:00:00. > :00:00.a new constituency for May's election,
:00:07. > :00:08.but the long-running problems with welfare reform
:00:09. > :00:12.Tonight on The View, we'll hear from Martin McGuinness
:00:13. > :00:43.so who is holding up the legacy issue?
:00:44. > :00:49.Martin McGuiness says he has no doubt about who is causing the
:00:50. > :00:52.delay. For the meeting I was involved in with Theresa Villiers it
:00:53. > :00:56.was clear to me that the British Government were not keen to resolve
:00:57. > :00:58.the situation prior to the assembly elections.
:00:59. > :01:00.Plus, back off Brussels or all aboard the European gravy train?
:01:01. > :01:05.we hear from a TD who thinks the UK should stay in the EU,
:01:06. > :01:07.and an MLA who says the Republic should butt out.
:01:08. > :01:09.Also tonight - the word of the week was waffle.
:01:10. > :01:21.We will need executive support to do so. We call Jim Allister. That was
:01:22. > :01:29.act-macro pure waffle act-macro
:01:30. > :01:31.And in Commentators' Corner, Professor Deirdre Heenan,
:01:32. > :01:33.who's joined tonight by the Reverend Lesley Carroll.
:01:34. > :01:44.Once again this week, the political headlines have been
:01:45. > :01:48.From the allegations surrounding the Shankill bombing to the inquiry
:01:49. > :01:50.into inquests and, of course, the political deadlock over doing
:01:51. > :01:55.I've been speaking to the Deputy First Minister,
:01:56. > :01:58.Martin McGuinness, about his view on what's causing the current delay
:01:59. > :02:03.When we caught up this afternoon at his office
:02:04. > :02:06.in Stormont Castle, I began by asking him about recent comments
:02:07. > :02:08.on the Shankill bombing made by the Chief Constable,
:02:09. > :02:13.He said this week that he is "100% convinced that the police service
:02:14. > :02:15."at the time had no knowledge of the 1993 attack that
:02:16. > :02:31.I can only take it at face value what the Chief Constable said. I
:02:32. > :02:36.think in all of these matters, there are going to have to be addressed in
:02:37. > :02:41.the context of finding a way forward on legacy and I think during the
:02:42. > :02:45.course of the talks in the latter part of last year we made huge
:02:46. > :02:49.progress in terms of the mechanisms and structures we intend to put in
:02:50. > :02:55.place. The big obstacle was the issue of disclosure and this term
:02:56. > :02:59.national security that Theresa Villiers was keen to deploy. I have
:03:00. > :03:06.met Theresa Villiers on a number of occasions since then and from the
:03:07. > :03:09.meetings I have had with plus the interviews she has given publicly,
:03:10. > :03:13.she has certainly given the impression that the British
:03:14. > :03:18.Government is up for resolving the concerns of the number of very
:03:19. > :03:23.important groups of citizens who believe that that term would be used
:03:24. > :03:29.to prevent the full truth coming out. I think we can plug out of the
:03:30. > :03:34.air almost 20 or 30 different scenarios. The only way to resolve
:03:35. > :03:39.it is to find a way forward on legacy, absent from that will be
:03:40. > :03:43.difficult. On that case, it has been reported that the Republican who
:03:44. > :03:47.ordered the Shankill bomb was a police informer, what is your
:03:48. > :03:53.response? I do not know who the person is so how can I respond? I
:03:54. > :03:57.have no information about who the individual is. What we have to do is
:03:58. > :04:04.recognise that when it comes to dealing with the past that there is
:04:05. > :04:07.a tendency for people to plug out of one situation and ignore others and
:04:08. > :04:12.I think it is very important that we look of all of this in the round and
:04:13. > :04:17.recognise that there are many concerns. I have no doubt that in
:04:18. > :04:23.the past elements with in the British establishment used to people
:04:24. > :04:27.within the community and indeed within organisations as agents. That
:04:28. > :04:33.is very clear on the public record. It is really about how we came get
:04:34. > :04:39.to the truth of what happened. The only possible mechanism for getting
:04:40. > :04:43.to the truth is the root agreed by the two governments and parties in
:04:44. > :04:48.relation to the mechanisms and structures. We need to find a way to
:04:49. > :04:52.put those mechanisms and structures in place and that will only happen
:04:53. > :04:56.in my view when we get our way forward and I listen carefully to
:04:57. > :05:00.what Theresa Villiers and others have been saying about whether or
:05:01. > :05:02.not they believe it can be done before the assembly elections, I
:05:03. > :05:08.would like it done before then but if not, the preparatory work needs
:05:09. > :05:12.to be done so we can hit the ground running after the assembly
:05:13. > :05:15.elections. Arlene Foster said the outstanding issues concerning
:05:16. > :05:21.legacy, those matters that were not agreed in the Fresh Start deal will
:05:22. > :05:26.have to wait until after the election, it do you accept that is
:05:27. > :05:28.the case? From the meeting I was involved in with Theresa Villiers it
:05:29. > :05:33.was clear that the British Government were not keen to resolve
:05:34. > :05:36.the situation prior to the assembly elections so I think probably Arlene
:05:37. > :05:43.Foster has taken her lead from the British Government. So that as it?
