:00:26. > :00:33.Hello. Welcome to Stormont Today. Coming up: MLAs go on the attack
:00:34. > :00:38.over the lack of a Sexual Orientation Strategy. . I find the
:00:39. > :00:46.DUP's attitude in this particular position to be Seine phobic,
:00:47. > :00:50.homophobic and claustrophobic. The Road Racing Bill passes its final
:00:51. > :00:54.stage. On this occasion I am very happy to be a member of this
:00:55. > :00:59.Assembly because we've done something positive, constructive. We
:01:00. > :01:02.operated the committee system in the way it should be. I am joined by
:01:03. > :01:05.Gerry Millar to look at the final sitting of the Assembly before
:01:06. > :01:15.Christmas. Yet again the Assembly was divided
:01:16. > :01:20.on an issue involving the gay community. The office of the First
:01:21. > :01:24.and Deputy First Ministers was accused of dragging its heels on
:01:25. > :01:31.producing a Sexual Orientation Strategy. Some MLAs singled out the
:01:32. > :01:36.Dup. It is about the absence of
:01:37. > :01:40.discrimination. About ensuring people are treated the same
:01:41. > :01:46.regardless of difference. From home phobic bullying in schools to tragic
:01:47. > :01:52.incidents of hate crime and suicide, far too many lesbian, gay, bisexual
:01:53. > :01:59.and transgender people are subjected to discrimination because of their
:02:00. > :02:06.sexual orientation or gender identity. This is as outdated as it
:02:07. > :02:12.is wrong. Junior minister Newton in 2010 suggested to the House that a
:02:13. > :02:19.strategy was imminent. Then on 18th June last, his successor made clear
:02:20. > :02:22.it was an intention to publish a revised Sexual Orientation Strategy
:02:23. > :02:27.by the end of last year. There seems to be a commitment to test opinion
:02:28. > :02:35.on issues about the right to live a free life, free of intimidation and
:02:36. > :02:39.fear. I do not believe, given the section 75 of the Northern Ireland
:02:40. > :02:43.Act that we need to test those opinions. Let's get on and support
:02:44. > :02:48.the strategy. No-one is above the law. To that end, there is in the
:02:49. > :02:53.document a commitment to publishing a Sexual Orientation Strategy aimed
:02:54. > :02:57.at ensuring that people of the community are not subjected to such
:02:58. > :03:00.crimes. This House should be acquainted with the stage we're at
:03:01. > :03:06.in this process. I would refer everyone back to a question answered
:03:07. > :03:11.by Jonathan Bale in Question Time on the 13th October this year. I quote
:03:12. > :03:15.- a consultation document that will inform public consultation on the
:03:16. > :03:20.strategy is under consideration in the department. That strategy will
:03:21. > :03:26.be published once the consultation process has been completed. I
:03:27. > :03:31.noticed that Miss Lo asked the question - is it two parties not
:03:32. > :03:35.agreeing. I think it is. It is obviously Sinn Fein stand on issues
:03:36. > :03:40.of equality. It needs to be pointed out that it could ring hollow to
:03:41. > :03:46.some that it is being brought forward by the Alliance Party.
:03:47. > :03:50.Some have failed to show up to vote. However, Sinn Fein has been highly
:03:51. > :03:56.supportive of the community. It is obvious where the blockage is on
:03:57. > :04:00.this issue. This is about delivering for those people in our society who
:04:01. > :04:04.have been left behind, because far too often this House tells them they
:04:05. > :04:08.are not a full member of our community, that they don't have a
:04:09. > :04:12.right to play their full part in our society. It is about time that we
:04:13. > :04:19.started sending them a different message. I find the DUP's attitude
:04:20. > :04:28.in this particular position to be Seine phobic, homophobic and claws
:04:29. > :04:32.-- zenophobic, homophobic and claustrophobic.
:04:33. > :04:36.I want you to rule on that, Deputy Speaker or the speaker to rule on
:04:37. > :04:40.it. It is out of order, in my book. I have never been home phobic to
:04:41. > :04:45.anyone. The member has his remarks on the record. Can I remind members
:04:46. > :04:52.that members are allowed to be critical. I just do not get it. Why?
