:00:00. > :00:00.Brexit, legacy and paramilitarism - on The View tonight,
:00:00. > :00:00.I'll be asking the Secretary of State, James Brokenshire,
:00:00. > :00:29.how he's getting to grips with politics, Northern Ireland style.
:00:30. > :00:33.Three months into the job and with an overflowing in-tray,
:00:34. > :00:37.How will the border look after Brexit?
:00:38. > :00:42.Will London be able to maintain good relations with Dublin?
:00:43. > :00:44.Has he withheld money from the Executive
:00:45. > :00:48.And are we any closer to solving outstanding legacy issues?
:00:49. > :00:51.A standing ovation for Colum Eastwood
:00:52. > :00:53.at the Ulster Unionist Party conference -
:00:54. > :01:00.so what are the chances of Sinn Fein and the DUP following suit?
:01:01. > :01:06.There has been no reciprocal in. That is a source of great deal of
:01:07. > :01:10.discontent and concern. We have a party conference, we have an array
:01:11. > :01:11.of speakers from the DUP, and we don't have to go out and invite
:01:12. > :01:12.others to come in. As the Justice Minister scraps plans
:01:13. > :01:14.to close courthouses, I'll be asking was it a good
:01:15. > :01:17.decision and what they make of Arlene Foster again ruling
:01:18. > :01:22.out same-sex marriage. As we know, politics
:01:23. > :01:30.is a serious business. So what's been tickling them
:01:31. > :01:34.in the House of Commons this week? And hoping they can keep it together
:01:35. > :01:36.in Commentators' Corner, it's Fionnuala O'Connor
:01:37. > :01:44.and Alex Kane. In his first public statement
:01:45. > :01:47.as Secretary of State back in July, James Brokenshire said progress
:01:48. > :01:50.on legacy issues But in reality it's a long list,
:01:51. > :01:55.ranging from the challenge of overseeing Brexit
:01:56. > :01:59.to tackling paramilitarism. When Mr Brokenshire came
:02:00. > :02:01.into the studio earlier for his first interview on The View,
:02:02. > :02:05.I began by asking him why he still hasn't released
:02:06. > :02:08.the funding for inquests into some of the most controversial
:02:09. > :02:19.Troubles-related killings. I am yet to hear from the Executive
:02:20. > :02:24.in relation to their plans for this. I don't see it as simply about the
:02:25. > :02:26.financial issue. The Lord Chief Justice has made it clear that the
:02:27. > :02:32.money should be released as quick as possible. When you look at the
:02:33. > :02:35.number of inquest that are required, it is more than simply look at this
:02:36. > :02:42.in terms of money. It is about how the system needs to be reform. This
:02:43. > :02:49.is the discussion I'm having with the Executive, back Department of
:02:50. > :02:52.Justice. What is it that he does not understand when he said you are in
:02:53. > :02:54.serious danger of missing an opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime
:02:55. > :03:01.opportunity to Jemma Cooper lease the money, get started on the legacy
:03:02. > :03:04.in quests. I want to make regress in relation to this but I want to see
:03:05. > :03:08.that this is done properly, to give that sense of answers being given to
:03:09. > :03:13.the families, to the victims in this way. That is why it is about we have
:03:14. > :03:20.a system that does not work effectively to do at that. There is
:03:21. > :03:24.a need for reform as to how you are able to manage the inquest system,
:03:25. > :03:31.which the Lord Chief Justice himself referred to. You are at the joint
:03:32. > :03:41.ministerial meeting on Monday. Today's headline was, you Brexit, we
:03:42. > :03:45.remain. Did you get that sense inside another ten on Monday? It was
:03:46. > :03:51.a constructive session because we set out a plan, a pathway to make
:03:52. > :04:01.sure that the Executive was engaged in the process that we are moving
:04:02. > :04:04.board with oppose discussion. I campaigned for remain myself, but
:04:05. > :04:17.that judgment has been taken, that UK wide view has been taken. But 56%
:04:18. > :04:22.people in Northern Ireland voted to remain. We have got to work
:04:23. > :04:29.together, to get the right outcome for Northern Ireland within the UK.
