04/06/2013 Stormont Today

Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. Coming up in the next 30 minutes:

At last it appears - the name of Northern Ireland's newest political

party is revealed. The BBC understands that Basil

McCrea and John McAllister will call their party NI 21.

We'll look at what's in a name. Equal pay was a hot topic at the

Assembly today and the Employment Minister revealed that many women

still get paid less than men. has been a widening of the gernd pay

gap for employees in Northern Ireland despite higher public sector

wages on average. Our political correspondent, Martina

Purdy, is here to discuss the day's news on the Hill.

So, we've waited patiently for quite a few months to hear the name of

Basil McCrea and John McAllister's new political party, and tonight

that name has made it into the public arena.

It's understood the two former Ulster Unionist MLAs will call their

party NI 21. Our political correspondent, Martina

Purdy, is with me. What is in a name? It has taken them time to

think of one, so quite a lochlt I don't think it's an easy process.

They were looking for a name that reflected Northern Ireland, but not

necessarily with the name "union" in it. They wanted broad support. They

are a small pro-union party. You know, they also, I think, the 21 is

reflective of the 21st century am they want to be seen to be modern

and progressive. I should say that Basil McCrea refused to confirm or

deny this name. My colleagues did research today and found a website

with the name, NI 21, which was ready to go for a new political

party. Already, Mark, the jokes have started about NI 21, whether it

sounds like an estate agents, whether it sounds like a boyband.

Dominic Bradley tweeted that that isn't it something the Saw Doctors

sang about. They sang about the M21. We had jokes about the number of

votes they will get. The boys have done their research. I think they

are hoping to appeal to a younger generation. That is what is quite

interesting when you look at Twitter and the response there has been to

the announcement that the BBC made tonight of the name. Maybe there is

a generational issue. Maybe younger people think that NI 21 works very

well. It taps into this notion of more and more people regarding them

self-as Northern Irish. They are on to something there. Census figures

indicate that increasingly Catholics, for example, are more

likely to say Northern Irish than they might have done 10 years ago.

Also, they do see the importance of the media age appealing to younger

voters. I understand that there was a woman in Taiwan who had the

Twitter account NI 21 and that one of Basil McCrea supporters was in

touch with her and my understanding is that they do have the name now.