:04:53. > :04:59.One particular section of the community, somehow is to be elevated
:05:00. > :05:04.to this special status - this privileged position, where they are
:05:05. > :05:12.to be given for themselves some specific strategy that doesn't apply
:05:13. > :05:18.to anyone else. That is inequality. It is worth noting since devolution
:05:19. > :05:25.in 2007, not a single penny has come from them to support groups working
:05:26. > :05:28.with LGBT community and trying to help them to exercise their rights
:05:29. > :05:32.and to fight and to tackle discrimination. Not a single penny.
:05:33. > :05:39.I think that is an indictment of this Assembly and of OMFD. The
:05:40. > :05:45.motion was carried by 48-30. I am joined nour by the journalist --
:05:46. > :05:50.joined now by the journalist Gerry Millar. It seems the DUP,
:05:51. > :05:57.apparently, out of step with the other parties? The public are losing
:05:58. > :06:01.confidence. So much log jam. Mike Nesbitt pointed out one of the
:06:02. > :06:07.issues, one of the subjects held in the log jam is a way to solve the
:06:08. > :06:11.log-jam. It has gone on too long. As we know, some of the things
:06:12. > :06:19.mentioned today, the problems people are suffering, problems of hok
:06:20. > :06:24.phobic bullying or hate -- homophobic bullying or hate crimes.
:06:25. > :06:27.It may have taken place thousands of miles away, but the celebration of
:06:28. > :06:31.the life of Nelson Mandela today caused a bit of division in the
:06:32. > :06:36.House. Personally, I am surprised that maybe the First Minister or
:06:37. > :06:42.maybe a senior unionist is not going to the funeral. We know that peace
:06:43. > :06:45.talks were hosted in 1997. He was central to the peace process here.
:06:46. > :06:50.It is like an early Christmas present to Sinn Fein that they will
:06:51. > :06:54.take all the press attention with Martin McGuinness going.
:06:55. > :06:59.Let's hear from a member of the executive who was asked a question.
:07:00. > :07:02.He made it clear, he wanted answers to key questions about who was
:07:03. > :07:05.representing the executive and Northern Ireland in South Africa
:07:06. > :07:08.this week. Let's hear what he had to say. Many people, I think, across
:07:09. > :07:15.Northern Ireland will understandably feel it is not appropriate for the
:07:16. > :07:20.Deputy First Minister to attend alone, pro-purporting to represent
:07:21. > :07:25.-- purporting to represent Northern Ireland. I find myself sympathetic
:07:26. > :07:30.to that position, given we learn that Gerry Adams will attend, does
:07:31. > :07:36.not improve that situation. I am not aware whether the First Minister
:07:37. > :07:40.declined an invitation and whether he agreed to the Deputy First
:07:41. > :07:43.Minister representing or the people of Northern Ireland. Danny Kennedy,
:07:44. > :07:48.not a bit happy with how things worked out as far as the
:07:49. > :07:53.arrangements are concerned. What is your best guess as to how that
:07:54. > :07:57.situation came about? E-Prince Charles will be there. -- Prince
:07:58. > :08:01.Charles will be there. Sinn Fein officials will be there. I
:08:02. > :08:05.think it is a sort of event, if you can call it an' vent, a sad event,
:08:06. > :08:14.that your political leaders should be there. I am surprised. On the
:08:15. > :08:19.other hand, there is an argument you do the Pope and I do the Queen. They
:08:20. > :08:24.do divide certain duties among themselves, to whatever fits best.
:08:25. > :08:28.Interesting to see if we do get any more information about what exactly,
:08:29. > :08:32.how it worked out, the way it did. One last issue on the road racing
:08:33. > :08:37.bill, which we will see more about in just a moment. Showing MLAs can
:08:38. > :08:43.get things done when they put their minds to it. 24 days - an accelerate
:08:44. > :08:48.accelerated Bill, if you excuse the pun. The other thing I am amazed
:08:49. > :08:54.probably so few people sit and watch a real debate, but when you do, how
:08:55. > :08:57.pleasant, effective and how respectful everybody is.
