:00:27. > :00:32.Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. It has been a busy day here are on
:00:32. > :00:36.the hill, following the news that the leader of the Ulster Unionist
:00:36. > :00:40.Party has sacked his deputy. It was only a few weeks ago they showed a
:00:40. > :00:45.united front at their party conference but that has now been
:00:45. > :00:51.shattered, ironically following a row over Unionist unity.
:00:51. > :00:56.And another unity row was staring, about same-sex marriage. I am
:00:56. > :01:03.opposed to gay marriage and I would have no intention of bringing
:01:03. > :01:10.forward earlier legislation to this House to make easier gay marriage.
:01:10. > :01:16.People can pretend it is the same as other partnership but it is not.
:01:16. > :01:26.And a testing time for GCSEs of. have been in office for 18 months
:01:26. > :01:29.
:01:29. > :01:33.and I do not believe any members It has been a lively day here in
:01:33. > :01:40.Stormont. Our reporter is here to talk us through what has been
:01:40. > :01:46.happening. First, those ructions in the Ulster Unionist Party. Yes.
:01:46. > :01:52.This started with a speech given over the weekend, when the leader
:01:52. > :01:56.said the party was sleepwalking into unity. He said the DUP had
:01:56. > :02:02.given the impression the Unionist rain had left the station and that
:02:02. > :02:10.Peter Robinson was in good dry's cab smiling broadly. He yesterday
:02:10. > :02:15.denied this was an attack but they did not see it that way. Jim
:02:15. > :02:21.Allister was sacked as leader. what has he said to say about that?
:02:21. > :02:24.He has not given any interviews but he has issued a short statement,
:02:24. > :02:29.saying he was disappointed with the decision but accepted he had the
:02:29. > :02:34.right as leader. At the same time, the Press Office released a
:02:34. > :02:42.statement for the Assembly grid saying Mike Nesbitt had received
:02:42. > :02:48.many complaints about the use of the phrase "sleepwalking into
:02:48. > :02:55.Unionist unity". They said when the United Front was required the UUP
:02:55. > :03:00.would not be found wanting. What about anything from anybody else?
:03:00. > :03:05.No other word from any body today but we have heard from Basil McCrea.
:03:05. > :03:13.He is very close to Jim Allister on the liberal end of the party. He
:03:13. > :03:18.was speaking in Belfast at an event organised by the Conservative Party.
:03:18. > :03:22.If I am not sure there is a difference between the two. I will
:03:22. > :03:28.make it clear I supported John and I think he is an excellent
:03:28. > :03:33.politician. He made a speech a few days ago, actually, which set out
:03:33. > :03:40.what he considered to be the right way forward for the party and I am
:03:40. > :03:46.sure people, having read it, we understand the content is something
:03:46. > :03:52.we can all agree with. The other big talking point - the
:03:52. > :03:59.debate on gay marriage. Yes. In Westminster, the governments are
:03:59. > :04:03.consulting on plans to bring in gay marriage. Here, any changes to
:04:03. > :04:08.marriage or fall in the domain of the first and Deputy First Minister
:04:08. > :04:14.us and the Department of Finance. Councils have been debating the
:04:14. > :04:20.issues and all but one have come out of favour. Today it was the
:04:20. > :04:26.turn of MLAs to debate the issue. The Green Party MLA was there as
:04:26. > :04:30.well. Thank you. That call for marriage quality did naked to the
:04:30. > :04:34.House today. The Finance Minister was called on to introduce
:04:34. > :04:38.legislation to make sure all couples should have equal legal
:04:38. > :04:42.entitlement to the protections and benefits of marriage.
:04:42. > :04:48.If whether this motion is passed or not today and whether we legislate
:04:48. > :04:51.for equal marriage, this will have little or no impact on our lives.
