05/12/2011 Stormont Today

Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. And there may be a Christmas tree

in the Great Hall, snow at Parliament buildings and mince pies

in the canteen, but the season of goodwill is still on the back

burner. A suspect a lot has been about Grandstanding rather than

what we can genuinely do about the pension problem. And flying through

question time like a one horse open sleigh, Danny Kennedy's no nonsense

style. No. I can advise the member that we're doing that. Strict

answer to the question. No. take a look at this: it's the Great

Hall as you've never seen it before, but just what was going on here on

Saturday night? We'll reveal all. And are Belfast traders facing a

difficult season, I'm joined by Joe Jordan from the chamber of commerce.

19 shopping days until Christmas, but what sort of festive season

will it be for our shops? Joe Jordan can give us a picture of how

things are going so far in Belfast. The car parks seemed full, the

traffic particularly last week. It doesn't feel as if it is a bad

season. Not so far. Early indications are that foot fall is

on the increase. We have had reports that the numbers are up. We

don't know if the spend is up or not. But things are look

encouraging. How difficult a year has it been for traders in best

fast? It has been a very difficult year, it is the fourth year of the

recession and people are spending less on gifts and leisure

activities. Are you noticing any difference, you represent hotels

and pubs and clubs, are people not going out as much and spending

money in the shops? It is a general down turn for all. It is not that

one is doing better. But it is difficult times for everyone.

there anything the MLAs can do? fantastic news from Danny Kennedy

that he was introducing free car parking after half four is a big

plus and will encourage people into the city. Thank you. More later. If

brevity is the soul of wit, then Danny Kennedy must be by far the

wittiest of MLAs. Watch him dispense with awkward questions as

if he were swatting flies. That in a minute, but first here's the

Employment and Learning Minister who's creating jobs and trying to

improve ties with the EU. There is going to be four staff in addition

to what is out there. And I will cover the different departments. If

you go through each of the 12, all have different aspect of their

interaction with Brussels. If we end up with all 12 departments

sending out their own representative, I would imagine

that would be an area where there could be accusations 06

overstaffing. So it is important we try to pool resources and I am keen

to make sure the voice of my department are best represented.

But I think the current and the new proposed arrangements should be

more than adequate. If not, we will keep them under review. Once

again... We have a member who has continued to look at the chair.

Members might need some training around rising in their place. Mr

Newton. Thank you I too was on the trip to Brussels. On resench and

development. And recognised -- research. That Mr McKray is a man h

is far sighted and able to look to the future on these areas of

skilled -- skill development. Could I ask the minister ref reps was

made to the work that is done by the University of Ulster and

Queen's University. But surely as in other countries there are

examples that should be encouraged where those colleges who are

further education colleges and who are edge gauged -- engaged in

research and development work, some to a high standard. Come to a

question. We should colleges in Northern Ireland to be involved in

R & D. Thank you. It is a pity the chair does not have opportunity to

respond to leading comments that were made. I do take on board the

point he makes about FE colleges. There is an innovation fund that my

department has which we are examining which aims to support the

colleges in term of how they engage with the business community and in

term of developing new products and services and new ideas. That is

something that is doing well and we have a number of good success

stories. On to regional development and the beleaguered A5. Can the

minister confirm if the capital funding for the project is ear

marked funding and could he say if all the necessary prep toir work

has been carried out by the road service project team?

announcement by the Irish Government has meant that it is

necessary to have a discussion on funding issues. And of course, the

member will be aware that at the recent north/South ministerial

council, it was agreed officials from my department and the

Department of Transport in the Irish republic would have

discussions in reling to the FI. I expect those discussions to take

place in January. -- in relation to. I would say it is important that I

await the findings of the inspector's report, in case there

areish tkwhrues have to be incorporated -- issues that have to

be incorps praited. Since the public inquiry that was carried out

on the A5 was based on the presumption that the republic

Government would be supplying �400 million and since we know that is

not going to be the case, why is the minister waiting for the

outcome of this public inquiry, when he knows that it will not go

on in its present form? I am grateful for the question. I would

be grateful if he would indicate his preference as to the route of

the A5. We have never had that, the benefit of that guidance. Now brace

yourself for a quick fire round. Well by Stormont standards.

mentioned a meeting in January 2012 between your officials and theirer

parts in Dublin. Could you outline the term of reference for that

meeting? No. Given the death blow to the scheme given by the republic,

would the minister agree it would be more relevant now to be going

through the necessary processes and preparations so that other projects,

which are viable and which can be made reddied swiftly would be ready

to go I can advice the member that -- advise the member that we're

doing that. Will he bring up improvements to road at the next

meeting? Mr Speaker in strict answer to the ge question, no.