:08:58. > :09:02.Particularly with members of the opposing political parties. It was
:09:03. > :09:05.very effective and how we want to see our politicians work. Thank you
:09:06. > :09:10.very much. The Assembly often comes in for criticism for the pace it
:09:11. > :09:14.works at. Today, our MLAs proved they can really get motoring when
:09:15. > :09:18.they want to. Just three weeks after it was introduced, the Road Racing
:09:19. > :09:24.Bill was passed. It will become law in March, in time for next year's
:09:25. > :09:28.Northwest 200. After an accelerated passage through the House. That yuz
:09:29. > :09:33.not to say there was -- that is not to say there was not some
:09:34. > :09:37.disagreement along the way. It has been integral to bring the bill to
:09:38. > :09:41.this stage. The key facet with us to bring it through the accelerated
:09:42. > :09:47.passage process in order that it would progress through the Assembly
:09:48. > :09:52.and receive Royal Assent before 31st March, 2014. This could not have
:09:53. > :09:58.happened without the support of the committee, who the minister must
:09:59. > :10:03.seek approval of, understanding order 42 and the support of this
:10:04. > :10:08.House when the motion on accelerated passage is debated. Consequence of
:10:09. > :10:15.approving the motion was that the committee stage was removed from the
:10:16. > :10:20.legislative process. This is, as I have said, integral to the passing
:10:21. > :10:27.of this Bill because it saved a significant time period. Meryvn
:10:28. > :10:33.White and his 800 colleagues who work on this deserved the outcome
:10:34. > :10:37.that they have got and most certainly if the process had been
:10:38. > :10:41.derailed, then they would not have deserved that. I am very, very
:10:42. > :10:45.happy. On this occasion, I am very happy to be a member of this
:10:46. > :10:51.Assembly because we've done something, absolutely positive,
:10:52. > :10:54.constructive. We operate the committee system and the way it
:10:55. > :11:00.should be. We've got the support of the minister who exercised extreme
:11:01. > :11:05.wisdom and how he handled it. I am very happy, Mr Speaker. The
:11:06. > :11:11.regional development committee not xablly known as the most overworked
:11:12. > :11:16.committee in the build building did drop the ball on this piece of
:11:17. > :11:23.legislation and it is quite obvious that it dropped the ball the very
:11:24. > :11:28.fact that the only real scrutiny this that Bill came under ended up
:11:29. > :11:33.come from these benches and especially from Mr McAllister. That
:11:34. > :11:39.was the only scrutiny that came. This Bill, Mr Speaker, would have
:11:40. > :11:44.gone through this House unamended. This Bill, in its final form, is not
:11:45. > :11:51.all I would have wished it to be. I would have wished its pro-decktion
:11:52. > :11:56.of -- protection of Sunday to be stronger. Undoubtedly it emerges
:11:57. > :12:05.through the processes of this House as a better Bill than what it
:12:06. > :12:10.entered as, by virtue of amendments made. And I am grateful to have had
:12:11. > :12:18.the opportunity to make some contribution to that and equally
:12:19. > :12:24.grateful that, for the evolution of support, which eventually made some
:12:25. > :12:28.of those changes possible. I welcome the fact and have no issue with the
:12:29. > :12:34.fact that the amendments that have been incorporated now into this bill
:12:35. > :12:40.I think will give comfort, particularly to both the member
:12:41. > :12:46.members of congregations and churches who exist on the course of
:12:47. > :12:50.the north-west 200 and indeed churchgoers in that general area.
:12:51. > :12:57.The Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy, welcoming the new
:12:58. > :13:02.road ras racing legislation. Ulster Bank has asked for a postponement to
:13:03. > :13:07.appear before computer problems. There was a briefing requested for
:13:08. > :13:13.tomorrow. The committee member Daithi McKay joins me now. Just to
:13:14. > :13:18.recap, that was another embarrassing episode for the Ulster Bank last
:13:19. > :13:21.week. It was. It has damaged their reputation once again. It is not
:13:22. > :13:24.something they want to see in the committee, not something the public
:13:25. > :13:29.want to see. The idea of inviting the bank to the committee was so the
:13:30. > :13:33.bank had an opportunity to provide some assurances to customers and to
:13:34. > :13:36.give us a rough idea of where they are going in terms of their IT
:13:37. > :13:40.system. There has been some indication that they are going to
:13:41. > :13:46.decouple some of the IT system from RBS. I believe that's the way to go
:13:47. > :13:49.and something that wants to be looked. Do you accept that when
:13:50. > :13:53.executives do appear in the New Year they will be better placed to answer
:13:54. > :13:58.some of the questions than they would have been if they appeared at
:13:59. > :14:02.such short notice? When it comes to that coming before committees this
:14:03. > :14:05.kind of excuse comes up again and again, when the Ulster Bank or any
:14:06. > :14:10.other witness is under pressure sometimes it is better to play it
