:00:25. > :00:30.Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. Coming up in the next 30 minutes:
:00:31. > :00:33.The Justice Minister faces tough questions from his committee over
:00:34. > :00:37.his change to the Chief Constable job criteria.
:00:38. > :00:45.If you don't get your way, is this a resignation matter for you?
:00:46. > :00:48.I think you are straying way beyond this committee's remit.
:00:49. > :00:52.We get a new planning policy, but the minister holds firm on fracking.
:00:53. > :00:58.My position is reaffirmed there should be a presumption against the
:00:59. > :01:00.exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbon extraction until the
:01:01. > :01:06.department is satisfied that there is sufficient and robust evidence.
:01:07. > :01:11.I'm joined in the studio by Dr Orna Young.
:01:12. > :01:16.The Justice Committee has agreed to write to the Executive demanding no
:01:17. > :01:20.change to the criteria for selecting a new Chief Constable. The decision
:01:21. > :01:23.follows a meeting this afternoon between the committee and the
:01:24. > :01:26.Justice Minister, David Ford, who caused controversy when he announced
:01:27. > :01:30.his intention to set new minimum criteria for the post. Mr Ford
:01:31. > :01:33.clashed with committee members this afternoon over the issue and refused
:01:34. > :01:39.to be drawn on whether he believes the Executive has the power to
:01:40. > :01:45.over-rule him. I believe my decision is the right one. That I have acted
:01:46. > :01:48.within and in accordance with the powers given to me and I have
:01:49. > :01:52.consulted more deeply and more widely than I was required to. That
:01:53. > :01:56.my decision in no way undermines the role of the board, indeed, it
:01:57. > :01:59.enhances it. If concluded in the time scale that I intend it to, it
:02:00. > :02:03.should not cause any disruption to the process that the policing board
:02:04. > :02:06.will have to follow in recruiting a successor to the current Chief
:02:07. > :02:16.Constable. You do accept, it is however now,
:02:17. > :02:21.called, well FM and DFM have called an issue into the Executive and I
:02:22. > :02:26.will report back to the Executive. Just to be clear, you are accepting
:02:27. > :02:31.that if a majority of members on that Executive decide to retain the
:02:32. > :02:35.status quo, that is a binding decision of the Executive and you
:02:36. > :02:40.can't... With the greatest respect to you, my relationships with the
:02:41. > :02:45.Executive are discussion with me and the Executive and not with me and
:02:46. > :02:50.this committee. It is a purely legal question. Can you as Justice
:02:51. > :02:54.Minister decide to take a different decision contrary to what the
:02:55. > :02:59.Executive may decide when it meets to deal with this particular issue?
:03:00. > :03:04.And I repeat, I will be discussing that issue with the Executive.
:03:05. > :03:09.Surely minister, you are in a position or your officials have
:03:10. > :03:13.advised you that the legislation empowers the Executive to call in
:03:14. > :03:18.anything deemed significant. That makes it an Executive decision as
:03:19. > :03:22.opposed to a ministerial decision of that particular department?
:03:23. > :03:26.Do you accept that that is legally the position that the Executive has
:03:27. > :03:30.taken in respect of this particular issue? I will discuss that issue
:03:31. > :03:34.with the Executive. A very interesting response to that. Either
:03:35. > :03:40.you accept the Executive has got the legal authority to have called this
:03:41. > :03:44.issue in which has deemed it an Executive decision as opposed to a
:03:45. > :03:50.Minister for Justice decision or you don't. It is a simple yes or no. Is
:03:51. > :03:54.the Executive acting within its legal remit to have called this
:03:55. > :03:56.decision making it an Executive decision. Yes or no? I will be
:03:57. > :04:01.discussing that issue with the Executive.