Yesterday's snow coincided with a question on road gritting that

required a more lengthy answer. Over the weekend we have seen the

advent of wintry conditions. I very much hope that everyone will be

able to travel safely at this period. Could I say that road

surface officials have been working very hard to provide gritting on

the road network. And I know that is appreciated by members of house

and public representatives. Some over 300 staff on a nightly basis

will be helping to create safer conditions across the road network.

Members will know that it is not possible, nor economically sensible

to promise to grit every single road and every path way. And that

is why both the salt bins and the grit pile ps play an important role.

I would want to encourage people to help their neighbours and provide

self help in areas and to avail of the facilities of salt bins and the

grit piles as much as they possibly can. We all know the TUV leader Jim

Allister asks plenty of questions about the running of the Assembly

and Executive, but does he get any answers? Apparently not and he's

not happy. I have 40 written questions which have passed the ten

day requirement for answer. Six of them were questions tabled before

the summer recess. 12 of them tabled in September. Nine of them

tabled in October. And really if a member is to do the work that

they're sent here to do, the standing order requirement of

ministers attending to answers within the ten days needs to be

adhered to. 20 of those 40 questions relate to office of MM,

DFM and those two departments seem to be particularly remiss in living

within the guidelines and they're more than guidelines, they're

requirements of the standing order. I would ask for your guidance and

assistance. Basil McRae is with us now. Is he right? There is a

problem with the way we deal with questions. But there is the

recognition that you take a loot of time and effort to produce answers.

And if all 108MLAs are asking as many request questions a Jim, you

would need an army of people to give the answers. We need to find a

better way of doing it. It is frustrating for members, but there

is some mitigating circumstances. So should the number of questions

that MLAs are allowed to ask, be restricted. What is the point in

saying it will be back in ten days if there is no chance. Well it was

raised in the last Assembly. Some people think the number of

questions that you ask and I'm not saying Jim is in the category, the

more you ask the cleverer you're being. If you want a real answer,

write to the minister explaining your requirement and it come wack

through -- back through a different channel. But that is circumventing

the procedures. Well it is a mimic of what happens in Westminster and

they don't suit the way that we do business here. But people are

reluctant to give them up, because there is always some information

that comes out and you do get the opportunity from time to time to

talk on television and it highlights a particular issue. The

Assembly does have to preview its processes. It is not working well.

The information is not getting out and we're not reassuring the people

that we're doing the job they expect us to do. It is not for the

want of trying. But the process are not right. He issued confuegz,

saying your don to -- confusing statement, saying your going to San

Diego. What is going on? surprised you hit the is confusing.

It couldn't be more clear. For the absence of doubt is that I'm on a

boston college scholarship, which is taking me to Boston and then to

San Diego. This is nothing to do with the committee. It was a

personal thing I applied for. But it does deal with the real problems

that Northern Ireland is facing. That is how we create employment

for young people, how we create business leaders and it is, I think

I'm only politician on the grouping. With the controversy it did have

people scratching their heads. So is there still an attempt by you to

get some committee members to go to San Diego at another date? To be

clear there is no amendment by -- attempt by me to do anything. I

chair the committee. I don't tell it what to do. But what is

important all that MLAs should be au fait with what is happening. We

have a responsibility for employment and learning. There is

some difficult news coming down to Northern Ireland. It is frightening.