:05:44. > :05:48.Know. I made the point when I have a conversation with Theresa Villiers
:05:49. > :05:51.that if it was a matter of waiting until after the assembly elections
:05:52. > :05:57.the preparation needs to be done between now and then so that after
:05:58. > :06:02.the election, facing the public with the prospect that there will be more
:06:03. > :06:07.talks, this needs to be resolved immediately after the assembly
:06:08. > :06:11.elections. Do you except that that speculation about an informer and
:06:12. > :06:14.the Shankill bomb is exactly the kind of story that underlines and
:06:15. > :06:18.need for a credible mechanism for dealing with the past and that is an
:06:19. > :06:23.issue that politicians including yourself have up until now failed to
:06:24. > :06:29.grasp? I do not think we have failed to grasp anything. The big concern
:06:30. > :06:33.that we have in my party is that there are significant victims groups
:06:34. > :06:37.within the broad nationalist and republican community who believe
:06:38. > :06:41.that the British Government are attempting to prevent disclosure or
:06:42. > :06:47.are hiding behind national security. My position through the course of
:06:48. > :06:52.the talks was to ask our negotiators to engage with those groups. We gave
:06:53. > :06:57.a pledge to them that we would not sign up for anything but did not
:06:58. > :07:02.allay their concerns and fears. The trick now is to find a solution
:07:03. > :07:07.which they can live with and if they say to me that they can live with
:07:08. > :07:11.that, I will go with that. The DUP has said that the money that was set
:07:12. > :07:19.aside for the legacy bodies that should now be up and running but are
:07:20. > :07:23.not, should be released anyway. Is that sensible? I think what is
:07:24. > :07:28.sensible is what we have tried very hard to do is to do the preparation
:07:29. > :07:32.to get the solution that clearly Theresa Villiers has indicated that
:07:33. > :07:39.she thinks is out there. I think that money is much better used to
:07:40. > :07:42.ensure that the mechanisms and institutions that we intend to
:07:43. > :07:47.establish are properly funded. There is a big question as to whether or
:07:48. > :07:52.not the ?150 million over a period of five years will be enough. I
:07:53. > :07:56.think we need to be very cautious about how we deal with that money to
:07:57. > :08:01.ensure that when the time comes to establish these structures which
:08:02. > :08:06.will provide a menu of options for victims are properly funded. Let us
:08:07. > :08:09.talk about the assembly elections in May, you have taken the decision to
:08:10. > :08:27.move constituency from Mid Ulster to fight the next election in
:08:28. > :08:29.Foyle, your home city, who is Sinn Fein more afraid of in Londonderry,
:08:30. > :08:32.Colum Eastwood or People Before Profit? The political landscape on
:08:33. > :08:35.the Ireland of Ireland is changing. It is clear even at this stage that
:08:36. > :08:39.Sinn Fein will have a very good General Election in the south. Even
:08:40. > :08:44.our most ardent opponents are conceding that there will be a very
:08:45. > :08:49.substantial increase in our representation. In the north, I have
:08:50. > :08:53.been on record within the party as saying that I do believe that Sinn
:08:54. > :09:00.Fein can emerge as the largest political party in the north at some
:09:01. > :09:03.stage in the future. My move into Foyle is about increasing Sinn
:09:04. > :09:08.Fein's mandate and it is about delivery for the people of Foyle. I
:09:09. > :09:17.have a deep affection for the people in South Derry and they are now very
:09:18. > :09:22.lucky to have a very strong Sinn Fein organisation with an MP, three
:09:23. > :09:26.MLAs and 18 councillors, probably the strongest party in any of the
:09:27. > :09:35.councils anywhere in the North. The move into Derry is about certainly
:09:36. > :09:38.addressing a very clear perception that is out there are that more
:09:39. > :09:43.needs to be done and that is why we have the budget in relation to
:09:44. > :09:52.putting the money forward for the work this year of the construction
