:00:26. > :00:30.Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. Coming up, building bridges, not
:00:30. > :00:36.mending relationships this time, but the whys and wherefores of a
:00:36. > :00:42.new bridge at Narrow Water in County Down. Until this project is
:00:42. > :00:45.completed, the risk of all of the cost of the bridge rests with the
:00:45. > :00:49.executive in Northern Ireland. Also, a bit of straight talking
:00:49. > :00:53.from the Sports Minister during Question Time. I resent the
:00:53. > :00:57.implication that within the last 12 months, because I am in the
:00:57. > :01:01.department, there has been some sort of dip.
:01:01. > :01:09.And with me to discuss the vexed issue of unadopted roads, the
:01:09. > :01:14.Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson. Last month, the European Union said
:01:14. > :01:17.it would provide EUR17.5 million of funding for a new bridge at Narrow
:01:17. > :01:22.Water in County Down. Nationalists back the building of the bridge,
:01:22. > :01:25.which they say will provide a boost to tourism in South Down. But
:01:25. > :01:29.within days of the funding announcement, the First Minister
:01:29. > :01:34.Peter Robinson said he wants an investigation into the decision.
:01:34. > :01:37.Today amid differing views and significant unionist opposition, an
:01:37. > :01:43.SDLP motion called for the department of finance to back the
:01:43. > :01:47.project. In 1979, an engineering survey was commissioned. This
:01:47. > :01:52.showed that a bridge would be feasible. The proposal has enjoyed
:01:52. > :01:56.widespread support since then. Buy- back this project because it is a
:01:56. > :02:02.genuine cross-border project providing the first bridge linking
:02:02. > :02:08.Ireland north and south. It makes good sense at a social and economic
:02:08. > :02:15.level and on every conceivable measure of community benefit.
:02:16. > :02:19.find it offensive to refer to this project as a tourism boosting,
:02:19. > :02:23.rush-hour beating objective in terms of improving infrastructure.
:02:23. > :02:27.Any publicity surrounding the bridge has focused only on tourism,
:02:27. > :02:32.yet tourism alone is hardly a strong enough argument for an
:02:32. > :02:38.expensive undertaking. The project has caught the imagination of the
:02:38. > :02:43.people of South Down. The prospect of this great connector has given
:02:43. > :02:48.people hope for economic prosperity. Two other projects will be
:02:48. > :02:54.harnessed to create an economic boost in our east border region.
:02:54. > :02:57.Connecting the two historic areas allow an important cross-border
:02:57. > :03:01.projects that will develop the entire region's tourism potential
:03:01. > :03:07.by facilitating access to a spectacular area of mountain ranges,
:03:07. > :03:10.shimmering locks and a coastline. This area has been deprived of
:03:10. > :03:14.investment for too long. Considering the cost of the bridge
:03:14. > :03:20.in terms of overall infrastructure spending, a bridge at Narrow Water
:03:20. > :03:26.will provide a boost for the entire region. I will support this motion
:03:26. > :03:35.and support the construction of the bridge, as long as it is not at the
:03:35. > :03:40.expense of a sudden relief road, which offers huge benefits to Newry
:03:40. > :03:45.and right across the South Down area. It will be very much for
:03:45. > :03:48.tourism traffic. I would have serious concerns about the
:03:48. > :03:53.infrastructure on the County Louth side of the bridge. Just checking
:03:53. > :04:02.if the member has any idea of the figures as did the amount of
:04:02. > :04:07.traffic it would carry per day? have no idea what level of cafe
:04:07. > :04:11.there would be. But I am sure the minister will be happy to take my
:04:11. > :04:20.honourable friend's intervention and question him on that. A bridge
:04:20. > :04:26.is a huge symbol for humanity. Settlements have grown into
:04:26. > :04:34.villages, into towns, Inter cities around 14 places and around the
:04:34. > :04:38.bridges. Sir bridges are a proven stimulus to growth and development.