And people will ask us what are you going to do? So the committee will

look at a number of places where there is evidence of good practice

and evaluate whether there are lesson to be learned and whether

there are costs involved and the committee will take a decision if

anybody goes anywhere. Hopefully you can shed light on the mischi --

mystery pictures of disco in the Great Hall. We had this is the

fourth year, the pride of Northern Ireland, which is a celebration of

all of the good things that young people do. And in particular we

have a lot of carers, a lot of people that have had difficulties

in their lives. And it is an opportunity for them to tell the

good story about what they do and we let them have what I would call

a disco, but I gather now is a rave! We do these things and they

get some food and some prizes and get to dress up. It is a fantastic

experience. Wonderful stories and wonderful people. They did

themselves proud. Thank you. The work of some committees was

disrupted by last week's public sector strikes. Some were

rescheduled to accommodate members who were unhappy at the thought of

crossing pickets lines - while others carried on regardless. So in

our weekly look at the work of the committees, we start with last

Wednesday and the OFMDFM committee. There is a letter regarding strike

There is a letter regarding strike action today. For members to note.

Equality Commission for annual report. In relation to the letter

about the industrial action today, I want to go on record for some of

the issues that the committees are dealing with today. This morning we

were looking at a -- agreeing budgets for work experience for

unemployed 16 to 24-year-old and we are discussing child care and an

investment fund for tackling dereliction, unemployment and

deprivation in key areas. So it is possible to respect someone's right

to be involved in this action today, but given that we are elected by

people from across the community, with varying views and needs, the

reason I'm involved in this work today is because we're trying to

come up with budgets and programmes to tackle some of the issues that

people have decided to make issue with. I want, I know there seems to

be an interest in the work of the committees today and I want to put

on record some of the issues that we're trying to progress and we

will hopefully go to helping some of the issues that people are

raising in public. Also there was pickets around the entrances to the

buildings I had at least two calls today in relation to people feeling

intim date, with people who were standing across the road stopping

vehicles. That is not complying with the legislation in terms of

pickets outside any public building. Or any place where the public have

access to. And I think it just doesn't help the cause. Everyone

has the right to be on strike today. But equally, everyone has the right

to... Come to work and to come to their place of work without being

harassed or stopped, or in any way intimidated by anybody. I see the

difficulty, with people coming to the office saying, I have to take

this job. Although they're being told, believing that they can lose

benefit if they don't do it. And then they are sent to a meaningless

job to maybe fill a shell of in a supermarket. And when we are told

that people should be trained up to meet any new high paid jobs.

think there is always advantage in getting somebody into a work place.

I appreciate your point about some job that perhaps they don't feel

has any particular relevant -- relevance to what they want to do.

But even getting young people into the work place, getting used to

routine of work and the discipline of work is a stepping stone. No one

is saying it is the answer to all known ills. But it is a start and

getting them used to the work environment and that kind of thing.

Basil MacRae talked of hard times and people in the south have had

more difficult type, what has been the level of cross border shopping

this season? The level is down slightly. But there is evidence

that there are still people coming from the south to avail of cheaper

prices. We don't want to get rich on the back of other people's

misfortune, but the announcement that their VAT rate is going to go

up to 23%, will that bring more people across the border? I think

you're right. In a perverse way that is good for us. What about the

voices around the city centre, people get the sense that there are

not as many people coming up this year, but are traders saying that

isn't the case? I had a chat with a man who introduced hi �4.50 all day

mark charge. He saw people coming from the south, because they had

certainty of how much it would cost to park in Belfast and they were

factoring that into their shopping. Thank you. It may have been last

week's strike, but the issue of public sector pensions was up for

discussion in the chamber today. Speaking ahead of the debate,

finance minister Sammy Wilson warned that members and ministers

must share the pain and revealed that an Independent Review Panel

will soon be examining members' pensions. The motion, originally

proposed by the SDLP, called on the executive to reverse an increase in

pension contributions. But when it came to the vote, an Ulster

Unionist amendment which called for more negotiations between

government and the unions, won out. Their message was loud and clear -

this notice about self pressration, it is about fairness and justice.

Why should working people be penalised for actions of bankers?

Public servants are being unfairly targeted in a bid to sofl a

financial crisis that was not of their making. -- solve. Not only is

this an attack on their pockets resulting in on average �63 less in

take home pay, but it is an attack on their morale. I was in west

Belfast around the picket lines, speaking to the people who thought

it in their need to take action to put a halt to this. And I think

instead of some of us walking through the line, some stood and

engaged with people. And talked to them about the issues. And I have

to say many o' of the people I was talking to were very low paid

workers. Many are under the �32,000 level and which our amendment has

put forward to protect people under �32,000 or less. I would say to the

SDLP if they read our motion again, in a even Euan way, is that we're

calling on all ministers to explore this. Will the minister. Mr Wilson.

