11/10/2012 The View

On the View tonight - Ireland's first private abortion clinic opens

next week. We've heard from the campaigners, but what about the

political perspective? This image is about Derry's past and this is

about the future. But what is coming down the line for the UK's

City of Culture? And staying with culture, our professors, Deirdre

Heenan and Rick Wilford, are here with their views on that and the

rest of the week's headlines. at least three fishy stories.

That's a sideways view from Newton Emerson. And you can, of course,

follow the programme on Twitter - It doesn't open until next week,

but already there have been calls for it to be closed down. The Marie

Stopes clinic in Belfast will be Ireland's first private abortion

clinic. Pro-choice campaigners say it's a step in the right direction,

pro-life supporters say it's an outrage. We have heard a lot of

these voices throughout the day, but moves of the politicians have

been strangely silent. Both the DUP and Sinn Fein refused to be

interviewed, but the Alliance Party's Anna Lo and the SDLP's

Alban Maginnis did agree to come in to the studio tonight. Thank you

for joining us. Anna Lo you have welcomed today's announcement. Why?

Very much if I can first say the Alliance Party has no policy on

abortion. I'm speaking as an individual MLA. I very much welcome

this, because I think there is a big gap in Northern Ireland with

the lack of legislation here in Northern Ireland. This is going to

be viewed by the -- filled by the new clinic. There is such confusion

about abortion here, it is banned here, unless the woman's life is

under threat, or is at risk of having serious damage to her

physical or mental health. We have no guidelines on this. In 2000 9

the DSS produced a guideline ordered by the High Court and then

it was withdrawn. And then now the new revised guidelines have not

been published. Medical staff are concerned about whether they're

going to carry out abortions or not. And in the last three years, the

figures show that each year we had 40 abortions on the NHS. But it is

estimated that 40 women a week go to England, or further afield to

seek abortion. Do you have a problem with the clinic opening

next week? I don't welcome the clinic coming here. The clinic of

course has every legal right to establish itself here in Belfast,

but I don't welcome it. I ask the question why is the clinic coming

here? I think it is part and parcel of a pro-abortion campaign by Marie

Stopes and others to bring about a radical change to the law here, to

a pro-abortion position. You say pro-abortion, Marie Stopes and its

sup supporters would say pro-choice. But that is a euphemism for pro-

abortion. Doesn't just mean abortion is a choice. It does not

mean that every goes in there will end up. I think if you examine what

people are saying, what they're really saying is there should be

wider availability of abortion for women here in Northern Ireland.

That I believe is the message going out to people. I don't welcome that.

I think the majority of people do not welcome a pro-abortion position.

Stopgsstopgs advises on sexual health matters and -- Marie Stopes

advises on sexual health and other things. Yes and they're free to do

that, but if they are providing a stepping stone to England as a

satellite clinic here, then I think you could be in dangerous waters.

Legally. Anna Lo, is the service that is going to be provided that

isn't currently already available to people who qualify for an

abortion free through the NHS? is so difficult to get abortion

here. Through NHS. It just makes me so angry that we're just so

hypocritical. We know so many women go across to England, they have to

make arrangements to go to a private clinic, they have to make

travel arrangement and pay for accommodation, it is up to �2,000

to go the England. We think we can brush that aside and forget about

these women and continue to say, we ban abortion. You say, this is an

interesting point, you say it is so difficult for people to get

abortion in Northern Ireland on the NHS. It should be river bit as

difficult unthe tr stopgsstopgs regime as it is under the -- it

should be every bit as difficult under the Marie Stopes regime. Nch

yes but at the moment the NHS has no -- Yes but at the moment the NHS

has no guideslines and Edwin Poots has been putting so much pressure

on the medical staff and they have to explain each case. You think it

would be easier for a woman to get it in Marie Stopes. Yes And that is

a good thing.Y. You have concedesing the points wilt be

easier and you want it to be easier. It will pwh clearer for an

independent clinic. Why would it be clearer? It is the same legislation.

Threfr two doctors and a psychiatrist. Who are predisposed

to allow abortion. They are working within the legal framework. Them

work within the law. But with more clarity... J a sentence why would

it be easier? Because it is clearer for them. At the the NHS staff are

frightened of carrying out that worgs abortion, because they could

be punished. Isn't that point, it would help to clarify the situation.