:04:38. > :04:42.And building of this bridge will link Northern Ireland and the
:04:42. > :04:47.Republic, and it can be seen as a local piece of infrastructure
:04:47. > :04:52.linking County Down to County Louth. It will facilitate local people and
:04:52. > :04:57.encourage good neighbourliness. It can also be seen as a valuable
:04:57. > :05:02.piece of tourism infrastructure. Some of the members who spoke
:05:02. > :05:09.probably no the economic appraisal better than I do. Actually, the
:05:09. > :05:14.main reason given for this bridge is not the tourism potential. The
:05:14. > :05:19.second most important reason given is not the tourist potential. And
:05:19. > :05:24.indeed, the appraisal itself states that given that it is unlikely "in
:05:24. > :05:28.our view that a large proportion of additional visitors will come to
:05:28. > :05:34.the area specifically attributes will able to the existence of the
:05:34. > :05:38.bridge". This is not an issue. For �1 million, you get a bridge. First
:05:38. > :05:44.of all, the amount of money which will come from departments in
:05:44. > :05:51.Northern Ireland is to �0.8 million. But more importantly, until this
:05:51. > :05:54.project is completed, the risk of all of the cost of the bridge rests
:05:54. > :06:03.with the executive in Northern Ireland. If this bridge is not
:06:03. > :06:10.completed on time, the final bill will be in by June 2015, then we
:06:10. > :06:13.lose all the money which is put into this project, because we will
:06:13. > :06:19.have missed the European deadline. The final decision on this has not
:06:19. > :06:25.been made. The DFB is the accountable department. Once a
:06:25. > :06:30.decision is made by the programme's steering committee, which it was on
:06:30. > :06:34.24th October, then all of the paperwork comes to the Department
:06:34. > :06:40.of Finance and Personnel. All of the relevant documentation is
:06:40. > :06:45.sorted. We will look at the costs, benefits, value for money and the
:06:45. > :06:50.risk before we make a final decision. It is my job, once I have
:06:50. > :06:54.received information, assessments by the officials, the professionals
:06:54. > :07:02.within of my department, on all of the relevant documentation and
:07:02. > :07:08.issues, to make up my mind. The one thing I can say, however, is that
:07:08. > :07:13.no one has ever been able to accuse me of making up my mind on the
:07:13. > :07:19.basis of whether I like who proposes that a motion or who
:07:19. > :07:24.opposes a motion or where it comes from. Unlike ministers from both
:07:24. > :07:29.Sinn Fein and the SDLP, I have not had my judgment called into
:07:29. > :07:35.question by the courts, and I don't intend that to happen. For that
:07:36. > :07:44.reason, I will not be making a pre- judgment on the issue today. I have
:07:44. > :07:51.never had an application for any European money where there has been
:07:51. > :07:55.the degree of political interest, political involvement, political
:07:55. > :07:59.dabbling that there has been with this application.
:07:59. > :08:03.The finance minister Sammy Wilson. And the proposal calling on the
:08:03. > :08:07.department of finance to support the new bridge was passed. 85
:08:08. > :08:11.members voted, 47 in favour and 38 against.
:08:11. > :08:15.A question over funding for sports clubs in east Belfast prompted some
:08:15. > :08:19.straight talking during questions to the culture, arts and leisure
:08:19. > :08:24.Minister Caral Ni Chulin. But first, here is the minister answering a
:08:24. > :08:28.question on the lasting legacy of the World Police and Fire Games.
:08:28. > :08:31.The accommodation has been raised as a possibility that might cause
:08:31. > :08:35.difficulty in delivering the Games. I would like to welcome the
:08:35. > :08:40.information road shows beginning this week. Could I ask the minister,
:08:40. > :08:43.does she think there are any lessons that can be taken from the
:08:43. > :08:46.efforts to create a lasting legacy from the 2012 Olympics and
:08:46. > :08:53.Paralympic Games that can be applied to the World Police and
:08:53. > :08:56.Fire Games? I do think there are lots of lessons we can learn,
:08:56. > :09:03.particularly the more positive aspects. We have young ambassadors
:09:03. > :09:07.who were involved in the Olympics and Paralympics. The Games Makers
:09:07. > :09:10.and volunteers around those games, we had to translate that to the
:09:11. > :09:15.World Police and Fire Games. The role of charities and under-
:09:15. > :09:21.represented communities, as well as looking at accommodation, which
:09:21. > :09:28.will be a big challenge. One idea that the City of London employed,
:09:28. > :09:32.we can perhaps learn from. We need to look at the overall position of
:09:32. > :09:40.where we are at in terms of enhancing the opportunities for the
:09:40. > :09:46.World Police and Fire Games. The incident that happened in Belfast
:09:46. > :09:52.last night does not add to the image of the friendliest games ever.