:04:30. > :04:34.What does that mean? What that means, and the committee set up this
:04:35. > :04:37.approach with a new arrangement, whereby we will be meeting regularly
:04:38. > :04:41.with the Executive and other devolved administrations as well to
:04:42. > :04:45.understand properly the issue is relevant here in Northern Ireland
:04:46. > :04:50.and to get the best outcome, recognising, yes, those issues over
:04:51. > :04:53.the border, those over the single electricity market, to make sure we
:04:54. > :04:56.are making sure we get a positive future for Northern Ireland with
:04:57. > :04:59.those new arrangements. The key question that people are talking
:05:00. > :05:06.about, special status for Northern Ireland. Is that on your radar?
:05:07. > :05:16.Apart from the two Main unionist parties, the unrest is around
:05:17. > :05:22.pushing for special status for the island of Ireland. Is that some
:05:23. > :05:25.think you are prepared to consider? What is on my radar is the unique
:05:26. > :05:29.issues we face here in Northern Ireland. It is that issue by issue
:05:30. > :05:33.approach that we will be taking forward in discussion with the
:05:34. > :05:38.Executive, in discussion with the Irish government as well, to make
:05:39. > :05:40.sure that we do get the best outcome for Northern Ireland through the
:05:41. > :05:43.negotiations, as we look to the future. Is it possible that Northern
:05:44. > :05:47.Ireland could have special status and could remain in the United
:05:48. > :05:54.Kingdom but also have a special bespoke status with the EU in
:05:55. > :05:58.future? Is that a possibility? It is difficult to see how one part of the
:05:59. > :06:05.United Kingdom could be within the EU... But is it possible? It is
:06:06. > :06:13.difficult to see how that would be the case. Are you prepared to
:06:14. > :06:16.consider it? The Prime Minister has said very clearly that we will
:06:17. > :06:19.listen to representations that the Executive to make to us. That is why
:06:20. > :06:24.we set up the joint ministerial committee in the way we have, where
:06:25. > :06:29.will be meeting regularly to shape that negotiation and provide
:06:30. > :06:32.oversight is that goes ahead. There is a high level of collaboration
:06:33. > :06:34.between you and the Irish government on measures to control immigration.
:06:35. > :06:39.You are on the record, discussing that. Why did Enda Kenny, the
:06:40. > :06:44.Taoiseach, tell the Dail this week that we do not know yet what the
:06:45. > :06:48.British government is looking for here? Do you know what you're
:06:49. > :06:52.looking for? What I have said is that there is good working in
:06:53. > :06:56.relation to the Common travel area. The meetings that I previously had
:06:57. > :07:02.with Francis fits Gerald -- Francis Pitts Gerald in regards to that,
:07:03. > :07:10.provided a framework that can support that. I was talking about
:07:11. > :07:16.the Tom -- Common travel area. There is work that the Irish government is
:07:17. > :07:20.doing. What were you picking about in your own head, if not publicly,
:07:21. > :07:24.about the ball the ports could play? The Irish government does not seem
:07:25. > :07:26.to understand. The statements they made was that they recognised and
:07:27. > :07:31.supported the joint working that we're doing to strengthen the Common
:07:32. > :07:34.travel area. That is not what the Taoiseach said yesterday. If you
:07:35. > :07:37.look at what the Taoiseach was saying, it was something slightly
:07:38. > :07:42.different, and he does recognise the work we're doing together to
:07:43. > :07:49.strengthen the position of citizens here in Northern Ireland and the
:07:50. > :07:54.Republic for those who looking to abuse travel, how we're thinking
:07:55. > :08:01.about smart data, to guard against criminality. Let me ask you another
:08:02. > :08:06.question which cuts to the chase. Do you see or all in negotiations, as
:08:07. > :08:13.picking up for the best interests of Northern Ireland, always your job --
:08:14. > :08:16.is your job to make sure that the Government writ is running true on
:08:17. > :08:21.the streets of Northern Ireland? My job is to get the best deal for
:08:22. > :08:26.Northern Ireland, I work among side the Executive, the First Minister
:08:27. > :08:30.and Deputy First Minister. It is how we get the best deal for Northern
:08:31. > :08:33.Ireland, how we ensure that no special circumstances are
:08:34. > :08:37.represented in the discussions, into the negotiations was that we have
:08:38. > :08:42.put this new mechanism in place to do so. I look forward to continuing
:08:43. > :08:46.to work alongside the First Minister and Deputy First Minister without
:08:47. > :08:51.intent, to create the new bright future for Northern Ireland, within
:08:52. > :08:54.the UK, but outside of the U. You also need to represent the views and
:08:55. > :08:59.aspirations of those individuals who live in Northern Ireland, who voted
:09:00. > :09:02.to remain and who regard themselves as Irish and hold Irish passports
:09:03. > :09:07.and to see things very differently from the way you clearly see them.