:04:52. > :04:56.However, there are those who happen to love and wish to commit to
:04:56. > :05:00.somebody of the same sex. And they are currently denied the
:05:00. > :05:06.opportunity to marry. If we as an Assembly have the opportunity to
:05:06. > :05:12.say today that we see these couples as equal and see their love as
:05:13. > :05:16.being equal. This is not a debate about the quality. Rather it is a
:05:16. > :05:21.debate about redefining the centuries old meaning of the word
:05:21. > :05:25.marriage. It is simply a myth that Mrs and equality issue because the
:05:25. > :05:29.quality already exists. People are free by marriage or civil
:05:29. > :05:32.partnership to take on the same rights and bear the same legal
:05:32. > :05:41.burdens, no matter what type of relationship they choose to enter
:05:41. > :05:44.into. If we fail in this motion, we are sending out a message that the
:05:44. > :05:49.lesbian, gay and trans-gender community are not equal and
:05:49. > :05:57.creating conditions in which their basic rights are eroded and this is
:05:57. > :06:03.unacceptable. We support the extension of civil and marriages to
:06:03. > :06:08.same-sex couples. There we are very clear that robust protections are
:06:08. > :06:13.provided and encapsulated within legislation to we sure faith groups
:06:14. > :06:18.and religious groups will not be forced to conduct same-sex marriage
:06:18. > :06:25.ceremonies or to have them conducted on their premises. It --
:06:25. > :06:30.to ensure. I would ask one member from the Unionist benches to speak.
:06:30. > :06:34.I am aware many people in my community are deeply uneasy about
:06:34. > :06:38.it and respect their position. And I am surprised that the DUP have
:06:38. > :06:45.felt the need to present a position of concern on a matter that should
:06:45. > :06:52.clearly be a free vote. It is also about real people. It is about sons,
:06:52. > :06:56.daughters, brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts. And it is about
:06:56. > :07:00.parents who want to see their children in loving, secure, stable
:07:00. > :07:05.and permanent relationships. Protected by the legal institution
:07:05. > :07:09.of marriage. Members will know my party believes issues of this
:07:09. > :07:15.nature should be subject to individual conscience and not party
:07:16. > :07:20.dictates. And as someone with a clear personal faith, yet tolerant
:07:20. > :07:26.of the right of others to hold and express their views, I want to set
:07:26. > :07:32.out my personal position on the subject of same-sex marriage. I do
:07:32. > :07:36.not and cannot support the principle of same-sex marriage.
:07:36. > :07:40.am opposed to gay marriage. I would have no intention of bringing
:07:40. > :07:47.forward any legislation to this House to facilitate gay marriage
:07:47. > :07:53.and I believe that in doing that I do reflect what is a general view
:07:53. > :07:57.in this society, in Northern Ireland. The proposer of the motion
:07:57. > :08:07.has to think about the right to get married, the right to private
:08:07. > :08:08.
:08:08. > :08:14.family life, etc. But equally the other ministers talked about the
:08:14. > :08:21.rights of people to have religious freedom and religious beliefs. And
:08:21. > :08:27.in this particular case, the two are not compatible. People across
:08:27. > :08:33.the way can pretend, or some people, can pretend civil partnership is
:08:33. > :08:38.the same as equal marriage. It is not. To pretend a words do not hurt
:08:38. > :08:43.young and old... That is an absolute pretence, and take
:08:43. > :08:49.responsibility for our words. That's what we have to do.
:08:49. > :08:54.proposal needed a cross-community majority -- needed a cross-
:08:54. > :09:02.community majority to succeed but only 45 voted to back the move.
:09:02. > :09:06.Joining need to discuss the matter is Gavin Boyd from Equal Marriage.
:09:06. > :09:12.Obviously, if you look at those figures, there is no overwhelming
:09:12. > :09:21.appetite to change the law. Do you accept that? No. I think what we
:09:21. > :09:23.saw today was an enormous vote in favour of couples. I think what we
:09:24. > :09:29.saw today would have been completely inconceivable a few
:09:29. > :09:34.years ago so it is a great move forward for us. But they are still
:09:34. > :09:39.in a minority and there is a bigger set of legislators opposed to the
:09:39. > :09:43.change? Absolutely. The issue of rights for same-sex attracted
:09:43. > :09:46.people have always been minority issues, particularly in Northern
:09:46. > :09:52.Ireland. What we are seeing is that they are not that much of a
:09:52. > :09:57.minority issue. It is increasing in number. Can you tell me why it
:09:57. > :10:01.civil partnerships are not enough? In terms of legal recognition,
:10:01. > :10:08.couples in civil partnerships are barred from adopting. That is just
:10:08. > :10:16.one reason... Is that your main point of concern? No, I think if
:10:16. > :10:20.you were asked to talk to people, young people in particular, they
:10:20. > :10:24.don't see them as being equal and afforded the same recognition.