:09:52. > :09:55.I am concerned that long-term unemployed and young people in
:09:55. > :10:03.particular are given opportunities during the construction phase of
:10:03. > :10:09.the stadia. That was part of the specification for the procurement.
:10:09. > :10:15.I can give that comfort to the member. For a long time, we have
:10:15. > :10:21.been hearing about long-term unemployed, among but I am talking
:10:22. > :10:27.at least 12 months and beyond. In relation to the social causes that
:10:27. > :10:33.are included in the procurement contract, in the Ravenhill contract,
:10:33. > :10:36.we are looking to employ seven long-term unemployed people, to
:10:36. > :10:41.have 5% of the workforce in apprenticeship schemes, to have two
:10:41. > :10:45.student placements and produce five practical proposals put contract
:10:45. > :10:51.which will develop social returns for that area. Poor of the
:10:51. > :10:55.Department support of the IFA's idea of having a museum? The first
:10:55. > :11:00.time I heard about this was on the radio the other morning, and I just
:11:00. > :11:10.caught the tail-end of what was said. Within our museum family, we
:11:10. > :11:14.do need a sports focus. We have a proud history, and it is not
:11:14. > :11:22.reflected. Looking at the museum in Croke Park, it is a tourist
:11:22. > :11:31.attraction that brings people into the stadia. It adds to the economy
:11:31. > :11:36.and gives a history, reflecting the sport. That and so will come as a
:11:36. > :11:42.shock. Within the last of months, not one penny of money has gone
:11:42. > :11:47.into the East Belfast constituency. It is a very large constituency
:11:47. > :11:52.which has a high number of sports clubs actively pursuing sports in
:11:53. > :11:57.the area of. One can only question why that sudden drop-off has
:11:57. > :12:02.happened over the last 12 months. Can I ask the minister what she
:12:02. > :12:05.intends to do to reactivate the level of funding? I think you have
:12:05. > :12:11.got a question there. May be the member did not hear the beginning
:12:11. > :12:17.of the answer, so I will repeat it. No clubs in the East Belfast
:12:17. > :12:21.constituency have applied for funding within the last 12 months.
:12:21. > :12:25.I resent the implication that within the last 12 months, because
:12:25. > :12:28.I am in the department, there is some sort of dip in sports
:12:29. > :12:34.preparation in East Belfast. I wish the member would clarify their
:12:34. > :12:38.position. I am happy to meet him and also meet groups in East
:12:38. > :12:42.Belfast to hear what the sport needs are. But I will not tolerate
:12:42. > :12:44.people making inferences because they had not applied for funding
:12:44. > :12:48.rather than had not received funding.
:12:48. > :12:51.A very firm Caral Ni Chulin. The Agriculture Minister Michel
:12:51. > :12:57.O'Neill told the chamber this afternoon her that up to 8000 trees
:12:57. > :12:59.have now been destroyed here in an effort to contain ash dieback.
:12:59. > :13:02.During question time, she also revealed that there are now 16
:13:02. > :13:07.separate outbreaks of the tree disease across Northern Ireland.