:04:02. > :04:05.OK, minister. Based on what you are saying and clearly this is a
:04:06. > :04:10.particularly strong issue for you in terms of your relationships with the
:04:11. > :04:16.Executive. If you don't get your way, is this a resignation matter
:04:17. > :04:19.for you? I think chair, you are now straying way beyond this committee's
:04:20. > :04:30.remit with respect, I have come here, I have answered questions for
:04:31. > :04:35.necessarily need to answer, minister. But when you keep asking
:04:36. > :04:39.five times, it suggests you don't accept that.
:04:40. > :04:43.The Justice Minister, David Ford. Joining me is commentator, Orna
:04:44. > :04:46.Young. I suppose it was no surprise there would be differing views
:04:47. > :04:51.around the committee table this afternoon? No, absolutely not, Mark.
:04:52. > :04:57.Building on previous comments coming from the DUP indeed that David Ford
:04:58. > :05:05.was a little near owe, it was always going to play out in this manner
:05:06. > :05:10.with hostile exchanges or robust exchanges today.
:05:11. > :05:16.Paul Given was very persist apt, he did -- persistent. He did keep
:05:17. > :05:20.asking the question over and over again and he glared back? Yes. There
:05:21. > :05:26.was a line of questioning, it may have been persistent, Paul Given's
:05:27. > :05:31.questioning, but indeed, it led to an end which was to ask him was his
:05:32. > :05:36.position going to be tenable if his plan came to pass? That's a really
:05:37. > :05:39.interesting point. What do you think happens next? The minister is
:05:40. > :05:43.consulting he has two weeks to do that. He brings his deliberations
:05:44. > :05:45.back to the Executive table. Then other ministers will decide what
:05:46. > :05:49.happens. If they don't agree with his position and it looks likely at
:05:50. > :05:54.the moment that they might not, where does that leave David Ford? It
:05:55. > :05:59.is questionable in terms of David Ford's position indeed. I think it
:06:00. > :06:05.is not happening in a vacuum. We have seen this with the Haass talks.
:06:06. > :06:10.People are mindful of the election that we have coming up and this does
:06:11. > :06:17.seem to build on an issue with Alliance more generally. It will be
:06:18. > :06:21.interesting to see how much they do, whether it the DUP or Sinn Fein
:06:22. > :06:26.decide to go after David Ford on this issue. David Ford spoke to me
:06:27. > :06:31.on Thursday night. He said he can't see why this issue was called in
:06:32. > :06:41.which Executive colleagues when other issues weren't
:06:42. > :06:43.which Executive colleagues when saying not that you have got
:06:44. > :06:50.sympathy with that, but you can see how he reaches that conclusion?
:06:51. > :06:55.Absolutely. . But we have to bear in mind how concerned Stormont has been
:06:56. > :07:00.with in general since 1998 with the idea of the depoliticisation of
:07:01. > :07:03.policing and for this point the DUP and Sinn Fein have a point with
:07:04. > :07:09.this, but indeed that it is entangled in the idea of the
:07:10. > :07:14.Alliance and his role on that with the up and coming elections. As far
:07:15. > :07:18.as the issue is concerned, whether or not the minister had the right to
:07:19. > :07:22.change this particular element of the job description. Do you think
:07:23. > :07:26.people outside the Stormont bubble are persuaded of the importance of
:07:27. > :07:31.the matter? No, but I think with the reaction of the DUP and Sinn Fein
:07:32. > :07:35.that they maybe. I don't think on the ground it bears any difference
:07:36. > :07:39.on how policing is played out really on a day-to-day basis if you look at
:07:40. > :07:43.the situations in terms of the cost of policing over months and years.
:07:44. > :07:46.That's mainly what is concerning people, not really who is heading it
:07:47. > :07:49.up at this point. Interesting stuff. We will talk to
:07:50. > :07:52.you later. Orna, for now, thank you.