:10:24. > :10:29.Because you could just campaign for a change in the adoption law?
:10:29. > :10:32.is already going on and there is a judicial review being defended by
:10:32. > :10:36.the Department of Health at the minute and we expect the ruling
:10:36. > :10:40.will come out of favour of allowing same-sex couples to adopt children.
:10:40. > :10:46.But even if that does happen, you think equality as far as marriage
:10:46. > :10:52.is concerned is important? Absolutely. It is unreasonable to
:10:52. > :10:56.expect gay people do not want any part of that institution. Can you
:10:56. > :11:01.see the DUP changing its mind? It might be the numbers are better
:11:01. > :11:07.than they were five, 10 years ago, but the DUP will never accept this?
:11:07. > :11:11.I am not too sure about this. If we look at the demographics, I think
:11:11. > :11:15.it is a bit early to tell what they will be voting in favour of. What
:11:15. > :11:21.we can see from the language is that the DUP is not the same party
:11:21. > :11:25.it was 30 years ago. They were very careful not to use the same emotive
:11:25. > :11:31.language today and I think that is a real sign of how far they have
:11:31. > :11:36.come. If there was also a disagreement amongst members of
:11:37. > :11:41.other parties as well. We saw that in the Ulster Unionist Party, the
:11:41. > :11:46.SDLP and the Alliance Party? That is true. I think what you saw is
:11:46. > :11:50.that there is a breadth of opinion on this. There is cross-party
:11:50. > :11:56.support and what we saw today was the work there is still there for
:11:56. > :12:01.us to do. But the vote is still very close and if it was to happen
:12:01. > :12:05.again 18 months from now, two years, it would be much tighter, if not an
:12:05. > :12:11.outright majority. Thank you. John O'Dowd told the Assembly today
:12:11. > :12:18.the time has come for a review of GCSEs and A-levels. It follows the
:12:18. > :12:23.recent decision by the Education Secretary in Westminster to replace
:12:24. > :12:28.GCSEs by a proposed baccalaureate. This will mean an opportunity for
:12:28. > :12:33.all, including a pupils, to consider how the education system
:12:33. > :12:37.meets the needs of our children as well as those of our economy. I
:12:37. > :12:43.also want to reassure pupils Curran is studying for GCSEs or A-levels
:12:43. > :12:47.that the examining process is fit for purpose and to those past
:12:47. > :12:57.pupils of the system, they, too, should be proud of their
:12:57. > :12:57.
:12:57. > :13:04.qualifications. If our education system is to be recognised as world
:13:04. > :13:07.class, I do not go for change for the sake of change. But if it is
:13:07. > :13:13.deemed to be appropriate, I would be tempted to stick with what we
:13:13. > :13:17.have. But we want to satisfy myself with research across the
:13:17. > :13:23.educational business sector that this is the case. If I consequently,
:13:23. > :13:29.I am committing a review of GCSE and A-level qualifications taking -
:13:29. > :13:33.- to ensure they continue to meet our economic needs in the future. I
:13:33. > :13:43.would ask them to take for this review. I have asked them to
:13:43. > :13:48.provide two reports, one in January 2013 and another in March, and
:13:48. > :13:55.another in June 2013. We will consider the findings and
:13:55. > :13:58.recommendations to point the way And does the Minister still believe,
:13:58. > :14:05.as he in earlier this year, that it is important that the standard of
:14:05. > :14:12.exams remains the same as in England? Yes. Maybe not exactly the
:14:12. > :14:21.same, maybe better. I did that students from here and prospective
:14:21. > :14:24.employees here have to be confident that the qualification certificates
:14:25. > :14:30.that they carry are equal to, if not better to, any qualification
:14:30. > :14:34.system across these islands. I want to make sure their qualifications
:14:34. > :14:39.are portable and transferable. It will be to work either across these
:14:39. > :14:46.islands or internationally, whatever qualification system we
:14:46. > :14:52.decide on. Is it not clear that the present GCSEs are too weak the tool
:14:52. > :14:59.to command educational and employee or respect. Therefore a more
:14:59. > :15:03.rigorous exam is necessary. If most -- with most of the rest of the
:15:03. > :15:08.United Kingdom moving in that direction it would be wholly
:15:08. > :15:13.prejudicial to allow students to seek to hold on to what could be
:15:13. > :15:20.seen to be dumbed down exams. Can the Minister assure us that that
:15:20. > :15:30.option is not an option and would be taken? Well, none of the
:15:30. > :15:30.