:13:07. > :13:10.Our strategy for dealing with the disease requires surveillance off
:13:10. > :13:14.likely sources of infection, detection and eradication of
:13:14. > :13:19.diseased trees. Some councils have landfill facilities and have made
:13:19. > :13:23.these available for burial of trees that need to be destroyed. One
:13:23. > :13:30.council has been involved because trees were recently found on their
:13:30. > :13:32.land. The council is working to destroy the trees. The chief
:13:32. > :13:36.executive is compacting council chief executives when diseased
:13:36. > :13:40.trees are found in that area to advise them of the finding, to
:13:40. > :13:44.brief them of the actions that need to be taken and timber offer basic
:13:44. > :13:48.biosecurity advice. Recreation officer has also play an important
:13:48. > :13:53.part in the monitoring of trees and alerted department when they are
:13:53. > :13:56.concerned about disease. In terms of current spread of the age of
:13:56. > :14:06.disease, the position this morning was that there had been 16
:14:06. > :14:15.confirmed outbreaks at recently planted at sites. The confirmed
:14:15. > :14:19.outbreaks are in County Antrim, Derry, down and Tyrone. Again, as
:14:19. > :14:25.of this morning, there were four separate sources, two of which were
:14:25. > :14:29.planted out, all linked to imports from continental Europe. To date,
:14:29. > :14:35.no cases have been confirmed on forested land. This disease is a
:14:35. > :14:42.high priority for our department. Resources are being committed to
:14:42. > :14:46.tracing the disease. In addition, we have surveillance under way and
:14:46. > :14:50.are targeting 1000 sites. Our strategy going forward to eradicate
:14:50. > :14:54.the disease will depend on the outcome of this violence and the
:14:54. > :14:57.development of scientific advice. The Diamond Jubilee site was
:14:57. > :15:02.established in County Antrim last year with the planting of some
:15:02. > :15:06.60,000 trees in conjunction with the Department of Forestry. The
:15:06. > :15:12.condition of the grant was that around 20,000 ash trees had to be
:15:12. > :15:16.planted. Is it good practice to insist that such a high percentage
:15:16. > :15:21.of single species tree in any project has a condition? I can't
:15:21. > :15:25.speak about that case, but I can confirm that this strain of this
:15:25. > :15:28.disease is different to what we have seen in Europe, which is why
:15:28. > :15:32.there are particular problems with identifying the effective treatment.
:15:32. > :15:38.The science is not there because this is a relatively new disease,
:15:38. > :15:43.only found since 2011 in England. We are trying to develop the
:15:43. > :15:48.science and treatments moving forward. At this stage, it is about
:15:48. > :15:58.taking the new plants so that it never gets into the older plants.
:15:58. > :15:59.
:15:59. > :16:05.But it is not because there was no Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. As
:16:05. > :16:09.the Minister said, England has covered this last year - has the
:16:09. > :16:14.Minister engaged with parts of England and Wales where it's
:16:14. > :16:18.affected? You know, the best practise is what they have been
:16:18. > :16:21.doing to address this problem... can assure the member that it's my
:16:21. > :16:25.priority to make sure we eradicate this disease. That's very much the
:16:25. > :16:29.stage we're at in terms of eradicating the disease. We're very
:16:29. > :16:32.much involved in surveillance and research. We'll look to everybody,
:16:32. > :16:38.particularly to England because of the position they're currently now
:16:38. > :16:41.in. We also look towards the south of Ireland, and we have very much
:16:41. > :16:46.applied for this discerning approach when it comes to keeping
:16:46. > :16:49.it out. That's important work. It's very important we engage
:16:49. > :16:55.particularly as we develop the science. We don't want to reinvent
:16:55. > :16:59.the wheel. We'll also use that method. We're working with DEFRA
:16:59. > :17:04.and with the south. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I
:17:04. > :17:09.thank the Minister for Her answers so far. Could the Minister answer
:17:10. > :17:16.what steps she is taking to ensure that the four sources identified
:17:16. > :17:20.for this disease in Northern Ireland are the only sources?
:17:20. > :17:23.assure the member we're currently out surveilling. As I said, we
:17:23. > :17:27.don't want to survey about a thousand site, which we want to
:17:27. > :17:30.make sure there are no symptoms present. At this moment in time I
:17:30. > :17:35.think we have been to over 200 sites, but there is like a trade
:17:35. > :17:38.trace, if you like, so anything that's been imported from those
:17:39. > :17:42.potential sites or those sites where there has been cases detected,
:17:42. > :17:45.we're very much tracing that whole movement. The officials are
:17:45. > :17:51.currently working through that process at the minute. We have
:17:51. > :17:53.diverted a lot of staff to make sure they're on the ground doing
:17:53. > :17:55.the inspections and getting as much information as possible.