:14:11. > :14:14.safe in terms of trying to postpone for a few weeks. I am disappointed
:14:15. > :14:19.they are not coming before the committee tomorrow. There is a
:14:20. > :14:22.history of some avoiding coming before committees. The Ulster Bank
:14:23. > :14:25.will have an opportunity to come before the committee to answer
:14:26. > :14:30.questions in relation to that. We also have time to prepare some other
:14:31. > :14:35.questions and to some very concerned in there and there is the Ulster
:14:36. > :14:39.Bank, the GRG, controversy that emerged a couple of weeks ago as
:14:40. > :14:44.well. Theish shoo u was debated in the -- the issue was debated last
:14:45. > :14:49.week. It was suggested the Ulster Bank could be separated from RBS. Is
:14:50. > :14:53.that something that should be looked at? Is that something your committee
:14:54. > :14:57.has a view on? Well, the committee would not have a view on that as
:14:58. > :15:02.yet. It is something we are concerned about and there is a
:15:03. > :15:07.variety of views with regards to the banks. I met with some business
:15:08. > :15:11.representatives today. They believe that banks, access to finance are
:15:12. > :15:16.some of the biggest issues facing the local economy here at the
:15:17. > :15:19.moment. It is in everyone's interest the Ulster Bank should get back to
:15:20. > :15:23.where it should be. Ultimately that is what we all want to see in the
:15:24. > :15:28.months and years ahead. Can I ask you about one final issue. You
:15:29. > :15:32.tabled a debate on the state of Ballymena bus and train station. Are
:15:33. > :15:37.facilities really that bad that they need to be discussed on the floor of
:15:38. > :15:42.the Assembly? Ballymena is the station that translink forgot. I use
:15:43. > :15:48.it on regular occasions. It has not been updated -- upgraded since 1981.
:15:49. > :15:54.Ballymena passengers there are entitled to a good service. First
:15:55. > :15:59.class, 21st century service. Ballymena, unfortunately has been
:16:00. > :16:02.left behind. It is up to the RD menster and translink to answer the
:16:03. > :16:06.question as to why it is the question. If it did not get a
:16:07. > :16:11.satisfactory answer from the minister there today. It is
:16:12. > :16:18.somethingly be pursuing in the near future. Daithi McKay, thank you. It
:16:19. > :16:24.has been a long time coming, but the Social Development Minster told the
:16:25. > :16:27.Assembly he hopes to bring the welfare Welform Reform Bill forward
:16:28. > :16:32.in the New Year. Before he discussed welfare reform,
:16:33. > :16:35.he faced a tough time over the Housing Executive. Mr Speaker, I
:16:36. > :16:40.acknowledge the minister's answer. It was a question about whether he
:16:41. > :16:46.had apologised or planned to apologise to the four contractors
:16:47. > :16:50.who he said had overcharged by an estimated ?18 million.
:16:51. > :16:57.If the minister is not going to apologise, could he give us an
:16:58. > :17:01.assessment of the damage both in finances and reputational to those
:17:02. > :17:07.four companies from quoting a figure, on 10th June, which he
:17:08. > :17:19.realises was wrong? I am not sure whether the member was
:17:20. > :17:25.actually listening to what I said. It may be necessary to repeat for
:17:26. > :17:28.his information the fact that the figure quoted initially was provided
:17:29. > :17:35.by the chair of the housing executive. The second figure was the
:17:36. > :17:43.figure quoted and produced in the report by Campbell Tacal. There is a
:17:44. > :17:46.piece of work still on going, whereby the contractors and the
:17:47. > :17:51.Housing Executive together need to come to a final figure as to the
:17:52. > :17:57.level of repayments that will be required. The question was and
:17:58. > :18:03.again, I find this difficult to deal with because the members don't seem
:18:04. > :18:13.to listen. There was nothing to apologise for and therefore there
:18:14. > :18:20.would not be an apology. We know from the report that it came with a
:18:21. > :18:26.very severe caveat because that report confirms that it was given as
:18:27. > :18:29.a broad-brush estimate in need of refinement as more evidence is
:18:30. > :18:37.generated. Why did the minister give no mention
:18:38. > :18:41.to that in his rush in this House to headline the ?18 million figure? I
:18:42. > :18:44.made it clear at the time this was p only an estimate. The fact is, and I
:18:45. > :18:52.have said this already this afternoon - it doesn't matter
:18:53. > :18:56.whether it is ?5 ?10 - when there are millions overpaid by the Housing
:18:57. > :19:00.Executive to housing contractors, any responsible person will firstly
:19:01. > :19:04.recognise it is a serious issue and any sensible person will recognise
:19:05. > :19:07.the minister in the relevant department has a responsibility to
:19:08. > :19:12.make it known to members of this aaccept be. There would have been
:19:13. > :19:18.cries from all quarters if there had not been a report like this T I did
:19:19. > :19:23.the right thing to make --. Like this. I did the right thing to make
:19:24. > :19:27.the information available. Does the minister believe the Welform Reform
:19:28. > :19:31.Bill would have made any progress before the end of the year?