Because it is anything but clear at the moment. The guidelines could be

published. There should be strict guidelines issued. But the point I

make is this. What we see here is an attempt by Marie Stopes to

create a culture here a pro- abortion culture. That is why they

have come here in my estimation, I cannot see why they're coming here

unless they want to change things. They have said, Dawn Purvis has

been clear, it is not about creating a pro-abortion climate,

but a pro-choice climate. I think those are weezel words. It is a

euphemism to promote a pro-abortion culture. What Anna has said and I

respect her views, burr he said what should we do for women in

Northern Ireland? We should help women in Northern Ireland. But do

we help women by encouraging them to go to England to have abortions?

I think we don't help them. What about the political debate. The two

main parties refused to take part in this programme tonight. Is it

not time for politicians to come out of their hiding place and to

debate this properly in public and give a lead to members of the

public? I'm happy to debate the issue. I'm against abortion and I

will present my views in the Assembly. Why do you think others

aren't going to discuss it? I don't know. It is odd. The SDLP is clear,

it is anti-abortion and it is a pro-life party. What about that

wider debate, would you welcome it? Yes, we have been too quiet and let

these women go to England and when they come back threfr to hide their

feelings and if they have problems they can't go to GPs to seek

medical advice. And there are women, listen there are women going on

web-sites here, rogue web-sites, getting pills and then sometimes

they get them wrong, stieps they're not the right dose ang and they

have -- dosage and threfr to go to hospital to get sorted out. But it

runs the risk that that doctors can be subject to prosecution.

final sentence. Let us help women to face up to pregnancy that are

unplanned, but let us do that on a pro-life basis. Not a pro-abortion

basis. Thank you both. Still to come on The View: I was offended

when the leader 06 opposition stood by a sign that said, ditch the

witch. Political outburst that has travelled the globe and caught the

eye of our commentators. It's a city famous for poets, politicians

and its past - famous too for Londonderry - or Derry - made the

news again this week when the council stepped in to take over

marketing the campaign for the City of Culture 2013. The council's

Chief Executive took that decision, and we'll be talking to her shortly.

But first our Political Correspondent, Martina Purdy, has

been to Derry to find out if the city's ready for its big year.

cappical of culture is Derry. And Londonderry. This image is about

Derry's past. And this image is about the city's future. A city of

peace, prosperity, and culture. That vision of unity and prosperity

has the city using its hard-won cultural title to rebrand its image

at home and abroad in 2013. This is not a united city, it never has

been and that is something the city of culture needs to explore. Derry

is up for the challenge, say key players at the Bond theme party

this week. There will be something for everyone, from your standard

pop culture, through to your high brow opera, literature and a full

year of celebration. It is a city where we are learning to come

together and work as one - one city and one voice. There is no question

the city knows how to put on a party, but not everyone has a happy

face. In the Bogside, these artists complain about a lack of support

among their grievances the closure of their gallery and in term of

culture, they feel ignored. If you go in the web-site, you will see

cultural champions and there is some worthy champions that we

celebrate and enjoy, but one thing is for sure you won't find the

Bogside artists there. Why not? need to ask them. There is

criticism for Sinn Fein support for Sinn Fein's initial concerns about

bidding for the UK title have given way to support for the benefits.

think it is time for positivity and that was the message coming from

the City yesterday and this morning and there is a united approach both

from the Cultural Company and from Derry City Council. The idea of a

team may have faded over at the headquarters of the company in

charge. Its multi-million pound marketing budget has been taken

over by the city council amid threats of legal action. But can a

news conference this week really limit the damage? People are saying

this is a storm in a teacup but I don't think so and on the eve of

the launch of the City of Culture event that is just about to be

launched worldwide, it is not a very good thing to have happened.

To say the least, it is poor management. Is this for me? Over on

the waterside theatre which will come as UK in the title questions

are being asked and there is no firm offer of letter to fund two

proposed arts projects and a perception that marketing is a

problem. For me, Derry is a city of culture and that is the brand that

I have used. Other people have issues as to what the city is

called and the language to be used. It is a sensitive subject and my

sympathies go out to anybody who will try to brand this. What will

success look like? The year 2013 will take care of itself. The big

thing is 2014 and beyond, the legacy. The infrastructure has to

be left in a much better position. Whatever happens, do expect music

in the Derry air. As for perfect harmony, that may take more time.

Sharon O'Connor is the chief executive of Derry City Council.

She took the decision to order the Culture Company to transfer its

marketing responsibilities to the council and she's with me now. So,

why did you instruct the Culture Company to make that change?

