05/11/2012 Stormont Today

Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. United in their condemnation, MLAs

speak out following last week's murder of prison officer David

Black. Every sane person in the land believes that those who

carried out the killing are hate- filled deviants who should be

locked up for life. The SDLP and Sinn Fein face

criticism for their treatment of a DUP councillor in Dungannon.

agree Mr Brush is a hero but he is also a victim.

And our Political Correspondent, Gareth Gordon, joins me with his

analysis of those stories and more. As an expression of support for the

murdered prison officer, David Black, Assembly Members observed a

minute's silence in the Chamber. The 52-year-old was shot dead on

the M1 motorway in County Armagh on Thursday as he drove to work at

Maghaberry Prison. Mr Black was the first prison officer to be murdered

in Northern Ireland in almost 20 years.

The First Minister, Peter Robinson, who led tributes in the Assembly,

described the death as a "cowardly murder of a brave public servant".

I visited Mrs Black and her family at their home in Cookstown and I

have to say that as I held her in my arms, listening to her sobbing,

I couldn't help but sense the utter futility of that assassination.

Here was a family completely devastated, a family that would

never be the same again, a family that will feel the pain and loss

for the rest of their lives. What had been gained? This Assembly and

the Executive will not fall or collapse, far from it. We are

united in condemnation and reinforced in our determination to

create a stable and peaceful society. The murder won't bring any

changes to the prison regime at Maghaberry and every sane person in

the land believes that those who carried out the killing are odious,

hate-filled deviants and psychopaths who should be locked up

for life. Most of all, let us send to the family our prayers and our

love, our expression of resolve that those who murdered David will

never win and we will give complete support in hunting down and

convicting those who are responsible. I believe this was an

utterly pointless death of David Black. It will resolve nothing

either within the prisons or in wider society. It is not part of

any strategy or campaign. All that has happened is that a family have

been plunged into grief, the people responsible are those who act as

their political spokespersons need to explain themselves to our

communities. Time and again when these factions carry out violent

acts we get complete silence. From those who at other times are only

too willing to come on to the airwaves and attack the political

process. It is patently obvious that the peace process will not be

derailed by killings like this. It hasn't in the past and it won't in

the future. I was very conscious last Thursday morning as I stood

and named David to the media that it was just a few minutes after his

own children had been told that their father had been murdered and

their lives had been turned upside- down. Let us remember today the

David's wife, son, daughter, parents and sister. They are in the

prayers of this entire community. I hope they will take comfort from

that knowledge and from the utter revulsion which David's murder has

been greeted universally. 14 years our arms have been open offering an

inclusive process for all. Why was David Black denied the chance to go

to work? On whose authority? Not mine. Not the people of Northern

Ireland. Not the people of the Republic of Ireland. It is chilling

to the blood to try to understand the mentality of those who sat down

and planned and then executed this murder. And like members of this

House, I too have listened to people speculate on the sort of

person who carried it out. We can have that debate all day long and

get nowhere. Are they psychopaths, but let us not allow this murder

was the result of someone or some people with some form of mental

illness, they chose to do what they did. In doing this, they also chose

to reject the offer of inclusion that has been theirs for 14 years.

In foul murder achieved nothing, those who perpetrated the murder

and those who planned it have by their own hand in many ways

excluded themselves from any role in our future. Any role in the

political processes and the political progress. They stand

condemned by all, all within Northern Ireland, all across the

island of Ireland, they stand condemned today and every day.

say this murder was futile. But we also have to face the fact that

this dastardly murder was following in a well-set tempit that you

create discord and difficulty and protest inside the prison and then

you begin to murder outside the prison the Prison Officers. Where

did we see that before? Many, many times, indeed 29 previous Prison

Officers butchered. Look at those who perpetrated previous Prison

Officer and police murders and they conclude, sadly correctly, that it

worked for them and the structures of this House are testimony to that

sad, hideous reality that these structures are built upon the

reward of terrorism, the buy-off of terrorism.

