10/02/2014 Stormont Today

Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. Coming up on the programme tonight:

The Health Minister outlines the extent of the problem at the Royal

Victoria Hospital's emergency unit. The inspection has confirmed

concerns about stuffing levels, allegations of bullying, and a

system of care that does not function fully.

The Social Investment Fund finally gives the go-ahead to 23 projects.

These projects amounted to more than ?33 million and from a court --

across all nine zones. And I'm joined by Stephen Walker for

his analysis of today's proceedings. Not enough staff, allegations of

bullying and intolerable pressure. Harsh words that the Health Minister

used to describe the situation at the Royal Victoria Hospital's

Accident and Emergency Department. Edwin Poots was updating the

Assembly on a review into A care. The review was carried out by the

Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority following problems for

both patients and staff at the Belfast hospital. Mr Poots told MLAs

the system of care doesn't function as it was set up to do.

Over the weekend of the 31st of January, they said that the quality

of care and dignity afforded to patients in the A department.

Secondly, I decided that rather than a lead review of the major incidents

last month, it would be better to be a review on the rules. The IQ IAA

has agreed to carry out to the trust for health and social care.

And my department on its preliminary findings. I have been advised that

the inspection gave a range of issues that give serious concern

about performing to a high standard that we expect and exacting the

commit months. I want to share to the Assembly the aspects of the

feedback that has given me concern and the early findings require our

immediate intention. The inspectors spoke to many staff

across a range of roles and functions. They have confirmed

concerns about staff levels, allegations of bullying, pressure

and a system of care that does not function as it was set up to do.

This is not something new to us in this house and community.

Almost a year ago, a year ago next month, we had this report from the

College of emergency medicine, outlasted -- outlining that the

procedures were not sustainable. We had an improvement group. Can I

ask, considering that he is widening this review out, is he now fully

accepting that there is indeed a crisis in our emergency care?

Thank you. I have to say in terms of emergency care, waiting times are

coming down. In terms of how we respond to the major critical

illnesses, such as strokes, heart attack and major trauma, we are

getting better outcomes. So when none of those aspects you are

looking at a crisis situation, you are looking instead at improvement.

The Minister referred to the situation at the Odyssey last verse

tonight. Can he give the Assembly his views on what caused that major

issue as far as any concerns. And what his colleagues can do to ensure

issue as far as any concerns. And Thursday night. There was around 100

young people who required treatment. Some of that was voluntary. A lot of

that was carried out by the Ambulance Service on-site and 17

people attended the emergency departments. They were anticipating

many more coming through with the first reports. The cause of it,

alcohol and drugs. And the number of people who were attending the

emergency departments were 15, 16, 17, 18-year-olds. None of them

should have been drinking alcohol and the drugs were legal. Can the

Minister advises white he is only now advising of a review, having

denied that there was a crisis? And is this a result of the

Spotlight programme and the health committee later this week?

We were late -- we will wait and see what that programme says and what it

says about the good things that are happening in the hospitals, or

whether it is just attacking the health care system. What I clearly

thought, before we learnt about anything to do with Spotlight, was

asking the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority to go in and

look at what was happening in the Victoria Hospital. That was not on

the back of the media, that was because of talking to the media.

It was the First Minister answering questions during Question Time

today. Peter Robinson and his Junior Minister Jonathan Bell, were

questioned on fracking, the online abuse of a Sinn Fein councillor and

child poverty. The First Minister started by announcing a ?33 million

investment in the first projects to benefit from the Social Investment

Fund. I am pleased that we have announced

today the first 23 successful projects that will be funded from

the Social Investment Fund. These projects amount to more than ?33

million and from across all nine zones. The list of

million and from across all nine and we will communicate with the

organisations involved. The remaining projects within the

funding are all currently within the process and within the next few

weeks and months we anticipate making the remaining announcements

fully committing the remaining fund. The office of the First Minister and

Deputy First Minister has had no discussions with the trade on

bringing across conversation on the exploitation of shale gas. Given the

fact that two ministers have opposed the exploitation of shale gas in

Northern Ireland, something that 42% of kidney -- consumers who are

struggling with fuel bills will find the watering, can he give assurance

that there will be a serious discussion on energy policy,

investment policy, planning policy, environmental policy and mineral

exploitation policy to ensure that we do not lose out on the

opportunity that has transformed the American economy and has got the

potential to transform the Northern Ireland economy?

It will ultimately be a matter for the Northern Ireland executive and

stop I think the Northern Ireland executive will be judicious as they

look at this matter. We should be aware of the best

practice in the United States of America. We should be aware and look

whether it is best practice in the rest of our United Kingdom. And we

have to judiciously weigh the evidence in a measured way that

allows us to be good stewards of the earth that we have inherited and

that we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren, but that

also that we don't miss out on the huge opportunities available to

deliver jobs and investment to the people that we serve. I would like

to ask the First Minister what his view is on the sectarian

intimidation on the young teacher Catherine Seeley in the Boys' Model

School? Catherine Seeley in the Boys' Model

We have already spoken on this deplore intimidation in the

workplace, no matter where it takes place. People should be getting jobs

on merit, they should be allowed to carry out their employment in a

peaceful and dignified way. Can I ask the First Minister if he

believes that we will achieve the targets in the poverty act?