Gather that the Saw Doctor son was the N 17... It's been a while since

I listened. 's been a while. That is right. What can we expect from the

launch on Thursday night? We expect the launch is going to be at the

Belfast Mack a modern, progressive image for the city. We will hear

Basil McCrea and John McAllister make a presentation. There will be a

lot of interest in who turns up. We are looking to see if they are going

to have new faces, a lot of young people there. Of course, I think

Basil McCrea and John McAllister will be appearing, one of them will

be appearing on The View - Both. Both of them on Thursday night, BBC

One 10. 35pm. Correct. Well remembered. Key thing that some

people will wonder about all of this, what does naming the party

mean for the two of them? What extra rights do they get? Do they get

extra speaking rights or finance, for example, as a newly constituted

political party? As a new party they would get the same status as the

Green Party or TUV, better understanding. They will get more

money, �25,000 to hire and assistant, if you like. Still

speculation as to whether they will get more speaking rights. I'm told

that is a matter for the business committee. They are hopeful they

will get more speaking rights. doubt we will find out in due

course. We look forward to hearing more detail on all of that on

Thursday night. We will hear more from you later, but now, thank you

very much. Something is going on in our

economy, the Employment Minister said today, and he wasn't talking

about recession. Stephen Farry was referring to

inequality in the workforce. In a statement to the Assembly on

gender issues, he said the pay gap between the sexes is growing despite

women gaining higher qualifications. I have already indicated that more

females are participating in higher education than males. There is in

fact quite a significant gender difference. Over the last decade

female enrol rollments account for 60% of the total. The under

representation of males, particularly Protestant males is a

particular theme within the access to success our widen participation

strategy. There are significant difference in subjects elected for

study. Despite ratio of 60-40 in favour of females generally, females

account for less than 30% of those grand waiting in stem subjects

excludeing medicine and health. 30% of students in computer science and

75 studying engineering and technology are male. Most

discouragingly there has been a widening of the gender pay gap for

employees in Northern Ireland despite higher public sector wages

on average. Overall, female medium earnings are only some 90% of male

earnings. Another important distinction relates to

self-employment. Although women account for around half of all

employees, only 20% of those who are self-employed are female. Some of

these issues are extremely serious, a widening of the gender pay gap,

women more than men work in part-time. My question is similar to

the previous member. I would like to ask you, given that 30% of females

graduate in stem subjects, can the Minister tell us what steps he is

taking to address the issue of gender stereo typing in those stem

subjects which tend to be male-dominated and given that stem

is fundamental to the recovery of our economy? Again, I thank the

member for her comments. She is very right to highlight the importance of

stem subjects to the future growth and the recovery of our economy

here. I think it is important that we do seek to challenge stereotypes

around a number of these particular areas. That is the job for

government, in particular I would highlight the forthcoming review of

the career strategy. Iement' sure your colleague, the Minister for

Education, a joint holder of that strategy myself will share the

aspirations we have to improve participation rates in stem

subjects. There is is a wider society issue. We can highlight the

issues in the Assembly and indeed take a lead were we have

responsibilities. It's important as well that we use this platform to

challenge and urge others to challenge the sterotypes that are

built up around a number of different careers. Would the

Minister accept that the vast majority of females in our community

historically and traditionally are forced into the home and caring

responsibilities? What collaborations is taking place with

the health department and social development to develop and identify

those females who are carrying serious responsibilities at home, to

try and identify them to reskill them to be economically active?

thank the member for his comment. I think the first thing to say in

response to this, is that this has to be about facilitating choice and

options for women rather than us going out with a message saying that

every woman has to work. We have to respect everyone will want to make a

decision that is vieth for themselves and their families in

terms of whether they work or not. In some respects, particularly

higher education, women are leaving hider education in greater numbers

and with better qualifications. That is quickly not reflected in terms of

pay levels. Clearly, something else is going on within our economy that

we do need to craple with. It's not just an economic issue, it's a are

moal and ethical issue too around e equality quality and opportunity.

Stephen Farry. Equal pay was at the centre of

another debate today, this time it referred to civil servants in the

PSNI and Northern Ireland Office who have been unable to access an equal

pay settlement. The motion put forward by the DUP

called on the Justice Minister to recognise and address the perceived

unfairness. As members will be aware, in 2009 there were around

4,500 equal pay claims lodged with the Industrial Tribunal on behalf of

the Northern Ireland Civil Service staff who worked as administrative

assistant, officer and executive officer two grades who believe they

were treated differently to male employees working at the same grades

within their relevant departments. In 2 o 009 an agreement was reached

on how these claims were to be resolved. Unfortunately, Mr Deputy

Speaker, civil servants who worked for the PSNI or the Northern Ireland

Office were excluded from this settlement. Members will also be

aware of the decision made by Judge Babington on 7th March to dismiss

the equal pay claims of these civil servants. You, as I, were a member

of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, during that period you will

remember that the police service with the assistant of the Justice

Minister got some �86 million additional, a number of years back.

Inside that figure was a �21-�26 million figure to settle this pay

claim. That money was supposed to have been ringfenced. It would be

good to answer answer where that money is and if it's available to

pay these people who are justifiably making this claim? In raising this

particular case, I think the member is raising something which people

feel they are being treated unfairly, I think it's our

responsibility to try and ensure that they feel that all avenues have

been explored for them. I don't think any of us can promise what the

outcome will be. Were people feel they are being unfairly treated or

an issue of equality that is why we find it easy to support this motion

today. You have a situation as Mr McCrea outlined were you have two

workers, doing the same job, effectively, but coming from

different position, historically, in terms of employment, and they are

not receiving the same wages, that creates a very serious in e

inequality and there is an issue of fairness there. Let us not forget,

Deputy Speaker, that this �26 million that I understand is

ringfenced for this project, or fo this equal pay, there are people

who, I believe, deserve that, but those people would just not be the

end recipients of it. This is �26 million. If it's ringfenced for this

project, that maybe cannot spent on any other project within the

Northern Ireland Executive. Members have suggested that beyond the issue

of liability, as I said, is an issue of fairness. Of course I understand

that point. I am he a also very clear in my understanding that I'm

bound by DFP rules. Any attempt by me to pass to DFP a business case

that flies in the face of legal liability, now establisheded beyond

question in the courts, would be a breach of those rules and would

therefore be rejected. Members and affected staff have suggested that

they believe that I have money in my department's budge to settle this

matter. That is simply not the case. Such... Let me finish this point.

Such money was only ever to be provided to the Department of

Justice from the Treasury in the event that illegal liability was

established. It is is part of the treasury reserve. It was never made

available to even the DFP, never mind DOJ or the police.

The Justice Minister, David Ford, and that motion was carried.

The DUP MLA Jimmy Spratt is with me now. There is no legal requirement,

therefore there is no money, were you expecting a different response?

