01/12/2015 Stormont Today

Helping children with Special Needs, climate change and the refugee

crisis - it was the proverbial mixed bag up here on the Hill.

But don't worry, there was still room for some good

old-fashioned argey bargey and name-calling in the chamber and

time for more details about Peter Robinson's departure as DUP leader

Questions about manufacturing and Corporation Tax get personal...

So here we have in Northern Ireland and opportunity to attract 30,000

jobs in Northern Ireland. And the small minded, petty can just snarl.

The First Minister gives his support to the refugees due to

These are people who are genuine refugees and if I know anything

about the people of Northern Ireland is that they are charitable and

giving people who will extend the hand of welcome.

And joining me with his thoughts on today's developments is

Professor Rick Wilford from Queen's University...

He's long been a thorn in the side of the DUP,

but Jim Allister found himself up against the purple prose of the

"Small-minded, petty and a self-professed expert

in everything" - just some of the descriptions Jonathan Bell

chose to deploy against the TUV leader in the chamber.

Mr Bell was answering questions on his brief, including the hosting of

the Northern Ireland football team at Stormont, but it was an inquiry

about the manufacturing sector that kicked the war of words off...

He talks about ongoing discussions with the minister which will produce

the skills needed if he exaggerates his claim about 30,000 jobs on the

back of corporation tax is ever to be met. The Seaham Minister has time

about number in recent months complained vigorously and publicly

about the lack of commitment to skills and skilling up and training

to meet that challenge. So how is it that the minister thinks he is

making progress about delivering these things and the minister in

charge does not seem to know anything about it? We have just got

another prime example of a small person that needs to try and talk

other people down. To talk the manufacturing industry down in an

attempt to make himself look big. I tell the member, contrary to what he

would self believe, he does not know it all. None of us do. The reality

that we have got is from Professor Neil Gibson of 30,000 jobs. The

member I know believes himself to be a self-professed expert in

everything, but he is not and we turned to the best evidence that we

have. Here we have in Northern Ireland, an opportunity to attract

30,000 jobs in Northern Ireland. And the small-minded, petty can just

snarl. Tourism Northern Ireland has been working closely in recent years

with various sporting organisations such as the Irish Football

Association in developing initiatives to promote Northern

Ireland. In terms of the European Championships 2016, tourism Northern

Ireland will work with its partners, Tourism Ireland to exploit any

potential destination marketing and PR opportunities to promote Northern

Ireland in overseas markets. I was disappointed to note that the

Department for culture arts and leisure have not held a reception

for the Northern Ireland team at Stormont, given that the Minister

has previously welcomed foreign nations, does the Minister plan to

welcome the team to Stormont in the near future and show his support for

our home team? I have already issued an invitation which I understand

will be taken up by the Northern Ireland football team and the

management around them because it is important for us to celebrate what

is a huge success for the Northern Ireland team and what they have

achieved, because even under the old rules of qualification for the

Euros, Northern Ireland would have qualified this time as well. There

was no play-off required for the team, they delivered and they

delivered well and came on top of their group and they deserve the

support of all of us. And the success not only of our football

team also comes on the back of the success of Rory McIlroy, Darren

Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Carl Frampton, a P McCoy, our

Commonwealth Games team and our Olympians. It would be great if our

football team -- go would be a disgrace if they were not recognised

at Stormont. We will ensure that a suitable date, hopefully around the

time of the March international break, we'll be here to honour the

team and I hope that all of us, because when I looked at Windsor

Park and Northern Ireland getting behind the team on one of the best

nights I have ever enjoyed, and it did give, not only a huge lift to

those there, it gave a huge lift the country and I hope we can all come

together and celebrate that success together.

Jonathan Bell, nailing his sporting credentials to the mast.

Jim Allister likes to be the one dishing out the ascerbic asides.

Do you think having Jonathan Bell nipping at

Not at all. Totally nonplussed. I was reminded of Denis Healey's

description of being assaulted verbally by Geoffrey Howe like being

savaged by a dead sheep. This is probably comparable to that. You

cannot deliver that put down line, you just cannot do it. He could not

deliver well. He needs to strip to an orthodox script and not try and

engage in verbal fisticuffs with Jim Allister.

Do you think the Enterprise Minister is growing into the role?