:19:32. > :19:38.Considering the deadline of the New Year, when they said that the
:19:39. > :19:49.devolved situation here will have to face bills of ?5 million per month?
:19:50. > :19:53.At the last meeting of the xufive, oh -- executive, a meeting has been
:19:54. > :20:00.scheduled for 16th December. It really is a one-item agenda. I don't
:20:01. > :20:06.know what else there'll be on the agenda other than one item. That is,
:20:07. > :20:11.how do we move this forward. I hope we can make progress after that
:20:12. > :20:15.meeting next Monday. Given the Christmas recess, the earliest any
:20:16. > :20:19.Bill can be brought back to the executive for decision would be 16th
:20:20. > :20:25.January. If we meet that deadline, then I could expect the Bill to
:20:26. > :20:29.receive Royal Assent by March/early April.
:20:30. > :20:36.The Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy, was also on his feet
:20:37. > :20:43.today - bus passes for pensioners, rural transport and European money
:20:44. > :20:50.were on his agenda. Despite an extension being granted to do so
:20:51. > :20:54.presents the executive with a stark reality. That is simply, use it or
:20:55. > :20:59.lose it. The latter option must nt be allowed to happen -- must not be
:21:00. > :21:04.allowed to happen. That n that respect, my department
:21:05. > :21:08.has a proven track record in drawing down and spending out European
:21:09. > :21:17.funds. My department has recently been approach approached - they are
:21:18. > :21:22.trying to put it to in projects. The work of the enterprise would be, I
:21:23. > :21:27.suppose, the most significant, project that is potentially
:21:28. > :21:34.available to us. I am, however, aware of others and I believe there
:21:35. > :21:40.is a scheme being brought forward by the sthorts in the republic --
:21:41. > :21:43.authority in the Republic of Ireland.
:21:44. > :21:49.They will always have special significance to us here. Late
:21:50. > :21:53.lamented comedian James Young said, we won the battle, but they got the
:21:54. > :22:00.river. At least they are looking after us. Would the minister agree
:22:01. > :22:07.that in many rural areas a translink bus is as usual as an ice train if
:22:08. > :22:12.it is not linked with community transport. Is he satisfied with the
:22:13. > :22:17.level of co-operation to make the integration more complete? Better
:22:18. > :22:23.collaboration. Better integration of services because, you know, the
:22:24. > :22:28.rural community can, in many ways, be isolated. It is important that we
:22:29. > :22:36.make strenuous efforts to improve that and to en ensure that our
:22:37. > :22:41.public transport systems are not just urban-based or particular
:22:42. > :22:45.particularly Belfast-based. If the minister was listening to Radio
:22:46. > :22:51.Ulster this morning, he would have heard of the sincere worries from
:22:52. > :22:54.senior citizens to the threat of their senior smartcard. Will the
:22:55. > :23:00.minister support the hands-off campaign? Will he give a cat gor
:23:01. > :23:06.ribbing guarantee that the smartcard will remain, come high or hell
:23:07. > :23:13.water? Let me say, under my watch, let me be clear - under my watch - I
:23:14. > :23:17.don't intend to fundamentally overhaul the concessionary scheme
:23:18. > :23:22.that we have. Danny Kennedy lending his support to current arrangements.
:23:23. > :23:27.The Education Minister said both he and the Health Minister recognise
:23:28. > :23:31.the need for co-copration around special education. He was --
:23:32. > :23:38.co-operation around special education. The motion was tabled by
:23:39. > :23:42.the DUP. To tackle underachievement the earlier you tackle it in a
:23:43. > :23:49.child's development, the better it was for the child in the long-term.
:23:50. > :23:53.And the thing that really was very startling was you almost need to
:23:54. > :24:01.tackle it at birth. We know that a child from a socially disadvantaged
:24:02. > :24:08.background is more likely likely to not achieve. When I started in the
:24:09. > :24:15.committee, almost the first matter that I remember being discussed. Was
:24:16. > :24:20.early years. And that is now 20 months ago and we are still nowhere.