:07:53. > :07:55.Planning decisions on fracking should remain a matter for the
:07:56. > :07:58.Department of the Environment following the devolution of powers
:07:59. > :08:01.to the new local councils. As he brought his Strategic Planning
:08:02. > :08:04.Policy statement to the House, the Environment Minister said hydraulic
:08:05. > :08:08.fracturing is a matter of regional significance. Mark H Durkan said the
:08:09. > :08:12.statement would facilitate the transfer of planning powers and
:08:13. > :08:17.create a system that is "fast, fair and fit for purpose". This strategic
:08:18. > :08:23.planning policy statement will ensure we have a shorter, simpler,
:08:24. > :08:29.that provides clarity and certainty tor all users of the reformed
:08:30. > :08:34.planning system. It consolidates 20 separate pieces of planning policy
:08:35. > :08:40.to a single statement. Reducing 800 pages of policy to less than 100.
:08:41. > :08:53.The SPPS supports my vision to create a better environment and a
:08:54. > :08:57.The SPPS supports my vision to employment and aid economic
:08:58. > :09:00.recovery. Can I ask the minister to outline what changes and steps he
:09:01. > :09:06.made to change and improve the planning system thus far?
:09:07. > :09:13.I thank Mr Eastwood for that broad question and I will give him a broad
:09:14. > :09:18.and in no way prepared answer! LAUGHTER
:09:19. > :09:24.Could the minister indicate if by his actions of having to withdraw
:09:25. > :09:33.the planning Bill, if he had to make any changes to the strategic
:09:34. > :09:38.planning policy in relation to that? I thank Mr Elliot for his question
:09:39. > :09:44.and as outlined in my previous answer. A lot of the changes
:09:45. > :09:49.proposed in the Planning Bill as intended can and will be implemented
:09:50. > :09:58.though not through legislation. I think what people will want to know
:09:59. > :10:02.is, if his draft statement today proceeds and becomes operative, will
:10:03. > :10:07.large scale planning applications that have the potential to deliver
:10:08. > :10:11.thousands of jobs in Northern Ireland, for example, like one
:10:12. > :10:15.outside Lisburn and one near Londonderry. Will they be able to be
:10:16. > :10:18.delivered taking account of any objections there are in good time so
:10:19. > :10:22.that people can get the economy regenerated and people in those
:10:23. > :10:30.areas can benefit as a result of this statement? I am not aware of an
:10:31. > :10:34.application like that that currently exists outside Lisburn. I don't want
:10:35. > :10:38.to get called into particular applications, but I am not sure of
:10:39. > :10:43.such an application is live outside Lisburn that would meet that
:10:44. > :10:49.description. However, I do assure the member that all steps will be
:10:50. > :10:56.taken to ensure quick and proper decisions on all applications. Can
:10:57. > :11:01.the minister tell us what about the vexed issue of fracking? Would
:11:02. > :11:08.the minister tell us what about the considered by a local authority
:11:09. > :11:17.the minister tell us what about the by a central planning director rat
:11:18. > :11:20.and where are we with both? That's a boring subject.
:11:21. > :11:26.LAUGHTER I thank the member for the question.
:11:27. > :11:34.Given the controversy surrounding the issue of fracking I would
:11:35. > :11:38.expect, if not insist, that it is a matter of regional significance and
:11:39. > :11:42.therefore, would be treated as an Article 31 application and
:11:43. > :11:49.therefore, the decision on that would still be made centrally.
:11:50. > :11:55.Within this document, the draft SPPS, my position is reaffirm there
:11:56. > :11:59.should be a presumption against the exploitation of unconventional
:12:00. > :12:04.hydrocarbon extraction until the department is satisfied that there
:12:05. > :12:11.is sufficient and robust evidence and all environmental impacts.
:12:12. > :12:14.Mark H Durkan. The Education Minister John O'Dowd
:12:15. > :12:17.has paid tribute to pupils at the Boys' Model School in Belfast who
:12:18. > :12:20.spoke up for their teacher, a Sinn Fein councillor who's been receiving
:12:21. > :12:23.threats. During Question Time, he said the boys had demonstrated
:12:24. > :12:26.courage and vision through their comments on social media sites.