:09:08. > :09:12.That is why I had been clear in saying that we uphold the agreement
:09:13. > :09:15.that we are party to, the Belfast agreement and subsequent agreements,
:09:16. > :09:20.that we stand by that. Therefore the principles, the structures that are
:09:21. > :09:23.bad, that will be part of the work as we look to the negotiations
:09:24. > :09:29.ahead. A lot of Irish nationalists and republicans are saying that that
:09:30. > :09:33.means accepting that this part of the island of Ireland remained in
:09:34. > :09:36.the European Union. I don't except the line of argument to say that the
:09:37. > :09:41.agreements were predicated on joining the EU. That is what they
:09:42. > :09:50.believe! That may be a view that they express. It is. We must adhere
:09:51. > :09:54.to the agreements. We must maintain those owing board into the
:09:55. > :09:58.negotiations ahead and after their departure from the EU. It is that
:09:59. > :10:01.commitment that we give is a government in maintaining and
:10:02. > :10:04.upholding the principles. But that is the basis of the argument that
:10:05. > :10:09.those politicians in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
:10:10. > :10:13.put forward as their reason for saying there needs to be special
:10:14. > :10:17.status for the silent and, in particular, for this part of the
:10:18. > :10:23.island. You don't understand that. You don't except it? The point I
:10:24. > :10:27.made is that the agreements were not in our view judged on the basis of
:10:28. > :10:31.joint EU membership. Yes, there are specific circumstances will stop
:10:32. > :10:35.yes, there are frameworks there to underpin the relationships that we
:10:36. > :10:41.have here in Northern Ireland and the principle of consent that we
:10:42. > :10:44.abide by. The point is, it is getting the best deal we spoke
:10:45. > :10:48.about, how will air on specific circumstances and factors that go
:10:49. > :10:53.beyond issues of the border, while we are working with the Executive
:10:54. > :10:58.and the first and Debbie give First Minister to get those issues onto
:10:59. > :11:00.the table and reflected in a UK wide negotiation to get that positive
:11:01. > :11:10.view. The Executive's action plan and tackling paramilitaries has been
:11:11. > :11:14.in the press in recent days. You waiting to release money into that
:11:15. > :11:20.plan? What I did in the first few days of my point, the new strategy
:11:21. > :11:23.of the Executive has been set up. We're working with the Executive as
:11:24. > :11:27.they want to work through that detail, in their bid they will be
:11:28. > :11:31.making to the UK government. It is a simple question. Have you withheld
:11:32. > :11:35.money? Have you been asked for money that you have withheld? We have not
:11:36. > :11:41.been asked for money. But is the point. The Executive are still
:11:42. > :11:48.working through an amber through -- a number of projects to make sure
:11:49. > :11:54.the money is spent effectively. The change needs to board about that we
:11:55. > :12:00.want to see. In the Stormont Assembly this week, it was said that
:12:01. > :12:03.the London, is blocking the release of ?5 million of funding to do this
:12:04. > :12:10.issue, to fund the action plan. He get that from? The point is we are
:12:11. > :12:13.working with the Executive to see that money is being used
:12:14. > :12:16.effectively, properly, and they want to come to us with programmes that
:12:17. > :12:21.are worked up that we can release money again. So where is that 5
:12:22. > :12:26.million at the moment? The money is committed. We have a 25 million
:12:27. > :12:35.commitment to the Executive with regards to Parramatta --
:12:36. > :12:37.paramilitaries. This money may be spent over another of years and a
:12:38. > :12:42.slightly more profiled way. You did not ask for more detail? We have
:12:43. > :12:50.been working with the Acer to say, if you want that money released, the
:12:51. > :12:53.programmes you are developing... The leader of the Aussie Unionist party
:12:54. > :12:57.said that the Executive that is home mark and you have said, not good
:12:58. > :13:00.enough, go away and fix that and come back when you have got it
:13:01. > :13:04.right. It is a partnership approach we have taken in relation to this.