:09:53. > :09:56.of the A6 and could focus on McGee university which has to be a top
:09:57. > :10:02.priority for all of us. This is effectively Sinn Fein and the DUP
:10:03. > :10:07.versus everyone else. I have been on public record as saying that in the
:10:08. > :10:11.last assembly elections, it was Peter Robinson and myself against
:10:12. > :10:16.the rest. We were singing from the same hymn sheet in terms of how we
:10:17. > :10:20.move forward. Will this continue with Arlene Foster? Everyone knows
:10:21. > :10:26.and I am not going to pull a blind over the fact that there were two or
:10:27. > :10:31.three rocky years as a result of financial difficulties, mostly also
:10:32. > :10:35.on account of flag protest, riots and the situation at Ardoyne. I have
:10:36. > :10:41.been a colleague of Arlington for the last eight years and I think
:10:42. > :10:45.that she and I know what we have to do -- Arlene Foster. We have had
:10:46. > :10:49.conversations and we will put the negativity of the last few years
:10:50. > :10:55.into the dustbin and we want to move forward with a positive agenda. Lord
:10:56. > :10:58.MP has written to the parties suggesting a ban on election
:10:59. > :11:03.posters, would use support that? That would only work in the context
:11:04. > :11:08.of all political parties and candidates. If the others agree,
:11:09. > :11:12.would you agree? If all others agree, we would give serious
:11:13. > :11:19.consideration. What are the chances of that happening? Due only to be
:11:20. > :11:25.honest? I think the chances of that happening zero. The chances of other
:11:26. > :11:31.parties agreeing to are zero. Martin McGuiness does not need posters!
:11:32. > :11:36.Part of generating interest in an election is the television debates,
:11:37. > :11:40.it is about what is happening in the newspapers and local radio stations,
:11:41. > :11:44.but it is also about creating an atmosphere. Our position is clear,
:11:45. > :11:48.if all of the other parties and candidates were to agree that there
:11:49. > :11:52.should be no posters, we would give it serious consideration, but I
:11:53. > :11:56.think it is unlikely. We have had this discussion on a number of
:11:57. > :12:03.occasions, it has never come to pass. Do you think that your party's
:12:04. > :12:07.climb-down on welfare will play badly in May? I think people
:12:08. > :12:12.absolutely appreciate the huge difficulties that all political
:12:13. > :12:15.parties have to deal with in terms of the austerity agenda being
:12:16. > :12:21.pursued by the British Government. For us in the negotiation we were
:12:22. > :12:25.involved in with other parties, as in every other negotiation I have
:12:26. > :12:29.been involved in, goes back to the Good Friday Agreement, everyone has
:12:30. > :12:34.to recognise that compromises have to be made. I think from our
:12:35. > :12:41.perspective to be able to put in place a fond of half ?1 billion
:12:42. > :12:44.under the tutelage of Professor Eileen Evason and others is
:12:45. > :12:49.something that is not available anywhere else, it is not available
:12:50. > :12:53.in England or Wales or Scotland... You overpromised. He said that no
:12:54. > :12:58.benefit recipients present or future would lose out and that patency is
:12:59. > :13:03.not the case. I think that a very determined effort was made by Sinn
:13:04. > :13:08.Fein protect everyone, but we had to work out what the cost of protecting
:13:09. > :13:11.everyone would be at the undoubtedly there would be a cost to the
:13:12. > :13:15.departed of education, to our teachers and schools and hospitals,
:13:16. > :13:21.to our nurses and doctors and I think on the balance of things, we
:13:22. > :13:25.have done I think a decent job in trying to protect the most
:13:26. > :13:30.vulnerable in society. You have already suggested that if Sinn Fein
:13:31. > :13:35.comes back as the biggest party after the election in may you would
:13:36. > :13:39.designate as joint first ministers. Arlene Foster has said she is not
:13:40. > :13:41.interested in that because she is confident she will be returned as
:13:42. > :13:46.the leader of the biggest party and she will return as First Minister.