It is a big role to fill. It was formerly occupied by Arlene Foster

and I think she did do a pretty good job in helping to sell Northern

Ireland, particularly to overseas investors. I think the shoes are

probably a bit too big for him, I am not sure he is up to ministerial

work. not sure he is up to ministerial

the job over time. With a new leader not sure he is up to ministerial

in the offing, he could be reshuffled sideways or out, I do not

think he would be missed. And the potential visit

of the successful Northern Ireland football team to Stormont still has

the potential to ruffle It is bound to, but goodness me, if

you cannot celebrate the success of any sporting venture, whether it is

an individual or a team, I think there needs to be some sort of

reception, that is worthwhile. It would be a shame if it did not

happen and I see there is some possibility for the parish and

Northern Ireland team celebrated in Dublin and I think it would be

remiss if they could not happen in Belfast.

We'll hear more from you again later.

Today in the chamber, after nine long years, the bill dealing with

Special Educational Needs - or S-E-N - reached its consideration stage.

The goal is to improve the help available to children who

The bill will only have the desired outcomes if there is a more complex

the approach from education and health working through the

legislative processes, this bill is fine, but the true measure of its

effectiveness will be determined how well our SEN children are catered

for in the future. The sharing is two sided, information can travel

both ways and importantly may pull budgets and researchers for this

purpose as exercising their functions. We have heard of the

example in the delay of child receiving the appropriate care was

down to a simple yet elongated debate about who would pay for it.

The committee amendment would resolve that debate and the obvious

delay. I support the bill and the amendments. She mentioned the fact

that the first review was nine years ago. I think it was only myself and

the minister who have been involved with this right through the whole

nine years, it sometimes feels like 19 years, but I am glad we have got

to where we are now and I welcome the bill having got to this stage. I

think this is a huge step forward with regards to special educational

needs. The whole concept behind it is to try and speed up what is an

incredibly bureaucratic system. I think everyone in the house will

welcome the attempts to speed that process up. It goes back to some of

what I said at second stage, what is disappointing is we have a

Department of education bill for special education needs when what we

need is an executive bill for special education needs, because SEN

and disability is not the sole remit of one department, it cuts across a

number of departments and indeed, much of the conversation today has

been around the need for departments to co-operate. I think it is proper

that we reflect on the steady increase of numbers of people with

SEN over the last ten years. Some 73,435 pupils with SEN in 2014 and

2015. There is a stark but clear need in relation to advancing this

legislation. This bill has not been delayed due to political fallout or

expediency. This bill has been brought forward on the basis that we

want to bring as many people with us as possible. We have sought

agreement, we have interrogated the issues, we have debated the issues

both in terms of the original consultation. Many debates within

the committee even in my time in the committee, presentations by myself

to the current Education Committee, and by others in the SEN field

because we want to get this piece of legislation out. We want to make

sure that this piece of legislation is the building block upon which we

build a moderate SEN service. It's been just a week since MLAs

applauded Peter Robinson leaving the chamber, but he was back again

today reporting on the most recent meeting of the

British-Irish Council in London. And the outgoing First Minister was,

perhaps surprisingly, complimentary about the Irish government's

involvement with the Council - and critical of the commitment

of the British government... I am sure the First Minister

appreciates the role of the Secretary of State for Northern

Ireland in hosting this but does he have any concerns that the UK

Government is not represented at a senior level as the Irish government

at these meetings? I think we need to be clear that the Secretary of

State hosted this summit, it need not have been the Secretary of State

although we welcome the presence of the Secretary of State and the fact

that she did post this session. I think it does need to be said

certainly in discussions, the Deputy First Minister and I recognise the

distinction that there was, that end Kenny comes faithfully to every big

meeting, as did his predecessor comes faithfully to every big meaty

but I can only recall in my time at one meeting with the Prime Minister

was present and I think there is a requirement for all of us to

recommit to make sure that we are represented at the highest levels.

Can I ask the Minister in relation to dealing with refugees,

particularly Syrian refugees, did the First Minister learn anything of

value that could be applied here and further to that point, if I might in

dolls the principled Deputy Speaker, there is an anti-refugee

demonstration called for Saturday, and I would ask the First Minister

to give his view on whether or not that Raleigh should in fact take

place? In terms of Northern Ireland, yes I think we did learn quite a bit

because Scotland has already received refugees and they already

have experience and officials here will be continuing to contact

officials in the UK generally but Scotland in particular, because they

have the direct and immediate experience. I perhaps can well

comment on this issue with the reference to the so-called rally on

Saturday. It needs to be remembered that these are people who have had

complete security checks carried out. They are families that are

coming into Northern Ireland, ten or 11 families. They are people who

have faced in some cases torture, in other cases, trauma, they are people

who are in need of support. They are not the Mediterranean economic

migrants. These are people who are genuine refugees and if I know

anything about the people of Northern Ireland, it is that they

are charitable and giving people who will extend the hand of welcome and

I have just noticed over the last few days, since the Deputy First

Minister and I were covered on television speaking about this

issue, I have had several churches and a number of individuals all

wanting to know how they can put themselves forward in order to give

assistance and support and welcome to these people. So, I do not think

that those who are going to campaign against the presence of refugees

will get a very warm hearing from the people of Northern Ireland.