Well, we have come through the planning stage and we are about go

into implementation. We have had a long series of conversations about

the resources needed to get us really into 5th gear in terms of

the marketing effort and we all acknowledged and agreed that we

need additional resources to do that so it seemed to me to make

sense for this small team in the Culture Company to be integrated

into the Derry City Council team. The timing is what has caught

people of the hop. It is two weeks today until the launch of the City

of Culture 2013. You wrote to the chief executive of the Culture

Company and you say you have had reservations about the marketing

operation for eight months. Why did you wait frontal two weeks before

the launch to do anything about it? That is a piece of confidential

correspondence between me and the chief executive. We have had

ongoing conversations about increasing the level of resources

within the marketing effort. There is never a good time to have any

change happen but this should not have been rehearsed in public view.

This was about scenes the transition to a full resourced

marketing for. Why two weeks before? Because it is to the lead-

up to the Lord as a programme. There is no other time to do it but

now. You could have done it eight months ago. With respect, I could

not have done at eight months ago because I was really finding my

feet in the job eight months ago. In terms of the marketing effort,

the Culture Company were in planning mode. Does it look bad?

is very unfortunate it has been rehearsed in the public domain and

no one would have wished it to have happened in the way that it did. I

did everything to prevent it happening. What was the problem?

Can you explain it? What will be fixed by the transfer that you have

instructed? I am responsible on behalf of the city to make sure the

project is as successful as everyone wants it to be at a lot of

people have been raising concerns about the visibility for City of

Culture. There is no point in as marketing us to the city. We have

to market it to the rest of the islands and to the world. We have

acknowledged and we have to acknowledge that no one in the

region has done this before. No one has had a UK City of Culture, no

one has managed a project on this scale. We are learning and

developing present understanding of what is required which is why we

have had to consider what is required, make changes as

appropriate, and we have done that a now. It is 81 days until you

actually launch the year that his 2013. Did this problem you

identified come down to an individual? Or was the structure?

do not want to get to talking about individuals. The Culture Company

have a very small team. We now know really that the lessons that we

have learned from the bit that it required a city-wide effort to make

sure we communicate effectively with the markets and audiences we

are trying to reach so we needed more resources, so it is about

resources. One individual has been suspended about his position. That

is in the public record. Does the chief executive of the Culture

Company have your full support? are very much as one on this. The

chairman of the Culture Company, there chief executive of the

Culture Company and myself, we have been in dialogue as to how to carry

the programme on, and the legacy we derive from the project, the other

critical dimension, about making a longer term contribution to the

economic prosperity of the region are. Is this all the shuffling of

the cards we will see? Is the matter sorted out and sold, and you

can move to a big launch in a fortnight's time? Are there are

other things unresolved? We are where we need to be in terms of the

lead-up to the launch but if you compare our experience to places

like Liverpool and Cork, this has been at a relatively uneventful

build up. They brought Phil Redmond in. Where is your Seb Coe, the man

who poured the Olympics together? That is what is missing, that is

what people are saying. We have a team of clever people we are

recommending the team as we speak. The personal actually was

fundamental to the bid process has come back in to assist us with

marketing and we will strengthen our programming team. We have

Graham Farrell who delivered the Queen's Festival for many years

successfully, so we have got talent, resources and expertise, and we

have a city that can deliver on of his. Is that an individual who is -

- is that a position that is replacing the individual? It is

about leadership for the marketing effort because we now have passed

20 people in terms of the team and it does about resourcing that. --

we now have plus 20 people. Can you say hand on heart that the UK City

of Culture, Londonderry, is going to be the big success everybody

wants it to because Mac I saw for myself the first real detailed

exposure of the programme because we have to keep it under wraps.

is like getting your Christmas presents early otherwise. I am

finding it difficult not to duck everybody all the exciting things

in the programme. -- not to tell everybody all the exciting things

in the programme. Thank you very much, the chief executive of Derry

City Council. Let's get a different view of

political life here with Newton's News.

In other news this week, wind and tidal power projects have been

approved by DUP minister Arlene Foster. If you want power, you need

to know which way the wind is blowing and go with the flow, said

the former politician. Stormont may be forced to debate abortion in the

same way it debated welfare reform with Jim Fearn saying they are

against it although they are for, the SDLP pour -- SDLP being against

Sinn Fein, and the Unionists being the bad guys and everyone expecting

the problem to be sorted out in Britain. Peter Robinson has accused

John McAllister of living in a life on Mars style 1970s time-warp.