:13:47. > :13:50.Were you disappointed she was not a bit more open to the suggestion? I
:13:51. > :13:59.am never disappointed about things like that. I am not going to comment
:14:00. > :14:03.on what Arlene Foster shed. What I said was if Sinn Fein is returned as
:14:04. > :14:09.the largest party, the next time out, I am per paired to the DUP that
:14:10. > :14:15.we change the title from office to joint First Minister. The reality is
:14:16. > :14:20.is that power resides with both of us. We can get nothing done unless
:14:21. > :14:23.we agree. I have as much power and authority as Arlene Foster and she
:14:24. > :14:29.has as much power and authority as me, it only works if we can work
:14:30. > :14:33.together. This is a very important year for centenary commemoration is
:14:34. > :14:39.in Ireland, how do you think Republicans should mark the
:14:40. > :14:44.centenary of the Battle of the Somme? I think, in short, very
:14:45. > :14:52.respectfully. In a very dignified way. As I hope others will respect
:14:53. > :14:57.and be respectful and dignified about what is precious to us in
:14:58. > :15:01.terms of the 100 of anniversary of the Easter rising. I think we all
:15:02. > :15:05.throughout the island have a duty and responsibility to give
:15:06. > :15:10.leadership on these issues and I am presently examining what my
:15:11. > :15:14.contribution can be towards recognising those Irish men in the
:15:15. > :15:20.tens of thousands who lost their lives from all over Ireland in the
:15:21. > :15:25.First World War. Might that involve you attending some kind of
:15:26. > :15:28.commemoration on the site of the battle in July? Presently, I have
:15:29. > :15:33.asked my advisers to sit down and think about how we can do something
:15:34. > :15:38.in regard to acknowledging the sacrifices made by Irish men north
:15:39. > :15:42.and south. It was not a Great War, it was a great slaughter and
:15:43. > :15:47.whatever about the politics and the politics were terrible, what we are
:15:48. > :15:53.focused on is the human loss. Might that extend to you considering
:15:54. > :15:59.wearing a puppy at some stage this year?
:16:00. > :16:07.I don't think it is essential to wear at poppy to remember those who
:16:08. > :16:13.lost their lives. But you can imagine the impact on the Unionists?
:16:14. > :16:19.We can wonder how it would impact on everybody. I will be respectful and
:16:20. > :16:23.dignified about how I decide to commemorate those tragic people, who
:16:24. > :16:29.left this island in their tens of thousands I've never came home.
:16:30. > :16:36.Quick word about Brexit, that Enda Kenny is allowed to have his opinion
:16:37. > :16:41.about what happens to the UK, but should not seek to influence the
:16:42. > :16:46.outcome of the referendum. I agree with the Taoiseach that an exit from
:16:47. > :16:49.Europe would be very bad for the island of Ireland, economically,
:16:50. > :16:58.that it would be very bad for the agri- food counters -- the food
:16:59. > :17:02.industry in the north. I respect the position of the DUP, which seems to
:17:03. > :17:06.be very in between, some would like to exit tomorrow, to those who wish
:17:07. > :17:11.to see David Cameron coming back with some sort of agreement, which
:17:12. > :17:17.he can put positively to the people, for people to stay in. The danger of
:17:18. > :17:21.that is that the British government are possibly running the risk of
:17:22. > :17:25.sleep walking into an exit from Europe and from my perspective, I
:17:26. > :17:29.think that would be disastrous for Ireland. We will leave it there.
:17:30. > :17:32.Deputy First Minister, thank you. Thank you, Mark.
:17:33. > :17:35.Martin McGuinness taking us neatly into our next discussion -
:17:36. > :17:38.Should politicians from the Republic say it as they see it,
:17:39. > :17:40.or mind their own business on whether the UK
:17:41. > :17:45.The Taoiseach was accused by the DUP this week of interfering in internal
:17:46. > :17:47.matters, which the party says are solely the preserve
:17:48. > :17:55.The Fianna Fail TD, Brendan Smith, says that's a regrettable throwback
:17:56. > :17:58.and he joins me now from our Dublin studio.
:17:59. > :18:02.is the TUV leader and former MEP, Jim Allister.
:18:03. > :18:07.The DUP was invited to be part of the discussion, but declined.
:18:08. > :18:14.Welcome to you both. Jim Allister first of all, do you agree with
:18:15. > :18:20.Nigel Dodds that this is an internal UK matter and the Taoiseach should
:18:21. > :18:22.not interfere? Of course this is a United Kingdom matter, about the
:18:23. > :18:27.future of the United Kingdom, whether we are in or out of the EU,
:18:28. > :18:32.and the referendum is that the people of the United Kingdom and the
:18:33. > :18:39.decision lies with them and them alone. People in the Irish Republic,
:18:40. > :18:41.in France, other parts of Europe, and have an interest in what
:18:42. > :18:46.happens. When the Irish Republic voted on the Lisbon Treaty, I as an
:18:47. > :18:52.ovarian -- hires an observer was interested to see what David do. And
:18:53. > :18:56.when they had a second referendum, it was interested, when it did not
:18:57. > :19:00.suit Brussels. But they never thought it was any of my business to
:19:01. > :19:11.participate. Or to seek to influence that. So you are incomplete
:19:12. > :19:15.agreement with Nigel Dodds on this? Arlene Foster roared back from a
:19:16. > :19:20.somewhat at it is clear this is a matter for UK voters. But is it
:19:21. > :19:25.acceptable for someone like Brendan Smith, Ruby will speak to in a
:19:26. > :19:29.moment, remit as a Fianna Fail opposition spokesman includes the
:19:30. > :19:37.border region, is it right for him to have a few on the subject, as EU
:19:38. > :19:41.funding relates to Northern Ireland and the Republic? He is untitled two
:19:42. > :19:47.of you but not to imprint that on the voters of Northern Ireland. --
:19:48. > :19:51.he is entitled to the review. This is a wonderful opportunity after 40
:19:52. > :19:57.years of the shackles of Europe to liberate ourselves. And to grow our
:19:58. > :20:01.economy, we have the growth is, outside of the declining European
:20:02. > :20:07.Union, and to build trade with the rest of the world, we at the growth
:20:08. > :20:12.is. He is entitled to a few but not to vault or act as if he has one.