:13:05. > :13:07.That is why setting up the new IRC which is coming through in relation
:13:08. > :13:10.to that. I want that to be up and running by the end of the year. That
:13:11. > :13:15.is ordering people to act out, galvanising activity. But it is
:13:16. > :13:19.about getting the projects right and delivering real change in
:13:20. > :13:23.communities that have been affected by paramilitaries. That is what
:13:24. > :13:28.counts. It is seen that the arty and that change. Tackling paramilitaries
:13:29. > :13:37.is a big issue for a lot of people in this part of the world. What kind
:13:38. > :13:39.of conditions do a disease need to see before dealing with gatekeepers
:13:40. > :13:45.in certain parts of Northern Ireland? I have been clear in the
:13:46. > :13:49.statements that I have made that it has no part in Northern Ireland,
:13:50. > :13:54.never has done is never should do in the future. Therefore, what I want
:13:55. > :13:57.to see is that we have got programmes and projects that are
:13:58. > :14:00.there, we are looking carefully as to how that delivers effective
:14:01. > :14:03.change on the ground. That is why we had been working with the Executive
:14:04. > :14:08.in the way we have and why I don't want to see communities that are
:14:09. > :14:13.blighted, people's lives are being held back because of paramilitaries
:14:14. > :14:15.and the malign influence that has, and the sense of hope and
:14:16. > :14:22.opportunity that some people are then I dove at the moment because of
:14:23. > :14:27.that activity. You will be aware of the controversy around the funding
:14:28. > :14:35.of one group. The Executive gave money to a group whose Chief
:14:36. > :14:40.Executive said they did not give a dam about the Northern Ireland. He
:14:41. > :14:46.was talking about homeland security for his area. I am clear that the
:14:47. > :14:50.Homeland Security in Northern Ireland is the PSNI, the security
:14:51. > :14:54.services and the agencies that are ensuring we have safety and
:14:55. > :15:00.security, day in, day out. The point I make in relation to funds and how
:15:01. > :15:05.we want to get that positive sense of the monies that are standing
:15:06. > :15:07.there, the ?25 million, is to see change, how we can bring about that
:15:08. > :15:11.change and white I think the Executive is right in wanted to
:15:12. > :15:17.develop another of these projects in more detail.
:15:18. > :15:26.Is it appropriate for a man to be given money he spent years in prison
:15:27. > :15:36.for possession of a firearm and robbery? My point is... Do you agree
:15:37. > :15:41.with the decision? It is not for me to mark the Executive Boss homework
:15:42. > :15:48.in that way. You are the Secretary of State, you must have a view. We
:15:49. > :15:52.are going to be able to hold the Executive account, to galvanise
:15:53. > :15:55.change and see that the Executive Boss programme is working in the
:15:56. > :15:59.right way. I think that is the right framework to deliver that
:16:00. > :16:04.scrutiny... See you are telling me you are not concerned about ?1.7
:16:05. > :16:06.million being given to an organisation whose chief executive
:16:07. > :16:12.spent time in prison for armed robbery and possession of a firearm?
:16:13. > :16:17.It is for the Executive to make that decision as they did then. Their
:16:18. > :16:21.decision was to give the money. I am asking you as the Secretary of State
:16:22. > :16:25.what I think and what our viewers at home will regard as a simple
:16:26. > :16:28.question. I want a simple answer. Do you agree it was appropriate do you
:16:29. > :16:37.have reservations? The Executive made that decision. As you have said
:16:38. > :16:42.repeatedly. The point is it is about bringing change in our communities.
:16:43. > :16:48.Ultimately, that is the decision for the Executive, a decision they have
:16:49. > :16:51.taken. My role is to see that we holding the Executive to account in
:16:52. > :16:55.relation to the decisions they are taking now, how we are with them
:16:56. > :16:59.pragmatically and in the programmes they are delivering.
:17:00. > :17:01.James Brokenshire talking to me earlier.
:17:02. > :17:03.Sinn Fein has been accused of turning its back on reaching
:17:04. > :17:06.out to unionists after its negative response to the SDLP leader's
:17:07. > :17:08.appearance at last Saturday's Ulster Unionist conference.
:17:09. > :17:10.The charge is made by both the SDLP and UUP leaders.
:17:11. > :17:15.it's just part of the cut and thrust of politics.
:17:16. > :17:47.Pass if you feel you can't go on because...