:17:55. > :17:58.The Agriculture Minister, Michelle O'Neill. The controversial issue of
:17:58. > :18:01.flying the Union flag over Belfast City Hall has dominated the news
:18:01. > :18:04.headlines in recent days, and flags were also on the agenda at Stormont
:18:04. > :18:09.today when members had an opportunity to ask questions about
:18:09. > :18:12.the running of the Assembly. The arrangements, Mr Deputy Speaker,
:18:12. > :18:18.for the flying of the Union flag from Government buildings in
:18:18. > :18:23.Northern Ireland are set out in the flag's regulations, Northern
:18:23. > :18:28.Ireland Order 3,000 as amended by the flag's regulation, Northern
:18:28. > :18:32.Ireland amendment 2002. The Assembly Commission's policy is to
:18:32. > :18:37.follow those regulations. The list of designated days of which the
:18:37. > :18:42.member will be aware of on to these -- under these regulations is
:18:42. > :18:52.regulated by OFMDFM each year. Generally, 15 days in total, and
:18:52. > :18:52.
:18:52. > :18:56.it's not zuded by the -- decided by the Assembly Commission. The issue
:18:56. > :19:01.the member has raised will be considered at the next Assembly
:19:01. > :19:05.Commission meeting next week. Alastair for supplementary. Could I
:19:05. > :19:11.ask the Commissioner to confirm that the flag's regulations of 2000
:19:11. > :19:16.do not by law apply to this building, nor the designated days,
:19:16. > :19:20.but rather by the choice of the Assembly Commission, who choose to
:19:20. > :19:24.cruise them as the temp plait they follow. There is no compulsion on
:19:24. > :19:29.the Commission to do that by law. It is their choice. Therefore, the
:19:29. > :19:34.commission could change that policy, that the Commission has by its
:19:34. > :19:40.voting measures a Unionist majority when it comes to voting, and is he
:19:40. > :19:50.telling us that not a single member, including those who went through a
:19:50. > :19:57.
:19:57. > :20:00.process of faexu anger about the absence of the flag on Ulster day...
:20:00. > :20:05.The onset of devolved governments in Northern Ireland has decided to
:20:05. > :20:08.implement the policy, and we shouldn't be any different from
:20:08. > :20:12.that. I can confirm the member - picking up on his second point. In
:20:12. > :20:22.my time on this Assembly Commission I have never had or received any
:20:22. > :20:24.
:20:24. > :20:29.other requests to fly the flags on any other day. Could I ask Mr
:20:29. > :20:32.Ramsey - given the disgraceful scenes outside City Hall yesterday
:20:32. > :20:37.evening - THE SPEAKER: Order, please. That's
:20:37. > :20:41.not a relevant question. Absolutely. Let me finish. Could I ask if the
:20:41. > :20:46.Commission has considered establishing either a subcommittee
:20:46. > :20:51.or an ad hoc committee to discuss the whole flags issue and perhaps
:20:51. > :20:54.give a lead to other - the rest of the region? I certainly agree with
:20:54. > :20:58.the member, certainly. The flags issue is a very emotive and
:20:58. > :21:01.sensitive one and is one the Assembly Commission going forward
:21:02. > :21:08.is always mindful of, and in those circumstances we will reflect and
:21:08. > :21:14.will note members' concerns on that. We always are going forward try to
:21:14. > :21:18.achieve the most consensus on any issue irrespective of how important
:21:18. > :21:21.or how other members would see it as a priority. It is a case that I
:21:21. > :21:24.don't feel it necessary at this stage for the Commission - because
:21:24. > :21:28.they are mandated by the parties to represent each party on the
:21:28. > :21:33.Assembly Commission, and I am sure in our discussions next week, and
:21:33. > :21:37.specifically, on a formal request from a member of this House may
:21:37. > :21:41.lead to some deliberations, may lead to some discussions, but at
:21:41. > :21:45.the present time, I do believe the leadership has been taken by the
:21:45. > :21:48.Assembly Commission by having a designated 15 days, which is
:21:48. > :21:50.consistent with other policies in other public buildings across
:21:51. > :21:53.Northern Ireland. The SDLP's Pat Ramsey. The problem
:21:53. > :21:55.of abandoned roads need to be addressed. That's according to the
:21:56. > :21:58.Regional Development Committee, and it wants the Minister, Danny
:21:58. > :22:01.Kennedy, to urgently address the current backlog of unadopted roads
:22:01. > :22:09.and sewers. The issue was debated in the chamber following an inquiry
:22:10. > :22:17.into the problem. During the course of the inquiry, the Committee were
:22:17. > :22:23.advised there were anywhere between 1,200 and 3,500 unadopted roads and
:22:23. > :22:26.some 1,200 sewerage gains in backlog. DMD and AMA Water are
:22:26. > :22:29.unable to quantify the precise numbers, something which the
:22:29. > :22:33.committee believes to be a significant weakness in itself.
