03/06/2013 Stormont Today

it has been in the spotlight for weeks but today the final stage of

the Special Advisers' Bill came before the house. I trust that in

common language this will will become, if passed, known as an's

law. The deputy first minister says the Executive is ranching out.

extension to Beijing will be a Bill has cleared its final hurdle

tonight. 56 voted in favour and 28 against. We will hear in detail what

members had the same but first Gareth Gordon and Sam McBride. Two

to one in favour. The drama was whether there would be a petition of

concern. Dominik Bradley two weeks ago, it looked like there would be.

That would have killed this bill stone dead. There was the whole

drama of them changing their mind and once we learned they were going

to abstain, which they have done, the result was inevitable. It is a

question of when it would happen. It looked like it might go on until 3am

and have -- and thankfully that has not happened. What was the tactic on

the part of Sinn Fein? It looked like they were going to filibuster.

Rumours started this morning that there would be an attempt to talk it

out by Sinn Fein. It seems like the main speaker started down that

track, lots of his speech was quite repetitive, he was taking quite a

lot of interventions. Then he suddenly sat down and it seemed

fairly normal debate, members speaking for or 15 minutes and the

speaker said they would sit until 3am if necessary and it was clear

that there would EA vote taken at some point and obviously we have a

result. -- there would be a vote. The legislation demonstrates that

private members bills can find their way onto the statute book. It is of

enormous significance. Their run our record numbers of members bringing

forward these bills. They have realised that with the absence of

substantial legislation coming from the Executive they have the power to

bypass civil servants and get things onto the statute book themselves.

has been a tough few weeks for the S DLP, caught in the middle on this

one. Colum Eastwood was sitting alongside the Sinn Fein Special

Adviser Paul Kavanagh at a gay lick for all match. -- Gaelic. The SDLP

have come out with the bloodiest nose and perhaps in a way that is

their own fault. They were dammed if they did and if they didn't but they

dithered and appeared to change their mind, there was talk of splits

and even talk of certain MLA possibly signing a petition of

concern. The pressure continued inside the chamber tonight and

outside with competing victims groups focusing on the STL P so it

has been a very difficult time for them. -- the S DLP.

Thank you very much for now. Let's have a flavour of today's debate.

Fundamentally, this bill is about writing a great wrong. Those who

agree and those who disagree no that the appointment of Mary McCulloch in

2011 caused great public unease for many and great disquiet and great

debate. But, above that, great hurt in particular for the family of her

victim. This bill first and foremost is about writing that wrong and

saying, never again should it happen to anyone else. The attempts by Mr

Paul Kavanagh in his pity me interviews when he says this bill is

vindictive, it will rob me of my job, this is a man who robbed at

least three human beings of their lives. As officially this bill must

officially be called the Special Advisers' Bill but I trust in common

language it will become, if passed, to be known as Anne's Law. That

would be a tribute to her and her family and the tremendous courage

that has been shown. The S DLP needs to think carefully about what they

are about to do today. Each of their MLAs has an opportunity, and I

emphasise each of them, has an opportunity to stop discrimination

being introduced in this house. This is Jim Allister trying to bring the

old Stormont into the new Assembly, to reintroduce real discrimination.

This bill, because it is reliant on the findings of a flawed legal

system of the past, also ensures that those who fired the guns and

killed 14 people on bloody Sunday are not banned from being Special

Advisers. This bill protects those... People have not been

tortured and had confessions beaten out of them. In accordance with all

of the people alleged to be informers who were shot in the back

of the skull, what mechanism did they have? I have been clear that

this conflict involved many parties, the UVF, the British

Army... Are you going to let me finish the point? Thereon many

parties in this conflict, the IRA, the UVF, the British Army, the Royal

Ulster Constabulary. They're rather those who served in the RUC, the

British Army, who sit in this chamber. -- there are those.