:17:48. > :18:00.# Happiness is just an illusion... Darling, reach out, reach out for
:18:01. > :18:04.me. Cash end macro the jokes started early. I am also pretty sure in a
:18:05. > :18:12.few years' time Gerry Adams will be telling everybody it was him that
:18:13. > :18:16.was here. Sinn Fein's social media operation cranked into gear. This
:18:17. > :18:22.was the response of Richard McAuley. Gerry Adams's chief spokesperson.
:18:23. > :18:31.His appearance at the Ulster Unionist Party per was described as
:18:32. > :18:38.strange. If we are about... I am involved in national is that is not
:18:39. > :18:42.speaking to Unionism as a bad thing. I don't understand where Sinn Fein
:18:43. > :18:46.are coming from in all this. It puts to bed that there is any Unionist
:18:47. > :18:57.engagement coming from Sinn Fein. The Ulster Unionist leader made the
:18:58. > :18:59.same point. Sinn Fein have a Unionist outreach Officer and now
:19:00. > :19:06.they are outraged that we are reaching out to the SDLP. That is
:19:07. > :19:13.outrageous. But Sinn Fein say it is nothing more than the cut and thrust
:19:14. > :19:16.of politics. Are we now seeing a situation where the SDLP are
:19:17. > :19:22.sleepwalking and getting lost by the UUP and whether there is a prospect
:19:23. > :19:28.of them eventually coming either absorbed into the same body. What we
:19:29. > :19:32.need to see if political Unionism stepping up to the plate, beginning
:19:33. > :19:36.to reach out to republicanism and nationalism in the way that
:19:37. > :19:41.Republicans and nationalism has been reaching out to Unionism. There has
:19:42. > :19:44.been no reciprocation. That is a source of discontent and concern and
:19:45. > :19:50.frustration within the wider republican constituency. Might we
:19:51. > :19:53.ever see the day when the Sinn Fein leader is invited to a DUP
:19:54. > :19:58.conference like the one due to be held here this weekend? It appeared
:19:59. > :20:02.not. The difference between an Ulster Unionist Party breads and
:20:03. > :20:07.eight DUP conference is clear. We have a party conference, we have an
:20:08. > :20:11.array of speakers and we don't have to go out and invite others to come
:20:12. > :20:25.in to tickle the emotions of our delegates. If you went to the Sinn
:20:26. > :20:30.Fein? It is a big sign De show --, a powerful sign what we doing here.
:20:31. > :20:43.This is how social media dealt with the issue. Sinn Fein says who the
:20:44. > :20:48.DUP invites is a matter for them. Thank you very much. Well, I am
:20:49. > :20:52.still alive! This is part of the West Belfast Festival, organised by
:20:53. > :20:58.a former Sinn Fein director of publicity who himself had a pop at
:20:59. > :21:06.the Nesbitt access last weekend. I was surprised who were -- about
:21:07. > :21:12.those who were complaining. Why is it not OK for me to have a bit of
:21:13. > :21:18.satire and joke to put out a tweet about making Nesbitt the fifth
:21:19. > :21:22.leader of the SDLP since 2010? Mr Nesbitt says it is water off a
:21:23. > :21:28.duck's back and that his relationship with Colum Eastwood is
:21:29. > :21:32.here to stay. I think the SDLP and Ulster Unionist Party are on the
:21:33. > :21:34.verge of agreement on all be big-ticket issues that annoy people
:21:35. > :21:38.when they go to bed at night and wake up in the morning. The bread
:21:39. > :21:52.and butter issues as they are called.
:21:53. > :21:55.Gareth Gordon there with a little help from the Four Tops.
:21:56. > :21:57.Closing any public building is often controversial and the former
:21:58. > :22:00.Justice Minister's decision to close a number of courthouses earlier
:22:01. > :22:02.this year certainly didn't sit well with the MLAs in whose
:22:03. > :22:04.constituencies the axe was set to fall.
:22:05. > :22:07.But now the gavel has passed from David Ford to Claire Sugden,
:22:08. > :22:09.who has commuted the sentence passed by her predecessor.
:22:10. > :22:11.With me is the Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson
:22:12. > :22:17.and the DUP's Emma Little Pengelly.