:15:30. > :15:33.research backs up the comment on the fact... I don't think they are
:15:33. > :15:38.a discredited exams process. There are clearly points of view in
:15:38. > :15:42.regards this matter but none of the research would suggest that GCSEs
:15:42. > :15:48.have failed the functions that an exam is there for. To test the
:15:48. > :15:53.ability of an individual on their learning and ability to carry out
:15:53. > :15:58.functions. I don't accept it on a premise. However I do want to watch
:15:58. > :16:02.a short, and I have said publicly that Michael Gove may have fatally
:16:02. > :16:05.flawed the product of GCSEs and that perception may build and grow.
:16:05. > :16:09.I don't want any young person leaving hour examination system
:16:09. > :16:15.with a certificate which may, for all the wrong reasons, be looked
:16:15. > :16:19.down on. I want our young people to leave our education system with
:16:19. > :16:24.examinations they can be proud on and are portable and transferable
:16:24. > :16:28.across these idols -- Island and further afield. I have no interest
:16:28. > :16:33.in dumbing-down any examination process because it does no favour
:16:33. > :16:39.to the individual and no favour to our society. I have asked to meet
:16:39. > :16:42.Michael Gove and he has refused to meet me. It is not a case I have a
:16:42. > :16:48.phobia of meeting Michael Gove. We may not be on the same page in
:16:48. > :16:51.regards many things but he has refused to meet myself and I
:16:51. > :16:56.understand he has refused to meet the Welsh education minister as
:16:56. > :17:02.well in relation to the subject of exams. He has offered a meeting
:17:02. > :17:07.with one of his junior ministers. Setting my ego aside I may take him
:17:07. > :17:11.upon that offered to meet a junior minister. However I believe that
:17:11. > :17:14.Michael Gove should be meeting his counterparts and I cannot speak on
:17:14. > :17:19.behalf of the Welsh counterpart but I certainly believe he should be
:17:19. > :17:22.meeting me. Surely after that statement by the education minister
:17:22. > :17:28.the Assembly debated the issue further in the DUP motion
:17:28. > :17:32.expressing concerns about the possible implications of any
:17:32. > :17:35.replacement to GCSEs will have on students in Northern Ireland.
:17:35. > :17:40.welcome the announcement made by the Minister this morning to
:17:40. > :17:43.undertake a review of GCSEs and A- levels in Northern Ireland. It does
:17:43. > :17:46.not go unnoticed that this announcement was made on the
:17:47. > :17:51.morning of this debate. The minister has quite rightly
:17:51. > :17:55.acknowledged that following Education Secretary Michael Gove's
:17:55. > :17:59.announcement, he has a duty to undertake this review. I am pleased
:17:59. > :18:05.that in the response to questions today the review will encompass all
:18:05. > :18:08.aspects of the examination system. I think his comments about it being
:18:08. > :18:15.a consultation rather than a knitter Association may give cause
:18:15. > :18:19.for concern that he may already have a predetermined view. All
:18:19. > :18:22.consultations should be reviewed through the lens of legal
:18:22. > :18:29.requirements. The Secretary of State for England has made his
:18:29. > :18:35.intentions known about the changes he intends to make to the GCSE
:18:35. > :18:40.system. I believe that it is now the job of this assembly and our
:18:40. > :18:44.own education minister, in particular to mitigate against any
:18:44. > :18:48.potential negative implications for students here in Northern Ireland
:18:48. > :18:54.and ensure that our examination system is highly regarded across
:18:54. > :18:57.the whole of the UK and Republic of Ireland and further afield. There
:18:58. > :19:03.is no denying that the major implications that Michael Gove's
:19:03. > :19:06.recent announcement could have on students in Northern Ireland. Once
:19:06. > :19:11.education has been devolved the two administrations throughout the
:19:11. > :19:15.United Kingdom, it is no mean feat that our educational policy has
:19:15. > :19:20.remained relatively harmonised. I don't doubt for one moment the
:19:20. > :19:23.authority with which he can speak but I do believe it shows a failure
:19:23. > :19:28.in effective working relationships that he was in a position to make
:19:28. > :19:33.such a radical announcement without having engaged in even minimum
:19:33. > :19:43.consultation with his devolved counterparts. Despite the
:19:43. > :19:44.