:22:33. > :22:38.Recommendations to negate this weakness have been made. It was
:22:38. > :22:41.also estimated that it would take some 300 million to bring roads up
:22:42. > :22:49.to a standard sufficient to allow for adoption and somewhere in the
:22:49. > :22:53.range of �41 million and �100 million to allow for adoption of
:22:53. > :22:57.waste water schemes. As can be expected in today's economic
:22:57. > :23:00.climate, it is extremely unlikely that these levels of inquestment
:23:00. > :23:06.can be required from central Government. However, the committee
:23:06. > :23:10.is not suggesting that actions cannot be taken to rectify this
:23:10. > :23:14.significant problem, but rather, a coordinated effort by all sectors
:23:14. > :23:20.involved in the process could see major improvements in the most
:23:20. > :23:23.critical cases. The committee does not waste - prohibit recovery in
:23:23. > :23:28.the construction industry. It has received sufficient evidence to
:23:28. > :23:32.indicate that the level of bond coverage is currently insufficient
:23:32. > :23:36.to cover remedial walks. That may be required to bring
:23:36. > :23:40.infrastructures to a standard where they could be adopted. As someone
:23:40. > :23:45.with a background in financial services, I am well aware costs of
:23:45. > :23:50.bonds are based on the financial risk that the financial institution
:23:50. > :23:54.granting the bond has to undertake. We seem in the past to have been
:23:54. > :23:58.reluctant to enforce bonds. In my time as a councillor I find it
:23:58. > :24:02.frustrating when attempting to push for a resolution the road service
:24:02. > :24:10.seems to be reluctant to force the hand of the developer in relation
:24:10. > :24:15.to the bond. For that reason I -- the department reviews a more
:24:15. > :24:18.prompt reaction to calling on the bond. I feel a priority must be
:24:18. > :24:21.given in relation to a prioritisation audit within each
:24:21. > :24:26.council area. We must see this completed as quick as possible. We
:24:26. > :24:30.must also see the basis of priority based on intervention implemented
:24:30. > :24:34.as soon as funds become available. Time and time again each member
:24:34. > :24:38.will know that they get their the run-around in terms of who is
:24:38. > :24:44.responsible for a particular problem, and that needs to end. We
:24:44. > :24:49.need to find a solution arising out of this report that puts an end to
:24:49. > :24:53.that. The committee has made a very sensible recommendation that NOGA
:24:53. > :24:56.coordinates and prioritises an audit to allow for the possibility
:24:56. > :25:00.that unadopted roads and infrastructures causing risk to
:25:00. > :25:04.public health and safety could be addressed by the department and/or
:25:04. > :25:08.Northern Ireland Water. This is in my view a sensible way for us to
:25:08. > :25:13.try and deal with the problems that already exist. The vast majority of
:25:13. > :25:16.private street sites determined for adoption go through without the
:25:16. > :25:22.need for additional intervention from my department. For example, in
:25:22. > :25:27.the past five years, road service has adopted some 416 kilometres of
:25:27. > :25:31.new roads and housing developments, and Northern Ireland Water has
:25:31. > :25:38.adopted sewage schemes in 772 developments. That said, I do
:25:38. > :25:41.recognise there are an increasing number of problem sites - in some
:25:41. > :25:47.cases a consequence of the economic downturn, but I think in all cases
:25:47. > :25:51.as a result of developers washing their hands of their
:25:51. > :25:57.responsibilities, and I'm absolutely determined to tackle the