:22:18. > :22:23.Welcome to you both. Thank you for joining us tonight. Stuart Dickson,
:22:24. > :22:27.the reversal of the closures has been supported by all of the other
:22:28. > :22:31.parties though is the Alliance to just sticking up what David Ford
:22:32. > :22:35.wanted rather than refusing to listen to wider public concerns? The
:22:36. > :22:41.reality is that David Ford did a cost of exercise based on budgeting
:22:42. > :22:45.in the Department of Justice, based on a business need within the
:22:46. > :22:51.Department of Justice with a need to save money and that resulted in the
:22:52. > :22:58.closure of, effectively, part time courthouses. These buildings aren't
:22:59. > :23:02.used every day of the week. Therefore, the reversal by the
:23:03. > :23:06.Justice Minister this week has added a strain of ?1 million to her budget
:23:07. > :23:12.in the Department of Justice. Now, I don't know what she's going to do or
:23:13. > :23:17.how she's going to find the money to do that? But that is her problem.
:23:18. > :23:24.Well, it is but today we heard about the young offenders report with high
:23:25. > :23:27.levels of drug abuse in there. That Wally and -- ?1 million would be
:23:28. > :23:33.much better spent to try and work with young people with diversion
:23:34. > :23:40.tactics and with the young offenders rather than wasting it on part-time
:23:41. > :23:44.building. Emma Little Pengelly, where is this extra money going to
:23:45. > :23:49.come from? Why is it the right decision in your view to ignore the
:23:50. > :23:51.difficult decision made by the former Justice Minister? We are
:23:52. > :23:55.clear that we think this is the right decision. This is a classic
:23:56. > :23:59.case of a decision that shouldn't come down to pounds and pence
:24:00. > :24:03.because although I don't sit on the justice committee I can certainly
:24:04. > :24:07.speak about my experience as working as a barrister in Northern Ireland
:24:08. > :24:09.and going round to many of these courthouses and issues have been
:24:10. > :24:15.raised in relation to why she's keeping these open. For example,
:24:16. > :24:18.issues about victims being in the same space as the criminals or the
:24:19. > :24:27.alleged perpetrators. You have family courts where I have been, 30
:24:28. > :24:29.or 40 families there, trying to negotiate contact or custody,
:24:30. > :24:33.stepping over children and going from one side of the room to the
:24:34. > :24:38.other. They are not fit for purpose. What Claire has done is she has
:24:39. > :24:42.looked and said we have a surplus of space here, surely we can use that
:24:43. > :24:47.in eight constructive way to look at better mediation rooms and family
:24:48. > :24:51.room. But it comes at a cost. Have you found ?1.1 million down the back
:24:52. > :24:57.of the sofa? The judgment or Claire is whether or not that is worth the
:24:58. > :25:00.cost. I think protecting victims and mediating in terms of family
:25:01. > :25:04.disputes will save money. It will give us something worth doing. Those
:25:05. > :25:11.are all important things but the reality is that the buildings that
:25:12. > :25:14.the Justice Minister has decided to pour public money into this week are
:25:15. > :25:18.buildings that are exactly what Emma said, they are the buildings that
:25:19. > :25:21.were overcrowded, they are not suitable for people with
:25:22. > :25:25.disabilities. The reality is that she would have been far better
:25:26. > :25:30.spending the money in terms of delivering other justice systems and
:25:31. > :25:33.services across Northern Ireland. We also shouldn't forget that when
:25:34. > :25:37.David Ford made the decision to close these courthouses he made that
:25:38. > :25:43.as a member of the Executive, a collective decision within the
:25:44. > :25:48.Executive. Now the Executive happen pressure -- have put pressure on
:25:49. > :25:51.Claire Sugden to change her mind. It looks like Claire Sugden wasn't
:25:52. > :25:55.prepared to stick to what had been a very difficult decision by her
:25:56. > :25:57.predecessor. That is true of all ministers. There are changes of
:25:58. > :26:01.ministers and ministers had different views about this. I have
:26:02. > :26:05.no doubt sitting on Claire's desk she can see where she can use space
:26:06. > :26:09.in terms of mediation and protecting victims. Not only that, many of
:26:10. > :26:14.these are important buildings and centres of towns across Northern
:26:15. > :26:17.Ireland. You only have to look at courthouses that are closed and
:26:18. > :26:22.become a blight on the community. There is an opportunity now for
:26:23. > :26:25.Claire, the Justice Minister, to say can there be community use? Can we
:26:26. > :26:30.make these buildings fit for purpose? These buildings are at the