:24:21. > :24:24.We need the joined-up solution. We need a lead department. We need it
:24:25. > :24:30.for those with special education needs. I have a list of ten
:24:31. > :24:34.questions that were submitted to me by a parent. If I can raise a few of
:24:35. > :24:42.them. The parent that asked, why was my request for extra help on
:24:43. > :24:50.assessment denied for five years? Why was my child subjected to years
:24:51. > :24:55.of bullying, being called "stupid" and "thick" and other little girlsle
:24:56. > :25:00.would not let her -- girls would not let her join in with the play? Why
:25:01. > :25:06.was the special needs teacher allowed to teach the main capable
:25:07. > :25:11.children and hand my daughter paper and crayons and told her to sit
:25:12. > :25:19.quietly at the back of the classroom and colour in? In 2010, as a
:25:20. > :25:22.researcher for the MLA I Saturday in a party for children and young
:25:23. > :25:28.people and was presented with the strategy by an official. When I
:25:29. > :25:33.asked the question, what collaboration has been there been
:25:34. > :25:39.with the Department of Health? I was told this is a Department of
:25:40. > :25:45.Education strategy. Now, this was an early years strategy - 0-6. It meant
:25:46. > :25:50.it started at age three. It was a strategy that was going to miss out
:25:51. > :25:56.three years of the development of our children's lives. The questions
:25:57. > :26:02.posed by Mr Newton on behalf of a current - I can not validate the
:26:03. > :26:07.authenticity of the questions. You don't need to change the legislation
:26:08. > :26:11.to protect that child's rights T school in question is failing that
:26:12. > :26:16.child. Under skurnlt legislation. Snoo if he comes to speak to me
:26:17. > :26:24.privately and identifies the school to me, which he claims as allowing
:26:25. > :26:30.the child to be bullied in the playground and a teacher feels it is
:26:31. > :26:38.appropriate to exclude that child at seven, I can assure the member I
:26:39. > :26:42.will deal with that personally. That is unacceptable. That legislation
:26:43. > :26:45.has to be implemented on the ground. I believe that the Department of
:26:46. > :26:49.Health and the Department of Education are working very well
:26:50. > :26:53.together in relation to supporting our young people with special
:26:54. > :26:57.educational needs. Of course we can improve the services on the ground.
:26:58. > :27:02.When there are failings they need to be corrected. If it is the will of
:27:03. > :27:05.the House, as we are processing the same legislation to place a
:27:06. > :27:10.co-operation clause in the legislation and it is there for the
:27:11. > :27:15.benefits of young people, then I can assure they will not face any
:27:16. > :27:19.resistance from myself. Gerry Millar is with me once again. The last day
:27:20. > :27:24.of the Assembly today before the Christmas break. Some interesting
:27:25. > :27:28.performances? I think more than interesting performances. Very valid
:27:29. > :27:32.issues. Their were discussing how best to identify children with
:27:33. > :27:39.problems between the ages of 0-6. It is what we want a politician to do,
:27:40. > :27:43.to perfect legislation or solve it actually internally. One issue about
:27:44. > :27:47.that is it is unclear, I think the minister pointed it out, it is
:27:48. > :27:51.unclear whether it can be resolved by legislation or through better
:27:52. > :27:56.practise, or making better practise into common practise, which is what
:27:57. > :28:01.someone suggested today. It is great to see politicians spending hours
:28:02. > :28:06.debating these issues. Dr Haass is back in Belfast. He started to talk
:28:07. > :28:13.to the parties again. Do you expect he'll reach a resolution before the
:28:14. > :28:18.Christmas break? He discusses the most contention one and he seems to
:28:19. > :28:21.be making progress on it. We suspect our politicians will have to work
:28:22. > :28:25.over Christmas, which nobody is complaining about. I think a few
:28:26. > :28:31.journalists may have to as well. I think everyone needs a break.
:28:32. > :28:35.Deadlines here - nobody can stick to deadlines. I would not be surprised
:28:36. > :28:42.if Dr Haass were to stay over Christmas. Our politicians will take
:28:43. > :28:47.advantage of that. Thank you. That's it for tonight. We will be back for
:28:48. > :28:56.the first day of the new term on 13th January. Make a point for
:28:57. > :29:00.joining me for the View. Enjoy the of Christmas break. Goodbye.