:12:27. > :12:34.Ulster Scots funding and the use of schools outside the academic day
:12:35. > :12:37.also came up for discussion. No hesitation in promoting the greater
:12:38. > :12:42.community use of school buildings. Only recently I launched a guidance
:12:43. > :12:51.document along with the Minister who was also launching a document in
:12:52. > :12:54.relation to sports clubs. The extended schools programme is an
:12:55. > :12:59.excellent way of doing that, integrated schools into the
:13:00. > :13:01.community and drawing parents and others into schools to encourage
:13:02. > :13:05.them to use the facilities and encourage them to become more
:13:06. > :13:09.involved in their children's education. The Minister will be
:13:10. > :13:22.aware in education. The Minister will be
:13:23. > :13:29.he put into the education system and the sectors across Northern
:13:30. > :13:34.Ireland? Indeed, can I ask the Minister, in terms of the ongoing
:13:35. > :13:36.disparity between Irish and Ulster Scots, what more can he make
:13:37. > :13:44.available to help address that issue? My department funds on the
:13:45. > :13:52.basis of need. The member will be aware that we have a thriving Irish
:13:53. > :13:56.medium sector. We have over 4000 children being taught through the
:13:57. > :14:05.medium of Irish and it continues to grow. We have over 20 specific units
:14:06. > :14:10.or schools. I do not have any in relation to Ulster Scots. I do make
:14:11. > :14:14.funding available for the promotion of Ulster Scots material. I asked
:14:15. > :14:20.the Ulster Scots agency to come back with further details of support and
:14:21. > :14:23.I await that response. I am happy to engage with anyone promoting Ulster
:14:24. > :14:34.Scots to see that we work closely together to promote Ulster Scots
:14:35. > :14:39.language and culture. Does he agree there are objections to a Sinn Fein
:14:40. > :14:42.councillor working in a state school? Ministers have put
:14:43. > :14:47.substantial investment into state schools including Boys' Model School
:14:48. > :14:52.which have improved the quality of life and made the prospects much
:14:53. > :14:55.better for many Protestant children. It is worth remembering the
:14:56. > :15:01.objections came from outside of the school. Came from outside the pupils
:15:02. > :15:07.and the teaching staff. Those who made the Texans clearly need to be
:15:08. > :15:15.educated in the broader sense of the word -- made the objections. I stand
:15:16. > :15:17.by my support. I know my predecessors can stand by their
:15:18. > :15:20.record in terms of support for education within what
:15:21. > :15:30.record in terms of support for funding formula it will be shown
:15:31. > :15:39.that where there is need we will support it. We will not judge it on
:15:40. > :15:42.the basis of creed. The Education Minister John O'Dowd.
:15:43. > :15:45.Stormont's MLAs stepped into deep water today as they discussed a new
:15:46. > :15:48.piece of legislation to govern our reservoirs. The bill will regulate
:15:49. > :15:51.the 151 reservoirs across Northern Ireland. It was brought to the
:15:52. > :15:56.Assembly by the Agriculture Minister. The purpose of the bill is
:15:57. > :16:00.to introduce a legal framework for regulating reservoir safety to
:16:01. > :16:03.reduce the risk of flooding as a result of dam failure in the North
:16:04. > :16:09.of Ireland. This legislation will provide assurance that people, the
:16:10. > :16:13.environment and economic liberty are better protected from the potential
:16:14. > :16:21.risks of flooding from reservoirs. It will regulate reservoirs which
:16:22. > :16:27.are capable of holding 10,000 cubic metres or more of water. And which
:16:28. > :16:33.are created wholly or partially by artificial means. They will be known
:16:34. > :16:39.as controlled reservoirs. It is the volume of four Olympic sized
:16:40. > :16:42.swimming pools. The breach of a reservoir is recognised as a
:16:43. > :16:48.possible source of flooding that has the potential to cause catastrophic
:16:49. > :16:52.damage to those living and working in the inundation area. Hence the
:16:53. > :16:56.need for legislation to prevent it in Northern Ireland. The committee
:16:57. > :17:02.has been told the proposals for the bill are designs to create a legal
:17:03. > :17:07.and manage risk from flooding from reservoirs. Considering there is no
:17:08. > :17:12.legislation regarding reservoirs prior to this in Northern Ireland,