:26:31. > :26:36.heart of communities and communities have made them clear to us. David
:26:37. > :26:40.offered these buildings to communities and they made it clear
:26:41. > :26:44.they didn't want them. Your party leader, Arlene Foster, has said the
:26:45. > :26:48.DUP continued to block same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. She
:26:49. > :26:51.said online abuse she has received has made her even more determined
:26:52. > :27:00.over the issue. What kind of way is that to make party politics? That's
:27:01. > :27:03.macro policy? The DUP always been very clear about this issue. We said
:27:04. > :27:08.it clearly during the election campaign. It was clear in our
:27:09. > :27:12.manifesto. We have a clear position on this and that position is not
:27:13. > :27:15.changing. But she said in this interview those people who have been
:27:16. > :27:21.trolling her on social media are not going to influence me stop people
:27:22. > :27:27.need to reflect on that. Her policy position is being shaped by social
:27:28. > :27:31.media. That is what she said. She said we had a position. That
:27:32. > :27:34.position is not going to change. No amount of conversation, argued
:27:35. > :27:39.discussion will change that. We are clear about that. It is in our
:27:40. > :27:44.manifesto. The issue was raised at the Executive meeting today by Sinn
:27:45. > :27:51.Fein and blocked again today by the DUP full stop is that right? Are you
:27:52. > :27:55.surprised? I am not privy to this but if that were to happen and the
:27:56. > :27:59.DUP were to block that, that should come as no surprise to anybody. We
:28:00. > :28:03.have been honest about this issue. We have a clear party position. It
:28:04. > :28:08.is in our manifesto and we will be the feeling that through this
:28:09. > :28:12.mandate. Stuart Dickson, Emma Little Pengelly's point is a fair one. It
:28:13. > :28:16.is crystal clear what the DUP's position is on the issue of same-sex
:28:17. > :28:20.marriage. We certainly know what their position is when it comes to
:28:21. > :28:26.the use of Petition of Concern. That is no surprise either. Petition of
:28:27. > :28:31.Concern was one of the elements that David Ford and Naomi Long attempted
:28:32. > :28:33.to negotiate with Arlene Foster to allow the Alliance Party to come
:28:34. > :28:39.into the government but that was the day that Arlene Foster bound her
:28:40. > :28:45.fist on the table and said no,... DDB have been open to that. We are
:28:46. > :28:49.open to talking about Petition of Concern. I think you have to be
:28:50. > :28:53.honest about this. -- the DUP have been open to that. We have made it
:28:54. > :29:03.clear that we are open to have that conversation. It is a perfectly
:29:04. > :29:11.legitimate tactic to block policy doesn't want to see used in Northern
:29:12. > :29:15.Ireland. What is your problem? They are not willing to have a
:29:16. > :29:17.conversation when it affects one of their pet projects, which is to
:29:18. > :29:20.block equality in marriage for people in Northern Ireland. It
:29:21. > :29:27.discriminates against people in Northern Ireland. How thin-skinned
:29:28. > :29:33.is the leadership of the DUP? The bottom line seems to be Arlene
:29:34. > :29:39.Foster wants to use the Petition of Concern but she doesn't block people
:29:40. > :29:43.on Twitter. No people out there will believe Arlene is thin-skinned. She
:29:44. > :29:47.is strong and robust. She is saying that the conversations about things
:29:48. > :29:50.we can agree on, what we can change. We have made it clear we want to
:29:51. > :29:54.look at the economy, education and health. There is not going to be
:29:55. > :30:01.agreement and bullying and attempts on social media to do that, I get it
:30:02. > :30:05.constantly, all DUP people get it, we get people campaigning on this
:30:06. > :30:12.issue. And that is not acceptable, is it?
:30:13. > :30:30.We all receive it and we all get it. We are constantly ... On reality we
:30:31. > :30:34.need to deal with here. There is an all-party group with the exception
:30:35. > :30:38.of DUP do it gives an equality marriage bill in Northern Ireland.
:30:39. > :30:42.What she has done today will not stop the introduction of that bill.
:30:43. > :30:47.Then we can move forward and issues we can agree on. Does not look like
:30:48. > :30:54.it will reach the statute books, is it? If she's going to block it for
:30:55. > :30:55.five years, it will go to the court. I don't want the courts to make that
:30:56. > :30:57.decision. We need to leave it there. And let's hear what tonight's
:30:58. > :31:00.dynamic duo in Commentators' Corner Alex Kane and Fionnuala O Connor
:31:01. > :31:14.have joined the team. Welcome to you both. Nice to see you
:31:15. > :31:19.in the corner. Let us talk about the blocking of same-sex marriage.