The TUV's Jim Allister. Well, following the murder of David

Black, the issue of security for prison officers was discussed by

Assembly Members in the form of an urgent oral question by the DUP's

Paul Givan. Here's the Justice Minister, David Ford. The safety

and personal security of prison staff is a high priority and is of

course kept under constant review. Following the murder of Prison

Officer David Black last week, the Prison Service management responded

immediately to remind staff of the need for vigilance and re-issued

guidance on personal security. Prison Service triggered an urgent

review of security and the Director-General has issued further

advice to staff on the assessed threat level and reminding staff of

the range of personal security measures which are available to

them. The Minister will know that this is a very serious matter, a

matter of concern that has been raised before the tragic murder of

David Black that officers felt their security concerns were not

being treated seriously. Can the Minister assure me that in

discussions that he will have with the Northern Ireland Office that

the home protection scheme that they provide will be provided to

those officers that need it and when ever installed, that they will

be maintained because officers have informed me that they are not

maintained and they are told it is their own responsibility to

maintain those schemes. Does the Minister not agree that is a

completely deplorable position to be in, something that needs to be

reviewed and people take the lead on assuring that Prison Officers'

security concerns will be addressed and protection provided to them?

The issue of the home protection scheme is one which is managed by

the Northern Ireland Office. I was certainly concerned to hear reports

that Prison Officers had been told equipment was not maintained. As

long as people remain within the Ambit of the scheme, the Northern

Ireland Office maintains the equipment which has been provided

by the NIO. I have already have a meeting agreed with the Minister of

State responsible and I will be putting in the strongest possible

terms my belief that there needs to be a proper assessment of the needs

of Prison Officers and that where equipment is supplied, it must be

maintained as long as the individuals remain within the terms

of the scheme. I trust that will be responded to positively when I meet

the Minister. Will the Minister give an update of the current

threat assessment? I suspect members would not wish me to give

the full detail, but I have had a number of discussions with the

Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable since Thursday morning. I

am expecting to meeting the Chief Constable tomorrow and I will

ensure that anything which is required by the police service in

terms of the work they have to carry out, which can be supplied by

the Department, will be responded to positively. I have also had

discussions with the Justice Minister in Dublin who has assured

me the necessary support will also be provided and there will be other

meetings with the Minister of State in the NIO so the matter is being

treated extremely seriously. The Justice Minister, David Ford.

Joining me now is our Political Correspondent, Gareth Gordon. We

saw the assembly speak as one on the murder of David Black? That is

not a surprise. We saw the First and Deputy First Minister standing

side by side outside Stormont castle. They couldn't have

condemned the murder in more stronger terms and today the first

chance the Assembly has had to discuss David Black's murder since

it happened. The only jarring note was one from Jim Allister who tried

to link it with the Republican murders of the past. He said they

were following a template laid down by the Provisional IRA. He doesn't

believe the DUP should be in Government with people he regards

as unrepentant terrorists. We saw massive cracks opening up this

afternoon as members continued to debate the murder of a part-time

UDR man in 1981? Yes, that was a man called Sammy Brush. In 2007, a

man call Gerry McGeough, he was arrested coming out of a count

centre in Omagh. Sammy Brush was inside the centre at the time as

well, working with the DUP/DB colleagues. In 2011, Gerry McGeough

was sentenced to 20 years in prisonment for attempting to murder

Mr Brush. He's only served two years. To bring it to the present

day, in Dungannon District Council, Sinn Fein and SDLP councillors

backed a motion calling for Gerry McGeough's immediate release. That

was in front of Mr Brush. Today, the DUP brought a motion before the

Assembly calling for the support without qualification for Mr Brush

and expressing revulsion at those who it said sided with would-be

murderers and Mr Brush was in the gallery to watch the debate and the

tone could hard I will have been different from the earlier remarks

about David Black. Thanks for now, Gareth.

Let's stay with that debate which saw the SDLP and Sinn Fein the

target of significant unionist anger. The fact that Gerry

McGeough's victim, Sammy Brush, was at that council meeting in his role

as a DUP representative was highlighted today by his party

leader, Peter Robinson. The Sinn Fein leader of Dungannon Council

claimed that Gerry McGeough was being detained due to his political

beliefs. Seemingly ignorant of the fact that he is being detained

because he was convicted of the attempted murder of Sammy Brush. I

was disappointed by the comments of the leader of the SDLP who said

Gerry McGeough has been victimised by the system, there is a degree of

victimisation of prisoners and we don't like it. So it is Gerry

McGeough who because he has been detained for two Christmases that

is being victimised and not Sammy Brush who, if Gerry McGeough had

got his way would have missed the last 30 Christmases. Today we have

heard as well of a protest in Belfast organised by Sinn Fein to

have the release of Mr Pardraic Wilson. When are these people going

to accept the rule of law? Mr Brush is a hero, but he is also a victim.