:17:13. > :17:17.the reservoirs bill is important. There are many reasons and it is
:17:18. > :17:23.timely that this is debated in the agricultural committee and in the
:17:24. > :17:29.assembly. As stated earlier, the EU requires such legislation. England
:17:30. > :17:30.and Wales have legislation since 1930. Scotland has legislation since
:17:31. > :17:42.2011. 1930. Scotland has legislation since
:17:43. > :17:52.important to insure a joined up approach. -- ensure. As we look at
:17:53. > :17:56.the bill in more detail, we must ensure it sets out clearly how
:17:57. > :17:59.abandoned reservoirs will be managed and also consider what issues may
:18:00. > :18:05.arise once this legislation is in place should Northern Ireland water
:18:06. > :18:09.for instance start selling disused reservoirs as their duty of care
:18:10. > :18:14.were then passed to new owners as a result of legislative safeguards.
:18:15. > :18:21.Nowhere in these regulations is there any requirement for assessment
:18:22. > :18:28.relating to risk of flooding from reservoirs. It just is not there.
:18:29. > :18:35.Therefore, I was amazed when I started to read the explanatory
:18:36. > :18:42.document that comes with this bill. It too peddles this mess. The member
:18:43. > :18:52.is referring... Let us not do anything because... Let us wait and
:18:53. > :18:56.see if something bad happens. This is a preventative approach. The EU
:18:57. > :19:00.directive is relevant but it is about taking a protective approach
:19:01. > :19:03.based on risk, not being disproportionate, but very much
:19:04. > :19:05.based on risk. That is what we are trying to do.
:19:06. > :19:08.Michelle O'Neill and the second stage of that bill was passed. The
:19:09. > :19:11.Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister Caral Ni Chuilin also faced
:19:12. > :19:15.questions today and she was tested on a variety of topics. Ulster
:19:16. > :19:20.Scots, boxing and the Giro D'Italia were all on the agenda. But first up
:19:21. > :19:26.was Irish language funding. I'm sure the Minister is aware that there is
:19:27. > :19:36.a high degree of dissatisfaction among some of the language groups
:19:37. > :19:44.here in the North. They are not very hopeful about the new process. Can I
:19:45. > :19:45.ask the Minister what she can do to ensure that these
:19:46. > :19:57.ask the Minister what she can do to would be included in the funding
:19:58. > :20:01.net? I thank the member for this question. It gives me an opportunity
:20:02. > :20:06.to repeat again that there is still an opportunity for these four groups
:20:07. > :20:12.in the three of which are eager, I understand, to try and fit into new
:20:13. > :20:20.arrangements, and one decided for whatever reason not to apply. I am
:20:21. > :20:27.willing to make sure that for those who are eager and keen to protect
:20:28. > :20:31.the values of they work -- of their work, and enter into the varnish it
:20:32. > :20:37.with the other groups, the change manager needs provided needs to be
:20:38. > :20:40.integral and not transition. Have you any intention to review the
:20:41. > :20:46.current models or funding structure for Ulster Scots bodies? Do you
:20:47. > :20:51.recognise Ulster Scots as an official language? Well, I am
:20:52. > :20:59.surprised the member asked that question given out when city was on
:21:00. > :21:02.the committee and should have had a working knowledge that Ulster Scots
:21:03. > :21:09.is protected in legislation. Don't be silly. In relation to reviews, we
:21:10. > :21:14.will be reviewing at some stage the working arrangements between Ulster
:21:15. > :21:17.Scots agency and the ministerial group to make sure that they work
:21:18. > :21:22.they are doing is still providing value to the community and value for
:21:23. > :21:27.money in terms of the investment we have made and taking on board the
:21:28. > :21:30.ideas and taking on board the projects and themes emerging through
:21:31. > :21:34.their work. I think it would be best served to give them a bit more
:21:35. > :21:39.support rather than making cheap and silly remarks. In particular support
:21:40. > :21:44.for the establishment of a Northern Ireland Association of amateur
:21:45. > :21:51.boxers, would be Minister care to join in giving her support for such
:21:52. > :21:54.an enabling organisation in order to an franchise and open up
:21:55. > :22:05.opportunities for all young boxers in Northern Ireland?