:20:13. > :20:18.How do you feel about that, Brendan Smith? You are entitled to view, an
:20:19. > :20:22.opinion, but you must not seek to influence the outcome of the
:20:23. > :20:27.referendum? I would disagree with Jim and it is important us in public
:20:28. > :20:30.life in the south, that we participate in the debate and I had
:20:31. > :20:36.played the facts and concerns we would have if Britain decided to
:20:37. > :20:46.leave the EU. We are concerned about the development relationships on
:20:47. > :20:48.this island, between north and south, there are huge synergies
:20:49. > :20:53.between economies not in sight. Other countries in Europe could have
:20:54. > :20:57.an opinion. But we are the only country with a land border with
:20:58. > :21:06.Britain, we are close ally in the European Union, I served as Minister
:21:07. > :21:10.of agriculture, attended many meetings, and we have a very good
:21:11. > :21:15.and close working relationship with Britain. We can differ with them
:21:16. > :21:21.strongly on some issues but on a huge range of issues we would be
:21:22. > :21:24.very close allies. But just to be clear, you began your comments
:21:25. > :21:29.saying you disagreed but Jim Allister, but do you think you have
:21:30. > :21:34.a right to try to influence the outcome of the referendum in the UK?
:21:35. > :21:40.We have a right to put forward a viewpoint and we would hope the
:21:41. > :21:43.electorate would take her views into account. So you want to influence
:21:44. > :21:48.the electorate in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK? I did not
:21:49. > :21:55.say that. With respect, that seems to be what you are saying. What you
:21:56. > :22:00.want to state is, what you want to put clearly across is the huge
:22:01. > :22:06.important and positive leveraged debt is for both economies, for both
:22:07. > :22:14.north and south, by both of us being members of the European Union.
:22:15. > :22:19.Looking at agriculture, food and fisheries, we work with Northern
:22:20. > :22:25.Ireland to increase the cause of this, be it north side, and working
:22:26. > :22:29.together on that respect. On a daily basis, there's huge trade and
:22:30. > :22:37.commerce and business between north and south, we do not want barriers
:22:38. > :22:42.put up between trade on this island. Very quickly, before I come back to
:22:43. > :22:48.Jim Allister, to clarify, RUC Endura view is it would be better for the
:22:49. > :22:56.UK to remain in the EU, but it is up to voters to decide for themselves,
:22:57. > :23:01.or are you saying directly to people in Northern Ireland who will have a
:23:02. > :23:09.vote in the referendum that this should stay within the EU?
:23:10. > :23:14.Sovereignty of the sides with the people in a written constitution, we
:23:15. > :23:20.respect the sovereignty of any other country to make its decision, that
:23:21. > :23:24.does not stop as participating in the debate and outlining what we see
:23:25. > :23:30.are the issues, the positives and negatives. Is that fair enough? It
:23:31. > :23:34.excludes them from campaigning and it sounds like Enda Kenny was
:23:35. > :23:39.seeking to be part of this campaign, and I think Mr Smith would like to
:23:40. > :23:45.campaign on this issue in favour of staying and shackling us to the EU.
:23:46. > :23:49.There are so much scare stories that would entry within the British
:23:50. > :23:53.Isles. Of course it would not. We traded with the rest of Ireland long
:23:54. > :23:59.before we were in the EU and will continue to do so. It might make
:24:00. > :24:03.that more difficult. Northern Ireland exports 60% of its exports
:24:04. > :24:09.to the rest of the United Kingdom, exports 10% to the Republic of
:24:10. > :24:13.Ireland, but here is the key point, because the United Kingdom has a
:24:14. > :24:20.huge trade deficit with the rest of the EU, in other words selling more
:24:21. > :24:24.to us than we to them, they have a vested interest in maintaining that.