:19:44. > :19:50.criticisms were some members of the GCSE system, I have been in office
:19:50. > :19:55.18 months and I don't believe that any member has taken an interest in
:19:55. > :20:00.GCSEs before Michael Gove stood up in Westminster and made his
:20:00. > :20:04.announcement. Alex Attwood was at the despatch box for questions to
:20:04. > :20:10.the Department of Environment. Road safety, driver training and marine
:20:10. > :20:16.conservation zones or on the agenda. So far this year there have been 31
:20:16. > :20:21.deaths on the roads, compared with 41 at this time last year. I would
:20:21. > :20:24.not draw any conclusions from that, given that we are now entering into
:20:24. > :20:29.the winter months as to what the figure will be at the end of the
:20:29. > :20:34.year but it does suggest to me that through a range of measures, we are
:20:34. > :20:41.bearing down on this issue of road deaths. Can I ask the Minister that
:20:41. > :20:44.a new proposal he is thinking of and that is restricting young
:20:45. > :20:54.drivers in the first six months not to be able to carry a very young
:20:54. > :20:59.passengers? Not only do I intend to go forward with this because there
:20:59. > :21:03.was virtual unanimity and very strong endorsement of the proposals
:21:03. > :21:07.are put to the executive in principle in the first week in July
:21:07. > :21:12.in terms of graduated penalties on one hand and the changes to driver
:21:12. > :21:16.training regime on the other. One of those proposals, borrow from
:21:16. > :21:23.international best practice, which you see in this part of Ireland,
:21:23. > :21:27.the most radical driver training regime in this island is we will
:21:27. > :21:34.restrict newly-qualified drivers for six months after qualification
:21:34. > :21:38.as to who they may carry. Can the minister indicate if emergency
:21:38. > :21:44.payments will be extended to include those whose properties are
:21:44. > :21:50.affected by flooding? I will certainly look at the situation but
:21:50. > :21:53.the council has not yet raised with me. The scheme has been extended
:21:53. > :21:59.even in recent days and weeks in order to capture further flooding
:21:59. > :22:05.events were the they might be. fishing industry is supportive of
:22:05. > :22:09.the marine the bubble concern. Given that the fishing industry and
:22:09. > :22:13.that environmentalists agree that the displacement is an important
:22:13. > :22:18.issue, will he ensure that the process does examine this issue
:22:18. > :22:23.thoroughly to ensure there is no unforeseen or negative consequences
:22:23. > :22:31.as a result of designating his own? I can give that reassurance. If
:22:31. > :22:33.there is an area that might be designated a marine conservation
:22:33. > :22:38.zone, there will be in-depth discussion in that regard and part
:22:39. > :22:48.of that will be to get a good understanding of the geology, the
:22:49. > :22:49.
:22:49. > :22:53.wildlife, habitats, and the ecology of the area. So far we have not
:22:53. > :22:57.heard the full number of marine conservation zones yet that are
:22:57. > :23:01.intended to be created. When will you be able to tell us how many you
:23:01. > :23:08.will create and the cost? We have not yet got the bill on the floor
:23:08. > :23:13.of the chamber and it maybe that I will try to prevail upon my
:23:13. > :23:17.executive colleagues to support further amendments that are coming
:23:17. > :23:24.out of the committee stage but it is likely that the first area that
:23:24. > :23:28.might become a marine conservation zone is in the south. Tourism
:23:28. > :23:34.dominated questions to the enterprise minister Arlene Foster
:23:34. > :23:41.today. Topics ranged from promoted orange and Unionist cultures as a
:23:41. > :23:47.product of tourism to the success of Titanic Belfast. First there was
:23:47. > :23:53.the question about the gay quarter in Belfast. Promotion of Belfast as
:23:53. > :23:57.a tourist destination. Belfast City Council integrated framework for
:23:57. > :24:01.tourism was developed in partnership with other Northern
:24:01. > :24:08.Ireland Tourist Board. Through the framework they have been supporting
:24:08. > :24:16.Belfast City Council in the development of the city centre. It
:24:16. > :24:22.includes the quarter. We have a rich culture of heritage that we
:24:22. > :24:27.should celebrate and I celebrate -- look forward to showcasing many
:24:27. > :24:31.aspects of our culture. Following on from the success of the
:24:31. > :24:35.celebrations at the weekend, when thousands of tourists came to
:24:35. > :24:39.Northern Ireland, can the Minister advise what she's doing to promote
:24:39. > :24:49.orange and Unionist culture as a product of tourism within Northern
:24:49. > :24:52.