:25:57. > :26:04.- these developers and that legacy. The primary responsibility for
:26:04. > :26:08.providing new roads and sewers in housing developments lies with the
:26:08. > :26:12.developer, and whilst I have no immediate plans to change the
:26:12. > :26:17.private streets legislation, it doesn't follow that I would rule
:26:17. > :26:21.out changes in the future to broaden the legislation. Developers
:26:21. > :26:28.must have that clear warning in mind when meeting their obligations
:26:28. > :26:31.under existing legislation. Roads Minister Danny Kennedy. And
:26:31. > :26:33.I'm joined in the studio by the Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, who
:26:33. > :26:37.sits on the Regional Development Committee. Your committee clearly
:26:37. > :26:42.thinks this issue is a problem. How big a problem? Well, that in itself,
:26:42. > :26:47.is a problem, Mark, because we estimate it's between 1200 and
:26:48. > :26:51.maybe as many as 3,500 properties are affected across Northern
:26:51. > :26:58.Ireland by the issue of unadopted roads and the consequences of that.
:26:58. > :27:02.In fact, we have accepted an offer from and encouraged the Minister to
:27:02. > :27:07.take up an offer from NOLGA, the Local Government Association, to
:27:07. > :27:10.actually survey in the 26 councils across Northern Ireland to actually
:27:10. > :27:13.get an accurate assessment of the number of properties affected.
:27:13. > :27:17.the people who find themselves caught in this trap, it's a very
:27:17. > :27:19.difficult situation for them to deal with. Do you think we need
:27:19. > :27:24.tougher legislation to actually sort the problem out, because the
:27:24. > :27:28.Minister is not particularly keen, but he hasn't ruled it out in the
:27:28. > :27:30.longer term? He hasn't. While it might be nice to contemplate a
:27:30. > :27:34.complete package of legislation to deal with this problem, I think
:27:34. > :27:37.there are things which the Minister can actually do with existing
:27:37. > :27:40.legislation. For example, it's a little disappointing he hasn't
:27:40. > :27:43.taken the opportunity with the current water bill to include
:27:43. > :27:46.Northern Ireland Water in the bonding arrangements, which they're
:27:46. > :27:52.currently not in, so therefore a property could actually have been
:27:52. > :27:55.built and not have a proper water supply delivered to it, and if the
:27:55. > :27:59.building goes - builder goes out of business or something else happens,
:27:59. > :28:03.the householder is left without a proper water supply. Briefly, there
:28:03. > :28:07.are bonds in place... There are. Why can't they be used more
:28:07. > :28:11.effectively? The bonds are in place primarily for the road, but they're
:28:11. > :28:15.not necessarily in place for water, and they are at the end of the day
:28:15. > :28:19.an insurance-based policy, and the builder has to take out the bond.
:28:19. > :28:22.The insurance company has the pay up. I can't let you go without
:28:22. > :28:26.asking you about the flags issue. It was raised here, as we have
:28:26. > :28:29.heard, in Stormont today. This evening, if anything, the situation
:28:29. > :28:36.seems to be getting a little bit more hot and heavy. Yes, that's
:28:36. > :28:40.very disappointing. It's particularly disappointing that
:28:40. > :28:44.alliance people seem to be getting the brunt of this in terms of what
:28:45. > :28:49.is going on. After all, Belfast city council is actually only doing
:28:49. > :28:53.what the DUP and others have agreed to do in Lisburn city council.
:28:53. > :28:55.people need to take a step back? Absolutely. Thank you very much for