:24:25. > :24:30.They have a vested interest in continuing the trade. So if and when
:24:31. > :24:35.the exit there will be agreements to continue that. That bill applied to
:24:36. > :24:43.the Republic of Ireland as well as the rest of Europe, because it is we
:24:44. > :24:52.only did more than -- be more than we need them. It sits as strongly as
:24:53. > :24:57.strong trading nation, similar to Britain, we explored 80% of what is
:24:58. > :25:02.produced, doubled the European Union average. Britain is nearest
:25:03. > :25:07.neighbour, we are likewise a huge trading partner for Britain as well.
:25:08. > :25:12.If you think about Britain exporting more to our land than to Brazil,
:25:13. > :25:18.India and China combined. That shows the huge trade that is across the
:25:19. > :25:27.Irish Sea in both directions. I firmly believe, if the parameters
:25:28. > :25:32.that we trade in at the moment, if there are no restrictions which add
:25:33. > :25:35.to costs for both the export and import, it will be a negative for
:25:36. > :25:40.the economies of Britain and Ireland. But the differences for the
:25:41. > :25:45.Republic of Ireland the bulk of their trade is with the rest of the
:25:46. > :25:48.EU. For the United Kingdom the bulk of trade is with the rest of the
:25:49. > :25:54.world. Therefore we can afford to leave it. Maybe the Irish Republic
:25:55. > :26:00.is so tied in the cannot afford to leave. That is a matter for them.
:26:01. > :26:07.But they could see the wisdom of the United Kingdom flourishes after
:26:08. > :26:11.leaving the EU. Injury strategy. -- dangerous strategy. A lot of your
:26:12. > :26:17.critics and opponents and those who would like to see the UK stay in the
:26:18. > :26:23.EU, they have said that while the UK may be a net contributor to the EU,
:26:24. > :26:31.Northern Ireland however is a net beneficiary. That is not correct.
:26:32. > :26:37.United Kingdom contributes ?20 billion per year into the EU. The
:26:38. > :26:45.Northern Irish share of that, like the Barnett Formula in reverse, is
:26:46. > :26:51.about 500,000 - ?600,000 per year. The total receipts in the last
:26:52. > :26:59.available year, from the European Union, are ?430 million. Less than
:27:00. > :27:03.we contribute. Figures confirmed last week, which is 500 million
:27:04. > :27:08.euros for Northern Ireland and the border region. Your critics would
:27:09. > :27:12.say, if Northern Ireland does not continue to be part of the EU
:27:13. > :27:16.through the UK, we would lose out on that kind of funding. What was
:27:17. > :27:25.announced was for the next seven years. 220 million -- 229 million
:27:26. > :27:29.euros. It is over the next seven years, for the border regions of the
:27:30. > :27:36.Republic and Northern Ireland. That is all it is. That is about ?15
:27:37. > :27:41.million per year. That is nothing when compared to the fact that the
:27:42. > :27:48.health service gobbles up more than ?4 billion. And on top of that there
:27:49. > :27:53.is interim money, which is of a similar vein spread even similar.
:27:54. > :28:00.That some of throwing money we get back. It is a growing money we are
:28:01. > :28:06.getting back and they only get back half of what we put in. Brendan, how
:28:07. > :28:11.do you respond? He is not factoring in that foreign investment comes to
:28:12. > :28:18.both Ireland and Britain, such as from the United States. But not
:28:19. > :28:22.subject to bureaucracy from muscles. And also based on access to the
:28:23. > :28:27.European market of 500 million people, another fact he has not
:28:28. > :28:34.alluded to. I represent two southern Ulster counties and I need but a lot
:28:35. > :28:41.of my neighbours north of the border and the farming community, and I
:28:42. > :28:44.have yet to meet a farmer from any part of Northern Ireland that is not
:28:45. > :28:50.in favour of remaining within the European Union. But the farming
:28:51. > :28:56.community, farming and agriculture, is dependent on continued membership
:28:57. > :29:05.of the European Union. Let me put that point... How do you respond to
:29:06. > :29:10.that? A lot of farmers are nervous about the Brexit. There is no sector
:29:11. > :29:14.more under the cosh of Brussels bureaucracy than farmers. The forms
:29:15. > :29:19.filled in, when they can spread slurry, do anything, take your cat
:29:20. > :29:27.to Brussels. And the single farm payment is a different story? Of an
:29:28. > :29:31.money back, which would be made up, because agriculture is key to the
:29:32. > :29:35.economy of the United Kingdom, made up of a national scheme which would
:29:36. > :29:40.be far better for us in that we would have the money to spend on our
:29:41. > :29:45.own people instead of subsidising the inefficient farmers of Italy,
:29:46. > :29:55.France, Greece, Romania, which is what we are doing at the moment. We
:29:56. > :29:58.will have to leave it there. Have rained two at moment. There should
:29:59. > :30:00.be more opportunity to discuss this. Thank you both very much. -- we all
:30:01. > :30:02.have round two. Over to the Corner now,
:30:03. > :30:05.where there's plenty to mull over with tonight's commentators
:30:06. > :30:06.Professor Deirdre Heenan We'll talk about that interview
:30:07. > :30:10.with Martin McGuinness shortly, but first to tonight's news
:30:11. > :30:19.that Naomi Long is back She has been selected for East
:30:20. > :30:27.Belfast for the Assembly. Your response to that? No huge surprise?