Peter Robinson lives in a hacienda style villa in Castlereagh with

themed bedrooms, reproduction chandeliers and an ornamental

fishpond. The 12th Earl of Shaftesbury that owns Loch may may

consider selling it to Stormont. The shallow body of eels has agreed

to meet him. The First and Deputy First Ministers have announced a

�26 million fund for numeracy and literacy. This money became

available due to a miscalculation in another fund but don't expect to

read anything about that in a press release. Finally, Sinn Fein has

refused to decommission fishing votes. Cancelling the scheme, the

Minister said they can be no decommissioning without guaranteed

limits on future catchers, like not a mullet.

That is one view there politics. With me once again our pair of

professors, Deirdre Heenan and Rick Wilford. Let me ask you, Deirdre,

about the debate we were hearing about abortion. It has reopened an

issue which has rarely been out of the headlines. Exactly. My response

to you is what debate? The whole issue is that our politicians in

particular, health care professionals, have dodged the

issue. In the 21st century it is appalling that you have so much

difficulty in getting individuals to come along and discuss what is a

very complex emotive and toxic issue. To come along and say we are

interested in women's health, we want to help women but we will not

discuss the options, we will not discuss the reality. The idea in

Northern Ireland is if we do not discuss it, it isn't happening.

some politicians, and I said politicians turned us down, this

issue is toxic. It is. It is black and white. There was a debate on

this. There was unanimity across the chamber. When there was a

proposal to afford to the health committee to look at the Motor --

medical advice, that was defeated. Politicians here moral outrage at

clubs as what could be the light of reasoned debate. Deirdre, the other

issue is the Derry-Londonderry city of culture. Did you hear what the

chief executive of Derry City Council had to say? Were you

reassured by her? It is fair to say that I was very perplexed when this

became public and recriminations became public and you would have

thought that in a diplomatic way this could have been sorted out

behind closed doors. I know we say could -- any publicity is good two

publicity but I do not think it is good publicity. This will not cast

a Shadow. Local government is involved, MLAs, MPs involved, there

is going to be debate, discussion about who does what and that is to

be expected. Let's all get behind the bid to make sure it is a

success because this is our opportunity and we cannot allow it

to be overshadowed by bureaucracy and administrative difficult is.

lot of people would agree with that. What is your story of the week,

Rick? The first Australian Prime Minister who turned, in Parliament,

on her detractor, the Leader of the Opposition. It was dramatic stuff.

He wants to know what misogyny looks like a modern Australia. He

doesn't need a motion in the House of representatives, he needs a

mirror. I was offended when the Leader of the Opposition went

outside in the front of Parliament and stood next to a sign that said

ditch and the witch. I was offended when the Leader of the Opposition

got next to a sign that described to me as a man's Pritch. And it was

dramatic stuff. I watched 15 minutes of it. She stood there

without a note. It was mesmerising. It was an excoriating piece of

invective that she spoke without a note. It was controlled mustard

passion and it is something that many women are actually

sympathising with, and many men, this kind of cash for misogyny. He

described abortion as the easy way out which was another issue which

offended her. They rightly for its stock very dramatic stuff. Check it

out on the internet if you have not seen it. The David Cameron speech.

Just call me Dave. Heat is a compassionate Conservative and he

has been as understood. They are not the nasty party. He is the

party for the vulnerable, the people at the bottom of society and

the Conservatives are not where they came from. Tell that to the

unemployed, disabled, the low-paid, the nurses, the teachers, the

people who feel squeezed by this Government. They will not be

impressed by what he had to save. Tweet of the week? Tory conference.

George Osborne speech and the Guardian writer, Patrick Wintour,

who said "Workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but

your employment rights." this is the right to redundancy, claims

against dismissal in exchange for shares and a company, it will not

go anywhere. Your choice? Chris Rock, his tweed was, now you have a

clear choice between the man who got rid of Bin Laden or the man who

wants to get rid of big bird. It is a reference to Mitt Romney who said

that he would make cuts to the PBS, most closely associated with sesame

Street. Is that a vote winner or vote loser, we will see. I'm

looking forward to the second debate? It is crucial for a

Starodubtsev that he puts in a top- class performance given the

lacklustre performance last time. And the by-election? The first Tory

defence, Louise Minchin's seed, Corby. Interesting to see how it