And his family are victims. And don't for anybody please try to

tell me that Jerry ma gaffe -- Gerry McGeough is a victim because

to me he is not. I would ask members where is the evidence of an

unbiased application of the rule of law? Where are the cases involving

members of the British Army who were involved in murder as we saw

on Bloody Sunday? Where is the evidence of those and the RUC or in

the UDR who colluded with Unionist death squads? The SDLP has never

sided with would-be murderers or with murderers. The SDLP has always

taken the position that we will apply the principles of justice to

any case and in the case of Gerry McGeough, we believe that there are

complex legal issues that should be addressed. Now, I notice Mr Elliot

is no longer here. He spoke about the rule of law. He challenged Sinn

Fein about standing up today and saying in our opinion he should be

released from prison. This sort of idea, this sort of concept that the

rule of law can't be challenged, that is wrong. The rule of law can

be abused and we have seen it being abused. It is not a complex issue,

Mr Speaker. This is the most straightforward case I think that I

have ever seen. It is whether you stand - I will give way.

certainly is complex. And both at first instance and in the Court of

Appeal it took several days to thrash out these issues. For the

member to say that this is an ongoing matter, and we feel the

SDLP must stand at the side of justice. Give some leadership to

your community. Give some leadership and tell them where you

stand today in relation to Councillor Sammy Brush as opposed

to standing with those who perpetrate murder and attempted

murder. The DUP's Arlene Foster. And when

it came to the vote the SDLP actually voted in favour of both

the DUP motion and a UUP amendment reflecting support to ALL elected

representatives who were targeted during the Troubles.

Now, what have a former jail and a distillery got in common? Just one

topic discussed during questions to the Deputy First Minister. But

first here's Martin McGuinness answering a question on the

forthcoming Irish Presidency of the EU. The First Minister and I have

had useful discussions with the Irish government on the Irish

presidency of the EU. The most recent being during our Plenary

meeting in Armagh last Friday. We recognise that Ireland hosting the

EU Presidency provides us with a unique opportunity to access

policymakers and to ensure our views are heard. The Deputy First

Minister has gone down paths in recent years that he probably

thought he wouldn't go down some 30 or 40 years ago. Can he go down

another path today and indicate that the next time he is talking to

the Taoiseach he will indicate to him that the predecessor Taoiseach

took the Republic down a path that we have no intention of going down

in this country? I'm not sure if that is a question. The Minister

can respond. I will treat it as a question. I think more than a

Deputy First Minister has gone down paths that they thought they would

never go down. It is not our job to admonish any previous

administration in the South, or to take the present Taoiseach to task.

Our job is to have a good positive working relationship. During the

course of the meetings, we have developed a positive working

relationship and we want to ensure that we continue to do that. I

think a lot of lessons have to be learnt from the mistakes of the

past, in many different ways. Quite clearly, the economic difficulties

that afflict the South are very clear examples of how we need to

ensure those mistakes are not repeated. We have got our own set

of challenges and difficulties to face here. I think the Executive is

facing into those difficulties in a way that ensures we can as quickly

as possible move out of what is a very damaging double-dip recession.

Our relationship with Europe is going to be very important. Our

relationship with the Irish government is going to be very

important and it is obvious from my initial answer that the Irish

government are very well-disposed towards ensuring that we have more

than a foothold in the dialogue and discussions that will ensue in due

course. The regeneration of the jail is at a pivotal stage. The

restoration of the jail has added to the regeneration proten shall of

the site itself. This has been evidence through the commercial

leasing of A-Wing to Belfast Distillery which is intended to be

a visitor centre, tasting room, restaurant and shop. We have also

appointed Belfast Tourism Limited as the operator to run the visitor

attraction and Conference Centre which will create up to 40 jobs and

attract an estimated 90,000 visitors per year. The development

aim will be to maximise the economic, historic and

reconciliation potential of the site. This is already under way

through the confirmed relocation of the Royal Ulster Agricultural

Society to the site in time for the 2013 agricultural show. There are

great opportunities here for job s but we need to make sure that

programmes are put in place, that those disadvantaged groups benefit

from this and I am talking about long-term unemployed people and

young people from disadvantaged areas. I absolutely agree 100% with

the member. We are all very conscious, particularly in the

context of what I think are very exciting developments around the

Crumlin Road jail that those people who are going to take up residence

there in terms of forming new businesses fully understand the

importance of social clauses and fully understand they are working

in an area of disadvantage. I think that affects the entire community

in North Belfast. So, yes, the answer is that we are very focused

on a need to ensure that when ever the job applications are made, that

there is a focus on ensuring that people in the local community from

disadvantaged backgrounds can gain employment there and as you can see

from my answer, the potential at the site is tremendous. Initially,

100 jobs, but that could rise to over 200 jobs over the course of

the next number of years, so that's something that I think people in

North Belfast will find very encouraging.

The Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness.

The difficulties faced by people with coeliac disease was discussed

at Health Questions this afternoon, with the Minister, Edwin Poots,

asked about the quantity of gluten- free food available on prescription.

First, though, the recent controversy over the Fire Service

was on the agenda again. The Minister was asked if action will

be taken against those who received unauthorised bonuses. In terms of

the individuals involved, I would clarify at the outset that no

individuals awarded themselves pay rises, or indeed bonuses. That was

done by others other than the individuals who were beneficiaries.

The advice I have received up to this point is that no, you can't go

after that because it becomes contract after a certain period.

However, I am receiving conflicting advice and therefore taking further

advice on this issue. There is a lot of concern around recent media

stories around the Fire and Rescue Service and specifically around the

bonuses. If we can highlight what role if any his department and at

what level of officials were involved with the Fire Service

during the time the bonuses were put? In terms of the bonuses, there

was job evaluations that took place in August 2008 and the Fire and

Rescue Service awarded its three non-uniform directors increases in

their pay scales which was backdated to April 2007. That was

done without referral to the Fire Service and rescue board. So when

this was discovered the pay rises were stopped and internal audit

investigation was carried out. The department does spend more time now

with the NFIRS in terms of monitoring these issues. Will he

take account of the small number of individuals who have a particularly

high depen den seven on gluten-free products and they find that their

requirement is in excess of the units that are stipulated and if

the Minister could undertake to examine the very small number of

people affected by that condition and review the number required?

Well, certainly the numbers are small and in terms of the food that

is offered, the gluten-free diet, we do provide people with support,

particularly with the staple foods. Once it moves beyond staple food,

it becomes a matter for the prescriber. We are very happy to

look at these things. What research has been done through the

department into the prescription issues? The prescriptions

themselves, especially for the essentials, aren't adequate for the

people, the amount of loaves given by prescription, and then people

have to resort to actual buying of loaves. These loaves are �3 each

for a small amount. What research or outreach has been done by his

department to look into these matters? Subject to Executive

approval, I would intend to issue a consultation on the potential of

prescription charges. And in doing that, I would like to take account

of people with this disease and look at the gluten-free situation

that exists there. I should say that everybody has to buy food. So

we will never account for 100% of the cost of food of people who have

required gluten-free foods. There is an acknowledgement that people

who require these foods are having to pay considerably more than those

who are eating food containing gluten and therefore it is

incumbent upon us to lessen that as Farr as possible. -- as far as

possible. The Health Minister, Edwin Poots.

Gareth Gordon is with me again. The same thing has happened over the

decision to charge a senior Republican in relation to the

murder of Robert McCartney in 2005? Yes, he was once an IRA leader

inside the Maze Prison. He is regarded as having played a key

role in the peace process. Last week, he appeared in court charged

with three counts in relation to the notorious murder of Robert

McCartney in 2005. Those charges include IRA membership and

addressing an IRA meeting. Sinn Fein are now overstating it, they

are incandescent with rage. They held a protest outside PSNI

headquarters. They held a news conference at Stormont this morning

as well. They say that the charges are politically-motivated and they

demand Mr Wilson's immediate release. Unionists take a very

opposite view. They have condemned Sinn Fein's stance. Even the SDLP

say Sinn Fein are trying to influence the justice system. This

one has a long way to run and I think it has the potential to cause

a lot of trouble here. Tomorrow, it will be dominated by the funeral of

David Black. The Deputy First Minister is not going to be there?

Martin McGuinness has condemned the murder of Mr Black in the most

forthright terms. But we learned this afternoon that he's not in

fact welcome at the funeral in Cookstown tomorrow afternoon. A

Sinn Fein source said he had been very willing to go to the family

home and to the funeral service, but the Black family the not want