:30:28. > :30:31.Not huge but welcome. It is easy to forget she had a particularly
:30:32. > :30:36.bruising time that involved bombs and bullets. But I believe she and
:30:37. > :30:40.she can make a difference and Northern Ireland needs performance
:30:41. > :30:47.of her calibre, someone articulate and could make clear what it is they
:30:48. > :30:52.are trying to do. Absolutely I agree, incisive, energetic,
:30:53. > :30:56.intelligent, we need more of it. The former MP was selected for East
:30:57. > :31:01.Belfast as both an Assembly member for East Belfast in the past. Gareth
:31:02. > :31:05.Gordon was speaking to her shortly after the news was made public and
:31:06. > :31:10.asked her for her reaction to being reselected.
:31:11. > :31:16.It was quite a journey for me in deciding what to do but I reached
:31:17. > :31:20.the conclusion that for me I wanted to make a contribution in politics
:31:21. > :31:24.and wanted to continue to do that in the assembly and I am pleased to
:31:25. > :31:29.have been selected along with Chris Lyttle and Tim Morrow to stand at
:31:30. > :31:32.the assembly elections and I hope that we are able to return a team of
:31:33. > :31:38.three to make a difference. Does that mean that you considered not
:31:39. > :32:00.coming back? After May I was tired, exhausted, it was a
:32:01. > :32:04.bruising five years and I took the time to find my passion because they
:32:05. > :32:07.did not want to come back because people expected me to, I wanted to
:32:08. > :32:09.come back because I thought I had something to contribute. I am
:32:10. > :32:12.convinced after reflection that there is still work to be done and
:32:13. > :32:15.there is still a role for the Alliance Party in terms of what we
:32:16. > :32:18.can deliver. I still want to be part of that. I could not go off and have
:32:19. > :32:20.a nice life because I would find myself shouting at the television
:32:21. > :32:23.and getting frustrated because I am passionate. When did you make that
:32:24. > :32:25.decision? I made the decision at Christmas. Your passion must have
:32:26. > :32:30.been dented if you spent seven months deciding whether and not to
:32:31. > :32:40.continue. What happened was I needed rest. I was very tired, it was a
:32:41. > :32:42.very exhausting campaign and they took the time to rest and
:32:43. > :32:45.recuperate. I took the time to remind myself what it was like to
:32:46. > :32:48.have a life outside of politics. To do normal things for a while was
:32:49. > :32:52.important to be ground myself and what I found when I did that was
:32:53. > :32:57.despite how much I enjoyed that like and how much I enjoyed the time and
:32:58. > :33:01.how valuable it was, I still missed politics because I am passionate
:33:02. > :33:04.about Northern Ireland and passionate about making change here
:33:05. > :33:14.and I believe the Alliance Party is the right vehicle and I am honoured
:33:15. > :33:16.that they believe I have a contribution to make. How did you
:33:17. > :33:22.feel after what happened in May? Did you take it badly, did you feel
:33:23. > :33:25.better? Not at all. Why would I? For me, the election campaign was as
:33:26. > :33:30.successful as it could have been in the circumstances in which it was
:33:31. > :33:34.run. We added 4000 votes to the votes I had in the previous election
:33:35. > :33:39.so I think we debunked the myth that the only reason I took the seat was
:33:40. > :33:46.because Peter Robinson was in trouble. That was not the case, I
:33:47. > :33:50.increased my vote. I think we won a moral victory and if we had been on
:33:51. > :33:55.a level playing field, I think we would have retained the seat. I was
:33:56. > :33:59.not bitter, I was exhausted, but my initial reaction when I did not win
:34:00. > :34:03.this seat was concerned for my staff because it was not just about what I
:34:04. > :34:06.was going to do with my future but also what the people who had worked
:34:07. > :34:11.so closely with me over that period were going to do about their futures
:34:12. > :34:15.and also the constituents whom I had worked for, the cases I had worked
:34:16. > :34:19.on, making sure that those people were able to transition, get their
:34:20. > :34:28.results and get the service we wanted to give. My only long talking
:34:29. > :34:33.to Gareth Gordon. Let us talk about Martin McGuiness. You have an
:34:34. > :34:38.interest in legacy issues. He talked a lot about legacy issues and he was