:24:52. > :24:58.Ireland? I will take it because this is culture and tourism. In
:24:58. > :25:01.relation to the Ulster celebrations at the weekend, they were a huge
:25:01. > :25:04.success. I commend the Unionists centenary and everybody at the
:25:04. > :25:09.Orange Lodge of Northern Ireland that brought together all the
:25:09. > :25:14.elements of Unionism to commemorate what was a hugely significant
:25:14. > :25:21.anniversary in our history. As the years have come on and follow on,
:25:21. > :25:25.there will be many events which will mean more to some people than
:25:25. > :25:29.others. We must, all of us, respect the right of everyone have to
:25:29. > :25:34.remember the significant events in the past and in one way or another
:25:34. > :25:37.we must recognise that they all have contributed to making us the
:25:37. > :25:46.people we are today and indeed Northern Ireland the place it is
:25:46. > :25:50.today so this is the start of the decade of centenaries. As members
:25:50. > :25:56.are aware we are working in relation to the centenaries and we
:25:56. > :26:03.hope we will have as good a day as we did on Saturday for the rest of
:26:03. > :26:09.the celebrations. Can the Minister provide some additional information
:26:09. > :26:14.about the tourism campaign for 2013 and if she feels that 2013 will be
:26:14. > :26:19.an improvement on 2012? Furthermore as the minister any plans to
:26:19. > :26:24.publish the tourism strategy? relation to 2012, I don't in there
:26:24. > :26:31.is any doubt it has been a huge success. Obviously in terms of the
:26:31. > :26:38.official tourism statistics, we won't have the final statistics and
:26:38. > :26:43.tell quarter to of 2013. Of course we have heard of Titanic Belfast
:26:44. > :26:47.welcoming its half-million visitor. A tremendous feat when you think
:26:47. > :26:52.about what some organisations had to say about Titanic Belfast before
:26:52. > :26:57.it actually opened its doors. We all remember what the Audit Office
:26:57. > :27:01.had to say about Titanic Belfast. They were querying if we would
:27:01. > :27:07.reach 400,000 a year and Titanic Belfast has only been open since
:27:07. > :27:10.30th March and they have already welcomed 500,000 visitors.
:27:10. > :27:16.tourism minister. More than happy to share those numbers with her
:27:16. > :27:20.fellow MLAs. Chris Page is with me again. Let us go back to that issue
:27:20. > :27:27.of gay marriage that was debated earlier. Talk us through some of
:27:27. > :27:32.the details over how the voting panned out. The motion was defeated
:27:32. > :27:38.by 50 votes to 55. It was always likely to fail because it was
:27:38. > :27:43.basically impossible to do it without DUP support. Three
:27:43. > :27:47.Unionists voted in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry.
:27:47. > :27:52.They were all Ulster Unionists, Basil MacRae, Michael Copland and
:27:52. > :27:58.one more. The Alliance Party is in favour of gay marriage but one
:27:58. > :28:05.member voted against it. As Forest the SDLP goes all their MLAs in the
:28:05. > :28:10.chamber voted in favour except Paul McGuinness who abstained. Where
:28:10. > :28:15.does the whole idea and drive that we heard about to change the
:28:15. > :28:19.legislation go from here? Basically there are new plans to bring
:28:19. > :28:22.through legislation as became clear in that debate. The executive
:28:22. > :28:28.parties are divided, the DUP are set against the whole idea of
:28:28. > :28:32.allowing same-sex couples to marry so in the absence of their support,
:28:32. > :28:36.although the issue is very much on the agenda in the chamber, it is