The trends with this in terms of the economy. It is clear that

unemployment is going down, the claimant amount is going down. More

people are getting into work and prosperity would therefore

increase. However, I have some problems with the issue of child of

the statistics in that we base them on the medium incomes and therefore

we never get rid of child of the on that basis. Poverty will always be

with us if we use that criteria. Poverty in Northern Ireland is the

same in India if you use that criteria, and anyone who has been

the slums of India that the deputy prime -- Depp to First Minister and

I saw, you know that those are two different situations. You are not

dealing with a world recognised criteria for poverty, it is relative

poverty. Joining me now is our Political

Reporter, Stephen Walker. Stephen, let's start with health and

those developments today, particularly relating to A

provision. Yes, a lot of headlines about health

in recent weeks, in the media and the policies dominating in

Stormont, the stories of waiting this and waiting times. We had a

report today saying that there was not enough doctors. Edwin Poots was

concern about staff levels, allegations of bullying, pressure.

And saying that the... System of care was not functioning properly.

The intervention that we heard earlier talking about the

The intervention that we heard inquiry. Edwin Poots made it clear

that the inquiry had been launched before he knew about the programme.

And we have had details of the first funding from the social investment

funds. Yes, the delay there has been

criticised. ?33 million to be invested in 23 projects. The whole

idea is to deliver social change. What they want is to help people who

have mental health issues, people who have problems of finding jobs.

There has been a lot of criticism that it has been much delayed, but

finally today the First Minister has been giving details of what will be

spent. And the former Boys' Model School

teacher Catherine Seeley, who was centre stage at the Sinn Fein Ard

Fheis, was centre stage here today. Yes, her case was referred to twice.

It was referred to at the First Minister's Questions and later on in

the day by a Sinn Fein member. She was centre stage, she got a big

reception at the Ard Fheis. Peter Robinson was asked about the case,

he condemned what had happened, saying that nobody should be

subjected to that. There has been a development in the case today, we

understand that Catherine Seeley has been offered another place and that

there have been discussions between her and the board. That element has

been welcomed by the teaching union. They condemned what went on, but

they welcomed that she has another job elsewhere.

And it was the First Minister who handled the questions today. Some

members seemed determined to provoke the Deputy First Minister.

Yes, Gregory Campbell used the situation to have a jibe at Martin

McGuinness. Gregory Campbell wanted to talk about the fact that Martin

McGuinness recently Martin McGuinness. Let's hear what

Gregory Campbell had to say. Can I welcome the positive approach

that the Deputy First Minister have taken in relation to the seat, much

more positive than counting the number of people who do and don't

speak to you, making you look and sound like a real loser.

I think I will respond to the first part of that question.

The First Minister there. Stephen, we will hear more from you later.

The Employment and Learning Minister also faced questions today and he

revealed that his department spends more than ?7 million a year teaching

students from the Republic in Northern Ireland's further education

colleges. Stephen Farry was also asked about what is being done to

help the 250 people who were recently made redundant with the

closure of the construction firm Mivan.

My department has been proactive in determining what steps we can take

to help employees facing redundancy, to help them and give them advice

and ultimate of employment. To that end, my officials have been working

with Mivan since the official redundancies were announced. We have

already started delivering a package to the staff. The working with range

of organisations, the Citizens Advice Bureau and customs to deliver

redundancy clinics that took place on the 29th of January. Officials

have received interest from a number of countries up -- companies about

re-employing the affected staff. We want to make sure that the

opportunities get the attention of the redundant workers. For the 2012

academic year the figure was 7 million pounds. Can

academic year the figure was 7 they have been or will be any

academic year the figure was 7 efforts to recall any of that money

from the Republic of Ireland bearing in mind a figure of 5 million in

terms of the cost of educating republic of Eddie -- Republic of

Ireland students in our universities. It is important we

encourage a natural flow of students in both directions in Ireland. Those

flows are dominantly from South to North. -- predominantly. The

Catherine Seeley case highlights the reality that if we are moving to a

more normal society there will be people from one community becoming

an -- embedded in another. I am grateful to the member for her

question. Those are the responsibilities for the Minister of

education but what I would stress is that I want to see a situation where

any teacher is capable of teaching in any type of school irrespective

of his or her particular background. That is what should be the norm in a

healthy and modern society. The Employment and Learning

Minister, Stephen Farry. As this financial year draws to a close,

MLAs spent much of today looking at the final spending plans for the

current financial year. Numerous members and committee chairs

highlighted areas where they felt money could be better spent. The

Finance Minister used the highlight, once again, the possible

penalties for the non-delivery of welfare reform. I have confirmed in

January that ?15 million will be lost in the 2014 financial year. The

forecast penalty for not progressing welfare reform is now ?105 million.