Well, I was. During my tenure in the Northern Ireland Policing Board the

Minister and indeed other colleagues on the Executive fought a case for

an additional �86 million, I think, was the figure. Part of that pack

package, apart from the security element required, was a �26 million

package which the police had asked he would write to the Finance

Ministers. I wonder why you targeted this at at Justice Minister rather

than Sammy Wilson? Well, this is something ministers need to sort

out. This is a matter of fairness and equality in terms of mostly

female staff from the 2009 claim which was settled. I think in terms

of the court case, the court case is one thing. The judge probably was

not in receipt of all of the evidence at the time in relation to

the case. In terms of actually settling this, a wrong that has been

perpetrated on the folks concerned, it needs to be sorted out and I

think it can be sorted out and it was obvious the Treasury were

prepared to give that money to help sort it out way back.

The issue is the motion was successful today, but the civil

servants involved with the PSNI and 9 NIO are not closer to getting

their money? Well, I would hope as a result of today, the issue has been

raised. It has been brought forward. I hope there will be discussions

from the Justice Minister with my colleague, Sammy Wilson and

collectively something can be done to sort this out and there is a

liability also on the it Chief Constable and the Northern Ireland

Policing Board on this issue. It was quieter up here than it was

yesterday with a debate about the Special Advisers Bill. A good day

for Jim Allister? It was a good day for common sense in terms of the

legislation which only affected a few people, but in terms of what we

are talking about today, it affects considerable more people who are

lower paid than the people we were talking about yesterday.

I can't let you go without asking you about the name of the new

political party, NI 21? As a fellow Unionist, do you wish them well for

their big launch on Thursday? I am sure everybody wishes them

well. I don't know how successful it will be. I think the thing that I

like most so far was that somebody tweeted that it sounded like a

particular make of a car! So let's see what happens in the coming days.

You are not quaking in your boots? Absolutely not and I don't think

anybody in my party will be quaking in their boots as a result of what

John and Basil are launching later this week.

We will get more details in due course.

Jimmy Spratt, thank you. Tackling unemployment among young

and older people was also discussed during Question Time today. The

Employment and Learning Minister, Stephen Farry outlined his strategy

to get people from both age groups back into work as soon as possible.

Since the Youth Unemployment Scheme, my department has won working trying

to -- has been working trying to secure job opportunities for young

people. Almost 1,800 agreements have been signed for the different

elements of the youth employment scheme and 232,000 opportunities

have been scoured. 94 -- secured. 966 this taken place in the scheme.

Of the 94 had young people 290 have moved into jobs supported by the

enhanced employer subsidy. A further 51 young people obtained employment.

37% of participants moved into full-time employment.

The minister has spoken about the importance of apprenticeships. He

has spoken about the enthusiasm among businesses to get involved.

Can I ask him what steps his department is taking a? We are

dependant upon the goodwill of business, but I believe through

sound leadership from Government, but also good leadership from the

representative organisations of the business community that we can

enthuse businesses to take on more apprentices. This is very much in

their interest alongside the interests of young people and if a

business does offer a person an apprenticeship they can be sure they

are training a person in the very immediate and direct needs of their

business rather than relying on the wider education system that maybe

good at providing general skills, but perhaps not the direct skills

that that company requires. The current economic climate and the

increase in the unemployment register made the move from benefits

to finding and sustaining employment more difficult for those who have no

recent work history. This is true for those who are aged 50 or over.

In direct response to the economic downturn and as part of the

check'stive and -- executive's. S.committee. One of the initiatives

is Step Ahead 50 Plus. This is available throughout Northern

Ireland to those aged 50 and over who have been out of work and in

receipt of a working aged benefit or a combination of benefits for a

minimum period of 12 months. It will improve job outcomes by providing

the participants with an opportunity to experience a real job, coupled

with a recent employment history. These will enable them to compete

for jobs. At March, by March 2015 it will provide 1100 supported

employment opportunities. It was introduced in January of this year

and in the short time it has been available, it is proving to be

successful. It has provided 269 people with fixed term employment

which is the most welcome and commendable achievement.

Sport was on the agenda again today when the Assembly discussed the

administration of amateur football. A motion calling for the removal of

a rule requiring clubs in the Northern Amateur Football League to

have their own ground was passed by a narrow margin. The motion seeks to

redress the anomaly 2. 1 rule for prime assy rule as it is sometimes

called. The purpose of the removal of this rule is to literally create

a level playing field for all clubs across the various leagues. It is my

contention and that of many of those involved in soccer, or football if

you like, and its development particularly in Belfast, but

elsewhere as well, that this is an impediment to the development of the

sport and the advancement of teams in this and other leagues.

The NAFL could remove the rule at the sweep of a pen. As every other

division this is not an issue and I refer also to Crusaders at this

point. Newington and the work that both Newington and crusade terse

carried out in the interests of sport and in the community relations

particularly in north Belfast and that will continue to be the case.