Can I thank the members who have taken part in this debate, although

I suspect given how little has been said about pensions and how many

members have waved the flag and told us how much they supported the

strikers, didn't go through the picket lines, refused to break the

strike, I suspect a lot of this has been about Grandstanding rather

than what we can do about the pension problem that we have here

in Northern Ireland. People have accused, because we have had an

arrange Westminster the Conservative Party, because we're

we're cheer leading for them. You would think to hear some members of

Sinn Fein that the financial crisis that has affected the United

Kingdom started 18 months ago. You wouldn't think to hear them that

actually the entire debate about pension reform and I think has Lord

Hutton said, we should have been doing this years ago. You represent

Belfast traders, but where do you get your customers from and are you

in competition with the other towns around Northern Ireland? I think

there is competition between towns and cities in Northern Ireland. We

would very much see it as an open market policy. In that, everyone's

free to travel where they want to. So we can encourage them to come to

Belfast. Do you feel that in some way the parking freeze and charges

is a bit of a pay back for the towns that don't, that didn't get

the park charges that there was some talk about airlier in the

year? I think in fair tonnes the minister, it was Belfast Lisbon and

Newry that got the suspended charges. So he has done it across

the board. It is a whole other debate of did Belfast compensate

the 30 towns that didn't get the charges. I don't think that was

fair. But we are where we are. Thank you. Three weeks ago the

First Minister told members that he would know by the end of November

about EU funding for a peace and reconciliation centre at the Maze -

a key part of the planned development there. Here's what he

said. The one that we are certain that we want to move forward with

is the proposition that there should be a piece and -- peace and

reconciliation centre and we have applied for funding from the

European community and we should know the outcome of that hopefully

before the end of month. And we're keen that the agricultural show

would move from Belfast to the more agricultural setting of the Lagan

valley and that would be a very strong anchor to the site should

they choose and should we be able to an agreement there. With no

official announcement I asked her political editor what his source

were telling him. Well I think they have missed that target date. There

is talk about it happening in December. Maybe we will hear news

about Maze centre before Christmas. Tinge European side of it seems to

be hopeful. Any senior European officials who have been here have

been supportive. It must be considered by a steering committee

of the European special programmes body. So far as the executive's

concerned there might be a bit of if you like choreography to go

through. They would want this announce tpltd which will be

considered as being good news for nationalist and Republicans, being

timed at the same time as an announcements about the royal

Ulster agricultural society going to site which may be considered

more good news in terms of unionist community. I suspect they want

everything together. But we haven't got a date yet. So the SDLP

unveiled some fresh faces today. But there was a familiar name?

Alister Macdonald wants to inject fresh blood and has the idea of

shadowing councillors, in areas where they are weak and he hopes to

build from the grass roots. But there was one familiar name, Peter

Devlin is a son of Paddy Devlin and Paddy Devlin split from the party.

I asked his son why that happened. Going back to the 70s, my father

left, it was over decisions that he thoughts were right at the time.

Which have now come full circle. My father backed the police then when

other nationalists didn't. As I said, times have changed. We have

moved on and I want to be part of whole system now. I'm daunted

talking to you, when your dad was in the old Stormont he had a

reputation for settling political arguments by resorting to his fists.

You not planning to do that? I hope not. I'm not a fighting! So no. I

won't be doing that. And thankfully things are more genteel here.

we miss the old day of brawling in the hall. It I quiet now. Now Joe,

the whole face of retail has changed during the recession and we

have a sale each week, it is worth waiting to Boxing Day for a bargain

or get out now? I think Belfast has not looked so good for over 40

years. We have had a lot of Government departments pulling

together to make tilt spectacle -- it the spectacle it is now.

Retailers had to think of how to bring people in. Should they come

after Boxing Day, yes I think they will get even better bargains.

Thank you. That's it from Stormont for now. Join me tomorrow at the