The First Minister making clear his support

for the Syrian refugees currently en route to Northern Ireland.

We've received more details on when exactly Peter Robinson will be

The meeting on the 17th, the electoral college. I assume there

will only be the one nominee. Then the patronage is exercised by the

leader of the party and becomes nominating officer. I doubt very

much it will be done at that location and it may well wait until

January. That opens up the issue of who will become deputy leader and

whether that will be somebody else, or somebody preferably from within

the assembly block. Just a huge assumption that it will be Nigel

Dodds, and we haven't even heard from him that he wants the job! This

is more akin to how the Conservative party, when Alec Douglas Hume got

the job, the Magic Circle with the secular equivalent of the magic

white smoke. It looks very much like that is the process by which the DUP

will engage. Peter Robinson is still expected to

be First Minister That is interesting. And they wonder

why because with the session ending you would think that was an

appropriate time to go but maybe one or two things he wants to tidy up

before he leaves. We will find out what those might be course and speak

to you before the end of the programme.

A bill to update the regulation of the social care sector has had

Although it passed on a unanimous oral vote, some members

of the Health Committee felt it shouldn't have been brought in this

mandate because they might not have enough time to scrutinise it.

The health and personal social services Amendment Bill aims to

achieve two things. It will modernise the council's conduct and

extend the range of sanctions and extend the council's powers to

formally recognise the learning achievements of social workers. The

minister introduced the bill last week and prior to this happening,

the committee had written to the Minister on 18th of November to ask

him not to introduce this bill during the remainder of this

mandate. This was on foot of a discussion which the committee had

in relation to our legislative programme. As members will be aware,

the human transplantation bill is currently at committee stage and we

are all aware that it is a complex and emotive piece of legislation

which will require the committee's detail the tension between now and

the end of January. The minister had also indicated to the committee that

it was his intention to shortly introduce the health miscellaneous

provisions Bill, and that happened yesterday, and again that piece of

legislation will require the committee's attention over a

relatively short period of time. Can I also concur with the remarks made

by the chair in relation to not pursuing this legislation, not

because we don't support the general principles, but because of the

committee's ability to scrutinise and get what I am saying about both

the proposed rules and the extent of the work undertaken, and the needs

of the workforce. They need to know and I think it is important to say

that the workforce needs to know that these matters are properly

scrutinised because of the importance. Once the latest process

comes to an end, Northern Ireland will be the only part of the UK that

registers its whole social care workforce. While I understand the

rationale behind what the department is trying to achieve in improving

safeguards and making sure those who often have unaccompanied access to

our vulnerable and their homes, I would encourage the Department to

work very closely and carefully with the sector to ensure undue pressures

are not placed upon employees. Looking forward to the future and in

keeping with the direction of travel provided by transforming your care

and other potential reforms, social workers and other stuff that worked

in the community are set to take on more and more responsibilities for

delivery of health and social services outcomes. In this regard, I

do believe that the additional regulation offered by this

legislation is appropriate at this time. This shouldn't be seen as an

attack on the sterling efforts of social workers but an

acknowledgement of their critical and growing role and the existing

professional standards. Whilst understanding and appreciating the

pressure is the service has to content with I wasn't prepared to

further delay modernisation and regulation of the social care

workforce. Other members midpoints around the timing issue and Mr

McKenney mentioned, and I hope I am not quoting inaccurately, but he

spoke about the need to have full and lengthy robust scrutiny of

legislation and there I agree with that point. Those principles I

believe should be applied to all legislation, particularly those that

are of a controversial nature. As world leaders discuss climate

change in Paris, the topic was also raised closer to

home during questions to Mark H Durkan was asked

about climate change legislation here, but before that, he responded

to a question on proposals to make changes to George Best Belfast City

Airport's planning agreement... With regards to the PAC report of

the public inquiry into the proposed modification of the planning

agreement with George Best Belfast city airport, the department

received that report from the PAC on the 30th October this year.