served in the RUC and I have never killed anybody. I believe the person

who brought this whole thing about callously was there when Ms

Travers' sister was murdered. She is guilty as sin. I as a serving

officer was very proud to serve in the RUC and unlike some members of

this house I say I served in the RUC, from 1977 until 2001. I feel

that Unionism would be rubbing the face of those from a Republican

background in the dirt if they had appointed somebody such as Johnny

Adair to a position, not that we would ever think of doing that. If

we had have, it would have created that issue. We have had quite a bit

of what I would call filibustering going on this morning and this

afternoon to try to drag this matter out. All of the talking has been

done all of the evidence that we have heard has already been

presented to the committee, and I stand to support the Bill as

presented. I have heard a lot of speculation, scaremongering that

this is the thin end of the wedge and we will move on to try to stop

people with conflict related convictions from becoming teachers

and the rest. Of course not. It seems to be a message being sent out

by Sinn Fein to the faithful, don't worry, we may now be wearing suits

but we haven't forgotten our roots. As others have already stated, this

issue has become much broader than the words on the paper or the direct

consequences of the legislation. It has become a vocal point for

highlighting the frustrations at the lack of concern for the needs of

victims 15 years after the Good Friday agreement. We are trying to

get demands for enquiries when instead we need a conference of

process for dealing with the past. Until we reach that point we will

have to make calls on individual matters coming before us. The

challenge is to make sure that what we do is not fundamentally against

the spirit and letter of where this society has evolved and I don't

believe that voting for this bill goes against this. Her position on

victims have always been clear. All victims are entitled to justice. An

equitable and fair treatment, regardless of circumstances. That is

even regardless of their membership of a political party or employment

by the political party, that doesn't increase the entitlement or their

preference. It does mean that equally that employment does not

entitle them to priority over other victim. I wonder, while you have set

about that position, if you could explain how you construct of the

pecking order. I assumed you are referring to some of you agents

yesterday spending confusion, and they did quite a bit of it. I think

that this is part of the Sinn Fein effort to deflect from the issue

here, and if they want to get down to the bones of the issue then we

will get down to the bones of the issue. I am capable of getting down

and dirty with them. I will spell it out for Mr McLauchlan, who seems to

be a bit of a slow learner sometimes. In Sinn Fein employee, or

one of the elite, has no priority over any other victim, and the

perpetrator has no priority over any other victim because he is a

perpetrator. Is that simple? Is that clear? I am seeing he gets no

pecking order. If you want the pecking order... Order! Order!Mr

Speaker, I know what I said at I will have a class for slow learners

at some stage if they need it. given the responsibility prior to

the Good Friday negotiations by my party to be the Sinn Fein chief

negotiator. Around me was gathered the very experienced team of

ex-prisoners. They were also a very experienced team of negotiators.

People who were absolutely, wholeheartedly, in favour of the

peace process. Wholeheartedly in favour of inclusive negotiations.

And wholeheartedly willing to accept the outcome of those negotiations.

People should not underestimate the contribution made by people who were

former political prisoners. The contribution that they have made has

been absolutely immense. Paul Kavanagh as a friend of mine and I'm

of that. Paul Kavanagh is an ex-prisoner, Paul Kavanagh is

someone who has played his heart and soul into the peace process, who has

enormous credibility in the city from which I come, widely admired

within the community and voluntary sector for the work that he did

indeed Brandy will box eight area. And now he finds himself at the coal

face of this maelstrom around the issue of advisers. Let everyone in

this house remember that he was not the first adviser who was an

ex-prisoner. It goes back 14 years and there are people sitting here in

this house no who are pontificating about this issue who knew that. So

what's changed? I will tell you. The TUV got a member elected at the last

assembly elections and as I said when I tweeted last week after I got

back from China, we have the ludicrous situation where one and

the agreement unionist has been able to pick the SDLP up by detail and

swing them all around. Martin McGuinness speaking from the

backbenches. There was other business at Stormont today and the

Deputy first Minister was heavily involved. He told the assembly that

the executive would like a permanent Northern Ireland office in Asian.

Peter Robinson had just returned from a visit to China. We visited

Beijing and this followed a successful visit from Beijing to

Belfast last April. Since this visit, she has been promoted to the

vice premier of the People's Chinese republic with overall responsibility

for health and education and science and technology. We were delighted to

be able to secure a meeting with her, and the fact that we read the

first ministers from this part of the world to meet her since her

promotion. We discussed the potential of opening a bugle

representing our executive in Asian, and this will be someone we will

explore with executive colleagues. -- executive in Beijing. I know

that's everyone will appreciate the importance of having these

facilities. It will build up very important contact in the United

States and Brussels. Given that it is accepted that China as an

economic powerhouse, probably in a few years time it will be the

largest economy in the world, it would be absolutely remiss of us not

to consider the opportunity of having a similar establishment, a

bugle, in Beijing. It is an opportunity for all tourist

organisations including those in Ireland to try and attract the

Chinese to this part of the world. That is something we are very

focused on an something we will discuss with relevant departments.

We are agreed that we must do more. Things like the Titanic exhibit is

huge in China, and not a lot of people in China will know that the

Titanic was built in Belfast. 83 million Chinese people travel

overseas eg, and in doing so they spent something like 1.3 LU dollars

and obviously we would like to have some of that spent here. -- 1.3

billion dollars. We believe that we need to be visiting these places and

not leaving it to others to speak on our behalf or maybe not speak on her

behalf as might be the case in some circumstances. In that regard, I

think that we are playing catch up in terms of the Irish government

operation and I think that the lessons we have learned in our

recent visit. Those in good stead as we develop our relationship. This is

why we think the establishment of a bureau would be a good thing.