:22:06. > :22:11.opportunities for all young boxers gossip. The member will also be
:22:12. > :22:15.aware of an independent report into boxing which did not recommend a
:22:16. > :22:22.separate authority for boxing for the North. What he needs to do, and
:22:23. > :22:26.he keeps bringing this up at every question Time in order to be given
:22:27. > :22:32.the same answer... He needs to stop messing about with politics and
:22:33. > :22:38.sport. It is unbecoming of any elected member. What role does her
:22:39. > :22:47.department play in the planning for the Giro D'Italia? Perish the
:22:48. > :22:51.thought of everybody in North Antrim wearing pink shirts. Especially pink
:22:52. > :22:55.lycra. But we will not go there. Caral Ni Chuilin who seems to have a
:22:56. > :22:57.problem with men wearing pink. Now, it's potentially the most
:22:58. > :23:00.wide-reaching piece of legislation created by the Assembly. Today, the
:23:01. > :23:06.Public Service Pensions Bill was passed. It will alter the pension
:23:07. > :23:09.plans offered to more than 26,000 public servants employed in Northern
:23:10. > :23:14.Ireland. The Finance Minister Simon Hamilton presented the bill at its
:23:15. > :23:19.final consideration stage. This bill has 38 clauses and nine schedules
:23:20. > :23:27.and is a complex piece of legislation. After having been
:23:28. > :23:32.quoted extensively, I thought I might at least quote him at final
:23:33. > :23:38.stage and perhaps a more favourable quote than the ones he hand-picked
:23:39. > :23:42.for consideration. But I do agree with his comments at further
:23:43. > :23:45.consideration stage last month and I quote, it is arguably the most
:23:46. > :23:50.significant piece of legislation to come before the chamber thus far.
:23:51. > :23:54.Returning to the bill itself, I would remind members that the Public
:23:55. > :23:57.Service Pensions Bill revised framework enabling legislation for
:23:58. > :24:05.the reform of public service pensions in Northern Ireland. Had we
:24:06. > :24:08.taken the route to legislate on this important and sensitive matter, the
:24:09. > :24:10.committee would not have had the opportunity to do such detailed
:24:11. > :24:24.committee would not have had the matter across the House, both in
:24:25. > :24:28.committee and elsewhere, provides another example of the added value
:24:29. > :24:33.that can be achieved when we as a locally elected and accountable
:24:34. > :24:36.representative work collectively and constructively to tackle difficult
:24:37. > :24:45.issues and shape outcomes to meet local needs. It is important to
:24:46. > :24:48.remember that pension is not some added all extra benefit, it is
:24:49. > :24:55.simply pay witches and and pay witches deferred -- added or extra
:24:56. > :25:03.benefit, it is simply paid which is burnt. Especially given the
:25:04. > :25:07.government is already reneging on its promise of a 25 year guarantee
:25:08. > :25:12.on pensions. The changes as a result of the bill are not desirable but
:25:13. > :25:16.unfortunately are required. There has been a strong lobby from public
:25:17. > :25:21.sector workers against these changes. It is frustrating for all
:25:22. > :25:24.of us that reform is necessary. The current pension provisions are not
:25:25. > :25:28.sustainable in their current form. But has been said in earlier debates
:25:29. > :25:31.about increases in life expectancy at how the cost of pensions has
:25:32. > :25:35.risen by a third in the past ten years. We need to be realistic and
:25:36. > :25:38.continue to monitor the proportion of adult life spent in retirement
:25:39. > :25:44.and this means continuing to assess whether scheme pension ages should