:31:20. > :31:24.Arlene Foster's position has hardened because of the abuse she
:31:25. > :31:34.has suffered and social media. I think it has more to do with the
:31:35. > :31:44.awkward conjunction with the removal of... It has been an embarrassing
:31:45. > :31:49.thing for her and the side of her standing beside a UDA bus, as he
:31:50. > :32:00.described itself... He has not gone. He will apparently be removed by the
:32:01. > :32:06.organisation. In any case, an error of judgment. There is no change in
:32:07. > :32:12.the underlying attitude. I doubt it has hardened in any way. This raft
:32:13. > :32:17.of social morality legislation are the things that the DUP sold to
:32:18. > :32:25.their people as the reasons why they were going to power shower. I don't
:32:26. > :32:28.know how much of that Arlene Foster would agree with. How much do you
:32:29. > :32:32.agree with? I agree with a lot of it. It is odd that Arlene Foster
:32:33. > :32:37.mentioned the five years. That was not necessary in any of the
:32:38. > :32:43.interviews today to talk about. She is exercised by this, isn't she?
:32:44. > :32:48.What worries me about this is the Petition of Concern. We know where
:32:49. > :32:53.it was building, to stop Unionist majorities and vice versa. It was
:32:54. > :33:01.not put in form or issues. She cannot have it both ways. She can,
:33:02. > :33:07.actually. If the legislation allows her to. The legislation... It is not
:33:08. > :33:12.her fault, it has been widely interpreted by all of the parties.
:33:13. > :33:17.The simple moral issues like that, you cannot have it both ways. We are
:33:18. > :33:23.using a Petition of Concern... Even if it means forging the majority. It
:33:24. > :33:29.was brought about the Executive meeting today, blocked again by the
:33:30. > :33:32.DUP. The point before we move on is that for a lot of people in Northern
:33:33. > :33:38.Ireland, this is a red line issue. They are not going to change their
:33:39. > :33:41.minds on the issue of same-sex marriage and Arlene Foster believes
:33:42. > :33:46.she speaks for those people. That is right. I'm sure she does. But she
:33:47. > :33:51.also clearly does not speak in any kind of power-sharing attitude. This
:33:52. > :33:55.is yet another attitude of how Sinn Fein is incapable of overcoming DUP
:33:56. > :34:03.objections and is getting very devil out of this deal. We're into the
:34:04. > :34:05.inquest issue immediately, once again, we have got total blocking
:34:06. > :34:12.from the British governors representative. There are a series
:34:13. > :34:19.of nonsensical issues. You asked if he was teasing out in his own head,
:34:20. > :34:23.that was on the Brexit issue. I doubt he is teasing anything out in
:34:24. > :34:27.his own head. It was not obvious. He told us he has not been asked for
:34:28. > :34:31.money is on two different issues. He will not change. They are not
:34:32. > :34:35.working properly, and it is not because of lack of money. We know it
:34:36. > :34:44.is because of lack of money. Does it look like he is London's enforcer.
:34:45. > :34:46.What we heard was a lot of heavily nuanced jibber jabber. At the heart
:34:47. > :34:52.of that is on reality, the governments want a special deal for
:34:53. > :34:53.Northern Ireland. That's it from The View
:34:54. > :34:55.for this week. Join me for live coverage
:34:56. > :34:58.of Arlene Foster's first speech as leader to the DUP conference
:34:59. > :35:01.on Saturday from 12pm on BBC Two. Hopefully the First Minister will be
:35:02. > :35:03.able to get through it without succumbing to a fit
:35:04. > :35:07.of the giggles, unlike the Labour MP Helen Goodman, who's concerned
:35:08. > :35:08.about the effect street lights are having on birds,
:35:09. > :35:21.much to the amusement They sing for so long that they
:35:22. > :35:27.don't have any energy left to mate. I'm sure... The Minister will
:35:28. > :35:38.understand why this is a problem. LAUGHTER
:35:39. > :35:44.But Brexit... LAUGHTER
:35:45. > :35:53.Keep going! You're nearly there. Order! I wish to hear the honourable
:35:54. > :35:57.lady at such point as she has had the opportunity to re-game the
:35:58. > :36:03.necessary composure. Will he encourage them to buy lights from
:36:04. > :36:05.thorns in Spennymoor... Jerry