Interested parties were notified that the report was received. Before

releasing this report, which I haven't seen yet, I will consider

the advice of my department on if and how the agreement should or

could be potentially modified. The report will subsequently be made

available to other stakeholders and the general public after it has been

the closed to the airport themselves as the other party to the plan. --

disclosed. Mr Deputy Speaker, perhaps the Minister did outline

what further steps are then taken as part of the overall process to reach

accommodation around what are clearly as he has views on the

issue? As the member puts it, there clearly are differing views on this

issue and I certainly have a degree of sympathy with those living in the

immediate vicinity of the airport who feel that the noise has become

too much for them. Under the current agreement with George Best Belfast

city airport, there are restrictions on seat numbers as well as

restrictions on times of your traffic. Some of the breaches which

residents and objectors to the noise have pointed to, breaches of the

times, for example, are beyond the control of George Best Belfast city

airport, realistically. We are not going to see the introduction of

climate change during this mandate and that is something that causes me

regret. As I have said over the past two years I have been attempting to

build consensus, I believe we are making slow but steady progress in

that regard, and I think the topicality of this as I have said

over the past two years I have been attempting to build consensus, I

believe we are making slow but steady progress in that regard, and

I think the topicality of that has been afforded to the ongoing

confidence in Paris and the issue of climate change is something that we

can work to our advantage. I do feel the passion from him and the

enthusiasm from him about climate change legislation in Northern

Ireland and I want to thank him for that. But as he says, it is not

going to happen in this mandate with you being the Minister, how does he

feel the new structure of the two departments working together, isn't

going to enhance the possibility of getting that legislation or is it

going to be a hindrance? I thank the member for that question. I am not

sure how she felt my passion. I hope it was as good for hard as it was

for me! The new departmental setup could work either way. There are

potentially advantages in the amalgamation of agriculture and

environmental policy, and it will bring officials from most apartments

closer together and hopefully working towards common goals,

however the member is well aware of consensus expressed from the

environmental sector, that this might not be an amalgamation of

environment and agriculture. It might be an assumption of

environment into agriculture. And Mark H Durkan will be attending

the climate change conference The Culture Minister also made

a statement in the Assembly today. She told Members about her plans to

consult on a framework for promoting This this will include proposals for

legislation which will be taken forward through the remainder of

this assembly mandate and into the new mandate. I have already written

to ministerial colleagues in order to seek their support and

commitments in relation to the framework. I am announcing today is

my intention to engage in pre-consultation through the sign

language partnership with some additional membership. The framework

needs to be agreed with the partnership and to reflect members'

views. I have listened carefully to what the deaf community are saying.

Their message is clear, they want legislation to safeguard their

rights as a cultural and linguistic minority. They want to be able to

access services in the language. I want to support their efforts. It is

important therefore that we build on the work so far and take steps to

make accessibility and inclusion throughout society the norm for our

deaf community. In the statement, the Minister referred to the

resources necessary to provide phone every family who wish to take such

classes, and the fact those resources are not clear at the

moment. Could the Minister please spell out for us what she means in

terms of resources? Is this a financial resource or is

terms of resources? Is this a having the right people there to

teach sign language? At the minute teach sign language? At the minute

it is about the financial support within my department to help

families access sign language support in classes. They need is

increasing, and the rather than perhaps waiting until taking bets,

which I will do, I think it is important to bathe in mind that

there are many more children and families who need support,

particularly within the deaf community.

And Professor Rick Wilford is with me again for a final few thoughts.

Looking ahead to tomorrow's vote in Westminster on air-strikes in Syria,

tonight the DUP has confirmed it will vote with the government.

I am not surprised, although two years ago they voted against the

proposal to bomb Syria, which was an anti-dash-mac anti-Assad campaign.

They may wait and way the argument tomorrow, ten hours of debate. The

SDLP will vote against although they are going to put down some

amendments, or vote on amendments already put down, but the DUP no

surprise will support Cameron's proposition. Closer to home and

finally, the Attorney General has said today that in his view same-sex

marriage is a matter for Stormont legislators to decide on. Indeed,

perhaps because he knows what the outcome is likely to be given past

performance, voted on five times. Last occasion that got a majority of

one but was defeated by petition, but he is a very proactive Attorney

General. I am reminded of Clement Attlee once saying after a period of

silence, a period of silence would be very welcome from you. Some may

be less vocal and summoned the legal profession would like him to be less

vocal, although he was speaking in the course of a court hearing and

maybe on that basis. We will leave it there, thank you very much as

ever. Join me on Thursday at 10:35pm on BBC One but until then from all

of us, goodbye. Do you have views

on BBC Radio Ulster,