:25:45. > :25:49.be in line with state pension age. Not completely desirable to make
:25:50. > :25:55.these changes, but are they going to be necessary to safeguard the
:25:56. > :26:02.future? Would the Minister or this assembly, while there are other
:26:03. > :26:10.options out there? Could this assembly, could a minister, could
:26:11. > :26:14.they have taken a hit to a block grant of ?300 million? Is that
:26:15. > :26:20.something that we could have achieved? I think that would be
:26:21. > :26:22.unrealistic to expect. It is imperative these reforms are
:26:23. > :26:23.permitted on time otherwise a Northern Ireland
:26:24. > :26:36.permitted on time otherwise a bill is important and necessary. The
:26:37. > :26:40.main purpose of it is to provide primary enabling framework for
:26:41. > :26:44.required reforms. It was important we got the primary framework
:26:45. > :26:48.enabling legislation through and retain dealing with normal scheme
:26:49. > :26:52.pension age and state tension age. The essence of the reforms of public
:26:53. > :26:57.service pensions is to make them sustainable by dressing
:26:58. > :27:00.ever-increasing pensions liability. The public service pension structure
:27:01. > :27:05.in the UK has not responded flexibly to rising pensions costs and
:27:06. > :27:09.increases in longevity in the past few decades. Change must happen now
:27:10. > :27:12.to address these matters. The Finance Minister Simon Hamilton
:27:13. > :27:17.and the bill was passed by 77 votes to 13.
:27:18. > :27:21.Orna Young is with me again. That bill has now passed its final stage
:27:22. > :27:27.so that will have a major bearing on a lot of public sector workers in
:27:28. > :27:32.Northern Ireland. Absolutely. We have such a top heavy public sector
:27:33. > :27:37.here that it is effectively a time bomb, considering the ageing
:27:38. > :27:41.population we have here. The politicians have passed it, but
:27:42. > :27:45.watching the debate, it was clear they were uncomfortable about having
:27:46. > :27:50.to implement some of these changes. They see it as a bit of a necessary
:27:51. > :27:54.evil. Absolutely. They are all in agreement in terms of their
:27:55. > :27:57.reluctance in relation to it. It is not very popular. Given the fact
:27:58. > :28:01.they are looking to extend the age in terms of pensions and retirement
:28:02. > :28:05.and bringing those into line with the UK contacts. Do you think the
:28:06. > :28:11.issue was resolved for a generation or will it have to be returned to in
:28:12. > :28:15.the years ahead? Absolutely. Given the nature of the growing
:28:16. > :28:19.population, as I said, one positive thing that has come out is that we
:28:20. > :28:24.had legislation passed. Maybe as time goes on, given the fact they
:28:25. > :28:32.are not feeling comfortable with it, they may have to come back and tweak
:28:33. > :28:34.it. One final thing. The row over the history teacher who
:28:35. > :28:47.it. One final thing. The row over have seen it played out over social
:28:48. > :28:50.media. Outside Stormont itself, we saw the Protestant coalition wading
:28:51. > :28:55.into the discussion on it, in terms of their support for why there would
:28:56. > :28:57.not be a Sinn Fein representative working in a Protestant school and
:28:58. > :29:01.for that reason it is very interesting to watch the debate and
:29:02. > :29:06.people are countering that and supporting the diversity of teaching
:29:07. > :29:10.staff. It is interesting to see pupils getting involved as well.
:29:11. > :29:15.Good to have your new programme. Thank for joining me tonight. Join
:29:16. > :29:17.me for The View on Thursday night at 10.35pm on BBC One. Until then, bye
:29:18. > :29:23.bye.