This cannot be met through the requirements that usually

materialise. It will therefore need all departments. Is our health

service properly funded or will we constantly be in need of bailouts

until the end of this budgetary period? Sinn Fein will not ignore

the negative impact of many of the key elements of the welfare reform

Bill. The historic institution began without a budget line determined and

it is welcomed that the line has been found. There are also many

victims of clerical abuse within institutions and frankly I would say

it is not good enough to say they should go to social services if

there is an enquiry for one group of victims surely this should be

enquiries for all. I would like to raise again the review of the

financial process. If we could scrutinise decisions we do need

better read across the various financial documents before us. The

education minister has some outstanding concerns about the

proposed changes. Desert the Finance Minister believe he will make more

headway than his predecessor? -- there's the finance minister.

The Alliance Party's Judith Cochrane, and Daithi McKay, who

chairs the Finance Committee, Cochrane, and Daithi McKay, who

it all about? Today was about displaying estimates, the estimates

for the 2013 and 2014 year were set last year in June and this is about

a tidy up exercise be -- because between the 31st of March last year

and now departments use that money so this is about tidying up. What

you get is people talking about lots of different issues and departmental

issues. It is a bit of a ragtag debate, isn't it? The subject matter

of the debate is all the public are these will take that opportunity to

talk about spending in a lot of different areas and that is their

entitlement. But is it a useful exercise in terms of promoting

understanding and moving the debate forward? I think more useful

business is done in committee but I do think it is an opportunity for

members to publicly express way they believe many should be allocated and

hold the Minister to account. And the Minister was in a sense pointing

the finger at some members as well on the issue of wealth where reform

and saying -- welfare reform and he's got to set aside ?105 million

for the next financial year. There are some issues in terms of what the

penalties will be. Do you think they can be allocated? In terms of

slamming a 5 million pounds on the assembly, the estimates he did not

put out there with the fact that 450 million pounds could be

put out there with the fact that 450 asked to ring fence ?105 million.

When is that issue going to be resolved once and for all? The

welfare reform issue will be reformed when the DUP gets serious

about it. They said they could not look at a lot of welfare issues that

Sinn Fein push them and we have to push that a bit further. Thank you

for joining us. The current blanket ban preventing

council employees standing in council elections was discussed in

detail at last week's Environment Committee. The Minister, Mark H

Durkan, told members the blanket ban has to go as he's been advised it's

against the EU Convention on Human Rights. The view I would be of

would-be it would be very restricting on an employee as both

an employee and a counsellor, should there be a councillor on the council

that employed them? There are suggestions it could be difficult

for other councillors as well as difficult for other employees and

we're looking at what practice there is in the June restrictions and

whether this takes place. -- a virtue restrictions. I think it is a

case when some will be more equal than others. It's going to create

and I am away about the legislation but minister you have said they will

not your blanket but minister you have said they will

others. I do see a potential challenge there. I am of the view

that if you decide your career is in local government you have made that

decision and you know what you're doing and that is fine but then

stick by that. The blanket ban has been challenged successfully. I

don't think you can be a gamekeeper and approach at the same time. That

is the real difficulty. What is the legal advice to the Department on

this? On the blanket ban the legal advice is that it is against the

European Convention which is the free expression. It is actually

around elections and the ability to stand so it's that part of the

European Convention. That is what has been driving the need to put a

clause in that lifts the blanket ban, albeit as the Minister said, we

need to think geographically and in terms of position as how to limit

that in such a way it will minimise the clear conflicts of interest and

bench any conflict of interest arise, showed a council employee

could to another area, that will be dealt with. -- showed a council

employee. I would say the blanket and has to go and we will be

looking, the way I am looking at it now, this change could be employees

to a certain level will be able to run for election. In another council

area but not in their own. That covers it legally.

area but not in their own. That go tonight to developments worth

talking about. Firstly, welfare reform back in the headlines. As we

heard earlier, this has been a real battle around the executive table

and many figures are being bandied about. Today's developments surround

the finance minister who has written to the executive warning them if

there is a failure to implement the welfare changes being introduced in

great written it could cost the executive more than 1 billion over

the next five years. A fairly stark warning from him. And the bill

surrounding plastic bags might have hit a snag? There was a bit of a

surprise today. This has transformed the way people of carried out

shopping. The carrier bags bill would increase the price of shopping

bags. That debate has been postponed after Jim Allister tables and

amendment seeking to exempt paperbacks.

Stephen, thank-you. That's it for now. I'm back tomorrow night, same

time, same place. 11.20pm on BBC Two. For now, though, goodbye.

MUSIC: "Flight Of The Bumblebee" by Rimsky-Korsakov

This Friday night, things are about to get lively...