This is an organisation that has been existence for something like

150 years and one of the oldest such organisations in the worlgd. The IFA

is the -- world. The IFA is the third oldest in the world. It is

essential to recognise and respect that the Northern Ireland Amateur

Football League is an organisation that is voted by majority to retain

the prime assy rule that requires amateur football clubs to have sole

control of their football ground. There is an issue in relation to

FIFA and it is not a case of if, but when, fed ta gets their hands on the

minutes of today -- FIFA gets their hands on the the minutes of today's

meetings here. There is the possibility of sanctions and in

Greece, FIFA threatened to implement the sanctions and we need to be

careful where we take this debate today.

I respect the caution that he has given to this assembly, not to be

interfering in the internal affairs and governance of the Northern

League, but this motion doesn't do that. It doesn't actually do that.

But the point is this - it is up to us as I said before, as interested

spectators to say to the Northern League, look at this rule and see if

it can be changed for the better. Just let me clarify this

straightaway. I don't believe for one minute that this motion is about

me ex-health authoritying any political interference -- exhorting

any political interference and it was asking me to do that, my answer

is I am not prepared to do it. Do I believe the rule is fit for purpose?

I don't. I don't. The Sports Minister, Caral ni Chuilin. There

may be one coming to a hill near you - a wind farm that is. With planning

applications for sites across Northern Ireland awaiting approval,

the Environment Minister was asked today if the natural beauty of an

area is taken into consideration when it comes to planning

permission. All of those issues in terms of landscape character and

visual amenity and the benefits and disbenefits economically and

socially of a windfarm or wind turbine, these are interrogated.

Yes, I think it is very important that decisions are made in respect

of windfarms, wind turbines. Why? Because I believe it is important

that we try to have self sue fishancy. Account minister give his

assessment of the protection set out for those people who live close to

wind turbines and does he recognise that a major complaint is in fact

the noise level of these units? it on the issue of noise or the

previous point he raised is that this is always work in progress.

This is always going to be a situation where we will see what the

latest noise advice might be or the late st advice in terms of economic

and social impact, negative and positive. It will always be a work

in progress. Does the minister recognise the

importance of the Belfast City Airport to our local business and

local economy especially in the Greater Belfast area? I recognise it

and I have had conversations with the management of the airport

acknowledging in terms of the City as an economic driver, and in terms

of the City Airport as a regional opportunity, I acknowledge that has

a major role, but we have to get a balance between the two airports and

in the absence of an overall airport aviation strategy and we don't have

one in Northern Ireland and that falls to other ministers, we do need

to recognise that competition is good when it is done properly, but

we need to sustain both airports, but I want to give this reassurance

in respect of the City Airport. Every two months I get figures in

respect of what is known as their extension log. The number of flights

that arrive outside the proper time. Every two months I get that

information. Every two months I share that information with the

airport Watch organisation, but I am satisfied at the moment, the number

of air traffic movements outside the permitted hours is justified and

appropriate and that at the moment, the number of seats for sale in

respect of which there is a cap around the City Airport namely �2

million a year is not being breached. In that way, I think the

airport can develop, but it has to be, it has to develop very much

aware of the needs of the local community and within the constraints

of a proper planning agreement. The Environment Minister, Alex

Attwood. Martina Purdy has joined me again. Can you characterise the fall

out from yesterday's debate on the Special Advisers Bill? We are

hearing from Sinn Fein's sources that they are determined to take

legal action. Perhaps not just in terms of Human Rights law, but

employment law. There is scepticism around the place about how far Sinn

Fein will be able to take this. We know that the Bill will still need

Royal Assent which will take six to eight weeks and once the Bill comes

into place, it will be another two months if you like before it could

be effected. There is a right of appeal and there is a right of two

months notice. He is going to be in place for at least four months and

maybe longer depending on the legal process.

What is the impact on the different parties? Well, I think Sinn Fein has

a difficulty in that Paul Kavanagh, one of the reasons he might have

been appointed as a special adviser sent a signal to the old IRA, that

you know, this new process, Stormont, is still very much about

them. It is not just about bringing in perhaps new, a new generation and

so they might get a bit of grief from their base and from critics in

the dissidents, the same old Stormont, the Unionists are able to

call the shots. The SDLP, the differences of opinion have been

exposed within that party. The divisions with the assembly team are

probably reflected in their base. They may lose support, but they

might gain support, but it was a week of sole searching for the SDLP

and a good day's work for Jim Allister. The TUV are saying the

requests for membership of applications are up.

A quick sentence on the fact that the deputy leader of UKIP is in town

later in the week? Yes, on Thursday he is expected to come here. The

party wants to increase its profile. It is the same day that Northern

Ireland 21 or NI 21 are launching. Coincidence? We will see.