:34:39. > :34:48.prepared to call it as he sees it in terms of who is responsible. The
:34:49. > :34:54.more they call it as they see it. Somehow this has to get an and
:34:55. > :34:59.Martin McGuiness ad nets that but it has to be attended to. As far as he
:35:00. > :35:04.is concerned it is the fault of the Secretary of State. Other people may
:35:05. > :35:08.think it is the fault of Sinn Fein. We keep going around. Yes, I would
:35:09. > :35:12.love to see people starting to say this is what I will do instead of
:35:13. > :35:17.saying this is what I expect someone else to do. That will help. The
:35:18. > :35:21.chances of any of this being resolved before they are virtually
:35:22. > :35:27.none will stop I would think zero, they could not resolve it as part of
:35:28. > :35:33.the Fresh Start and it has been pushed aside. I think it is
:35:34. > :35:36.interesting, I felt Martin was quite subdued in that conversation. You
:35:37. > :35:40.referred to his climb-down over welfare and he did not flinch or as
:35:41. > :35:44.previously he would have gone mad over the suggestion. He also said he
:35:45. > :35:49.had to get on with Arlene Foster because they could get nothing done
:35:50. > :35:54.unless they agreed. Everyone in Northern Ireland knows that because
:35:55. > :35:59.Stormont has been covered in a permafrost. Him moving to Foyle will
:36:00. > :36:06.add zest to the constituency and we will be watching with great
:36:07. > :36:10.interest. It is putting it up to SDLP and they are trying to spook
:36:11. > :36:16.Colum Eastwood. Will he say we are not bothered or does he focus on the
:36:17. > :36:20.young people in the party? I noticed today year unveiled his new spokes
:36:21. > :36:24.team and they are young, he has swept aside and a lot of the old
:36:25. > :36:32.guard and I imagine that is what he will be playing on, the focus on the
:36:33. > :36:35.future instead of the past. Deirdre referred to the part about welfare
:36:36. > :36:40.and that Sinn Fein did not deliver what they said they would. He did
:36:41. > :36:43.not really argue with that, he made the point that the reality of
:36:44. > :36:47.politics is that that is the best deal they could get anti-use the
:36:48. > :36:56.word compromise. He did and I found that interesting. He did not take
:36:57. > :37:00.any eight. I think that he was right to admit he did what he had to do,
:37:01. > :37:04.his party did but they had to do, but they need to do what they have
:37:05. > :37:08.to do in other respects. Then we have the Brexit debate and he said
:37:09. > :37:12.he supports the Taoiseach and the Taoiseach made the point that it was
:37:13. > :37:17.important for the Republic and Northern Ireland and we had an
:37:18. > :37:22.interesting failure of the mines to meet between Brendan Smith and Jim
:37:23. > :37:27.Allister. Not surprising. What came out of that debate is that there is
:37:28. > :37:30.scaremongering on both sides. The EU has not been the subject of any
:37:31. > :37:36.informed debate, it does not make the regional news, but we need to
:37:37. > :37:40.have a better understanding of the political, social and wider cultural
:37:41. > :37:45.consequences. A final sentence on that. I was surprised to hear Jim
:37:46. > :37:46.say that we were lifting up the week and we
:37:47. > :37:52.That's it from The View for this week.
:37:53. > :37:54.Join me for Sunday Politics at 11.35, here on BBC One.
:37:55. > :37:56.But before we go, a quick vocabulary lesson.
:37:57. > :37:59.To babble, to prattle, to blether, to blather -
:38:00. > :38:01.to waffle - that was the word of the week at Stormont.
:38:02. > :38:16.Can I remember the Minister that the two minute rule? Helping people in
:38:17. > :38:21.Northern Ireland. Can I remind the minister about the two minute rule?
:38:22. > :38:27.Order! I again remind him about the two minute rule. Tell him to advise
:38:28. > :38:31.their ministers to give less waffle and more answers. I have taken the
:38:32. > :38:48.appropriate action. Before we move on can I remind the
:38:49. > :38:51.minister about the two minute rule? Local government has a central role
:38:52. > :38:55.to play because they will prioritise this, they will drive that and they
:38:56. > :38:58.will need executive support to do so. I called Mr Jim Allister. That
:38:59. > :39:03.was pure waffle! bought on the streets
:39:04. > :39:08.of east Belfast,