Martin McGuinness was also on duty during question time for the office

of first and deputy first ministers. He praised the first Balmoral show

and talk about the economic recovery and answered questions on Northern

Ireland's libel laws. Does the dip in the first Minister agree with me

that there must be greater clarity for members of the public and others

to understand the impact of the defamation act? There has been some

commentating on this Indymedia over the course of the past couple of

weeks. -- in the media. It is fair to say that by this stage there is

not a party in this house that is unaware of each of the other parties

positions on this matter. All I can say is that I have not seen anything

from the Department of Finance or personnel in relation to this matter

arrive for the consideration of myself in the first Minister. It is

important to say that the executive has not taken any decision in

relation to the defamation Bill, it's never appeared on the agenda of

any executive meeting. It certainly was never given to me as to the

first Minister, as is normally the case prior to meeting the executive

for agreement to be made between myself and the first Minister in

relation to what goes on the agenda of an executive meeting. The reason

for that is that I have not seen anything from the Department of

Finance and personnel on this matter. This year's Royal Ulster

agricultural Society's Shaw was a great success, the final visitors

figures are not yet available but the chairman of the Corporation

stated that attendance at significantly increased from

previous years, estimating some 100,000 people attended the show

over the three days. Given the shock lead in time and the lack of

essential facilities, this is commendable and without doubt

helping contribute to the success of the show. There were some

frustrating traffic delays accessing the site, particularly in the first

day of the event, but through the combined efforts of those involved,

the RFU ESN the road service and the Corporation staff, this was just

over the remaining days of the show. There is no doubt that our economy

has come through a very difficult period of the past five years, we

have seen some positive development from the labour market with

announcements of the creation of more than 100,000 new jobs. Economic

forecast also predict a bit time to growth for this year, but it is too

early to predict significant improvement on our unemployment

statistics. He first Minister and I will continue to put economic

recovery at the centre of our efforts and we are working closely

with the British prime minister and tragedy to ensure that they fulfil

their financial commitments to stimulating our economy and we will

remain tireless in our efforts to Chase investment and trade

opportunities. The enterprise minister Arlene

Foster also faced questions today as she robustly defended the work of

SNI over the past few years. She was also questioned over the electricity

price hike. My officials allegedly to the likelihood of a place in

crease as a result of a tariff review, but this was subject to

eight final analysis and I was advised of the final decision on the

20th of May 2013. I thank the Minister, could she informed the

house if she was, if her officials were content with the process and

what the price rise, what the applications are for meeting the

target of 40% renewables and the cost implications of that? It is not

a question of whether my officials were content or not, the utility

regulator is the office charged with setting the Pace Tallis and he has

said that he is so intent with the increase. -- setting the price

Tallis. We understand that the fuel costs have risen and this has given

rise to the place rise, of course it does present many challenges for

consumers, domestic and small business consumers, of course they

large energy users are not in the same way regulated. Their price is

dealt with through the electricity market in a competitive way. But it

does present us with a huge amount of challenges and I have asked for

some work to be carried out in relation to the whole energy market

to find out exactly where the costs are coming from so we can be better

informed. Hopefully my own department and the rest of this

house. Could he Minister give me some indication as to what steps

will be taken by her department and the wider executive to ensure that

vulnerable groups are not forced into deeper debt by increased Delta

city bills? Energy costs will be a significant burden not least for the

most vulnerable, we do offer discounts for customers who opt for

online billing and payment by direct debit and offer incentives for

keypad customers. We will continue to work closely with colleagues in

other departments, as he knows the Department of social development

takes the lead in allusion to the fuel poverty area and we have been

working with them in relation to a cross sector on fuel poverty

partnership. Can the Minister give us an update on the performance of

SNI over the past two years? I thank the member for his question. We have

been pleased with the performance of investor Northern Ireland, they were

set targets by the executive in the programme for government and then

latterly in the economic strategy. In terms of the jobs promoted we

have had 13,870 jobs promoted, secured total investment as I have

indicated of 784 million, and that is against a 40 year target of 1

billion, so we are well on our way to meeting that target. We have also

secured total wages and salaries of 100 naked million, and created, and

I think that is the key elements to the Joslin, we have created $2619.

-- 109 million. The target for the jobs fund for the four years was

4000 so we are well on track. The previous events and indeed the

precise route of the geode Italia will be set by the organisers of the

race, the RCS, the organisation that is working with a Northern Irish to

the sport and tours in Ireland. So it is very difficult to say at this

precise moment where the event will be but what I can say is that

Northern Ireland will be ace your pink during that time and I am

expecting everyone in this assembly to don their pink lycra and do their

bit for Ulster. The enterprise Minister Arlene Foster.

Back to John with his final thoughts. Let's talk about the Lord

lead story which broke over the weekend. The Ulster Unionist peer

being investigated by the authorities in the House of Lords.

What is your take? It was quite unbelievable in some ways to see

Lord Laird not just seemingly cotton one sting by one paper but by two

papers, seemingly. There are all sorts of questions about this, and

it is interesting how to make Nesbitt has handled this. He has had

huge disciplinary problems and he has come in for understandable

criticism. He seems to have learned from some of these and withheld his

judgement initially and then on Sunday morning at the Saudi videos

he said, I will remove the work pending the outcome of the

investigation. -- E saw the videos. It shows that he is in some ways

learning as a leader. We should point out that he denies wrongdoing.

Belfast now has a new Lord Mayor. will be fascinating to see what that

means for Gavin Robinson. This has generally been regarded as a

successful Lord Mayor, has attracted support in terms of how he has

handled this position from the likes of Sinn Fein. Just as we are talking

about special advisers, there is some suggestion that the medical go

back and has a special adviser. The flag protests have died down, they