating

islands dedicated first STEM centre designed to sell the merits of

science and technology. There are a lot of teachers teaching to A-level

standard but, generally, and in certain parts of Europe also, there

hasn't been enough focus on engineering, manufacturing and

product design. Tradition the, we were good and we probably came --

became complacent now we have to get back in there and be the best

The minister Stephen Farry joins us. What about the idea of a fees cut

or a bursary to encourage students to study the subject that will grow

the economy, --? We are making progress. Let me just say first of

all, I recognise that skills are the main driver of the economy here.

We are keen to make - might get the message to investors overseas and

local employers that we are keen to invest in skills. Certainly, during

my term of office, I have bin throw off -- proactive in identifying

where we have skill shortages or mismatches. In terms of STEM

subjects, I increased the number of places in local universities and

they will be in STEM subjects. We have to send the message to the

education system itself and try to encourage students to consider

careers in areas where there will be jobs in the future. We need to

get information into the careers advisory enough. But we are at

least 1000 graduates a short every year so it needs to be tackled this

year? Things take time to turn around. Do we have the time? I am

moving as quickly as I can and being proactive. This year, I set-

up and ICT working group. I was listening to voices coming through

from employers and we are bringing key players around the table,

including universities and the further education sector to see

what actions we can take to turn around what we are doing in terms

of the ICT sector. We have a strong base already and there are

indications we can do more. I am very much up for seizing the

opportunity. Some people might argue there is very little action.

While everyone is talking about the short, medium and long-term,

companies invest elsewhere. Companies are still coming in. The

New York Stock Exchange has come in. More companies are interested in

coming. We have really qualified people and that is why companies

looked to come here so we are not failing in that regard. The key

issue is what we can do more of to seize the opportunity. I have

commissioned research showing what other specific skill needs we have

to invest in to take advantage of lower corporation tax. Bill

McGuinness, one government adviser and a successful businessman, says

beat skills shortage issue is as important to our economy as a cut

in corporation tax. The two going harmony. The corporation tax it

looks at the demand side. Equally, it doesn't happen in a vacuum and

we have to invest in the driver's of the economy. Skills and research

and development, for example. have almost been in post for a year.

What has changed in that time and is this necessarily a criticism of

the Department? Of things to slow? No. We have a department that is

singularly focused on skills. We invest in more places in terms of

universities, we listen to employers and take action in terms

of what has to happen in the ICT sector. Also we prioritise tourism

as a priority scale. There are opportunities we have their for the

rest of the decade. As a department, and given the size of Northern

Ireland, we have the opportunity to be flexible and responsive. They

cut in fees would be a straight forward weight to incentive vies

students into proper degrees that really matter? We have cut fees and

we have the lowest fees in the UK. We have sent a clear message we

want people to participate in higher education and that doesn't

just mean University but things like level for apprenticeships. In

ICT, we need graduates and people with more and more high-level

skills across a broad spectrum in higher-education and

apprenticeships -- further education. Apprenticeships are

potentially disappearing. How do you think it will be desired -

might divided up? There are important challenges out there. The

core message to the future has to be to maintain a sale bit -- single

skills narrative here. If we fragment our skills. Like putting

off apprenticeships, we will seriously undermine our skills are

offering and send a negative message. Should we merge to

departments and have one department for the economy? We are open for a

proper rationalisation. A single department of the economy makes

sense. We have to make sure we get there in a proper way that works

for the economy and does not undermine it.

Coming to you. You are reform employment minister. Was there a

lack of vision during your tenure? We have been here before. One of

the first things I did was attend a meeting where all of the ICT people

were around the table telling me how many places they needed and

what we needed to do to help them get those people. One of the things

that came out of that was the idea of conversion courses where someone

with a degree can convert to an ICT qualification. We provided up to

6000 points a year for eight course. We ran two or three of these but

people could not get jobs at the end so it petered out. The demand

for people ebbs and flows according to the economy. Employers and Bro

McFerran has been a Brit as far as Northern Ireland is concerned, -- a

brick, but what they pay is an issue. Building up enough of a

stock of people, the last thing you want to do is convert them took IT

qualifications and in the next minute, they are being made

redundant. We have to strike a balance. A lot of the initiatives

that were mentioned, the department is quick at doing that, but the

fact is there is not a consistent demand. It comes and goes and

having a pool of labour at the right time is a trick. You advise

the CBI. How far behind are we? wouldn't say we are particularly

behind with reference to London. This is one of the things, matching

supply and demand in a fast- changing labour market, it is a

challenge. I worked on our Queen's of industry campaign and skills is

a key issue as well as tax and intellectual property. We were

researching our paper last year and we looked at other countries that

are doing well, like Singapore, but no one is doing it perfectly. The

executive needs to keep their foot on the gas a and make sure that

they keep in touch with industry. If you focus on one area, you may

drop the ball in another area. there is an acceptance that the old

style of jobs are gone and we have to feel -- fill the gap and give

people a job. We are looking at welfare reform by pushing people

off benefits and into work? Absolutely. There are some concerns

about the global backdrop which isn't good. Various challenges

within skills and the interface between that and welfare reform. It

is very complex but there are some enduring concerns about how that

will pay out -- play it in the men -- labour market. It is a short

time frame as to how it will impact on the ground. We would like to see

more clarity. He spoke about the eggs and flows, surely a job for

some space of time is better than no job? Sure. We are seized about

the problem we have with young people out of work. For some people

it is a structural problem but for many it is a reflection of the

economic downturn. The rate for young people is higher than for the

population as a whole as they suffer from inexperience. If you

can't get on the first run of the ladder, it is difficult. We are

trying to put together a new programme to give young people the

opportunity to get experience. It is important business plays a role

and we have a positive relations with the CBI air and other bodies

in that regard. Now you are on the outside of the government looking

in, could they do things differently?

The only thing I would be critical of in student fees is that I would

have put them up a bit and used the money for exactly the sort of

things Steven is talking about. In Spain, youth unemployment is double

what it is here. If you have missed anything in the

world of politics, here is a catch- Monday kick-off. Sports Minister

doesn't like this game of politics. No love lost but plenty of love

when this MLA it revealed her son's fight for life. Your life is on

hold when you are dealing with renal failure. Normal family life

goes out the window. Martin McGuinness was asked by a a a

father to find out the truth about his son's murder. Tell us to

Dunecht. Second in command as far as I was told. Alex Attwood gets in

the swing for a new course and why this Republican likes his bit to

get more women elected. We operate within a chamber many of us feel is

the equivalent of Jurassic Park. God gave us to its ears and one

mouth. David Trimble's return to On the female quotas, you have to

MLAs instalment. Are quite is a good idea? No, the atmosphere has

to be made more female-friendly rather than quotas. I think most

women want to get to the top on merit and if you have quotas, the

danger is people may say they got there because of their agenda. What

we have to do, in the parties, and I tried when I was leader, to put

in education, training and encourage people. The same applies

in getting them to apply for public appointments. We did not get enough

applicants when I was on the board and we had to approach women to ask

them to apply. How would affirmative action go down as in

the business walk -- world there is a shortage of women in the