11/02/2013 Stormont Today

Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. Coming up on the programme - MLAs

pay tribute to the young PSNI officer killed on duty at the

weekend. We are, sadly, the losers as a

society for a young woman who has passed on as a result of this

accident. The Employment Minister announces a

review of policy on apprenticeships. My ambition is to have a system of

apprenticeships that is regarded as gold standard across Europe.

Our political correspondent is here to analyse today's events on the

hill. Today's business began on a sombre

note as MLAs paid tribute to the police woman who died in a crash in

Londonderry at the weekend. 27 year-old Phillipa Reynolds was a

back-seat passenger in a police car when it was hit by a stolen vehicle

on the Limavady Road. The DUP's Gregory Campbell, who tabled the

matter of the day, said his prayers were with the officer's family and

PSNI colleagues. I, like many people in Northern

Ireland, a walk on Saturday morning to the terrible news of the death

of Constable Phillipa Reynolds. But none more so than the family and

close friends of the young woman. As you have said, Deputy Speaker, I

do not wish to allude to the circumstances which are before the

court, but merely to ensure that the entire community, as

represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly, share with the grief that

the family and friends of this young woman. We are, sadly, the

losers as a society, for a young woman who has passed down as a

result of this accident. I think what we need to do today is to

stand united with the police family, to stand with the wider community

as the police serve this entire community as they have done over

the past 40 years and assure them of our thoughts and our prayers at

this very difficult time. A what is absolutely clear is that Phillipa

Reynolds died doing the job which she was enthusiastic about and to

which she was dedicated. She was working on behalf of everyone in

this community. I spoke over the weekend to the chief constable and

the deputy chief constable and other officers in Belfast. It was

absolutely clear that this tragic death has affected the PSNI deeply

yet it was also appear in the conversation I had early on

Saturday morning with an officer in Strand Road that there was also the

resilience and determination, both to do the job in general and to

ensure that those who perpetrated the Act were caught. There is a

resilience and a strong determination of the PSNI to

determine to do their job and make Northern Ireland saver for all of

us. It is clear that full of the Reynolds was a remarkable young

woman and the PSNI and we as a community have lost a bright young

talent he would have made a distinctive contribution to our

community. Enclosing, I'd like to offer very, very sincere

condolences to her family. When young people die in such tragic

circumstances, it has an effect be on the family but I think we can

only imagine the tremendous impact and our thoughts are with them at

this stage. I have the honour to serve in the PSNI and I know the

camaraderie that exists when officers are on jittery. -- on duty.

I know the fund people can have, I know the characters they meet in

their life as police officers. But the friends you make when on Patrol

are those that will be with you for the rest of your days. I know what

it is like to be in a police car or when it is hit by another one, as I

was in a police car that was rant on one occasion, and I am paying

for it yet. For a young woman, 20 and years of age, to lose her life

in such tragic circumstances, it is something you cannot comprehend. We

cannot comprehend it but our thoughts and prayers must be with

her family, because they are the people that have had the biggest

loss. This incident highlights the risks and dangers faced by the

police and indeed by all our emergency services on a daily and

nightly basis. And why we must give them all the support that they need

to to serve and protect our community.

I'm joined now by our political correspondent, Gareth Gordon. As

far as the day's politics concerned, we had a draft bill on political

matters and the secretary of state, a long time coming and then

suddenly it appeared out of nowhere? Yes, the Northern Ireland

Office have good at the possibility at making a number of changes to

the way the system of government at Stormont but it is not going to

happen. Late this afternoon it published a draft bill which is

remarkable for what it does not do. They had been looking at the

possibility of extending his Assembly term until 2016 but they

said no compelling case could be made so the term will end up in

2015. Then there was the possibility of providing foreign

opposition. Again, is said such a change could come about with the

grain of the parties. In spite of the lone voices. What about a

smaller Assembly as advocated by the DUP? Again, a no, so we are

stuck with 108 MLAs. It makes it clear that double jobbing between

Westminster and Stormont should end with this Assembly team? Yes,

everybody expected it. At the parties have prevented it already.

The DUP only have to have their MPs -- MLAs rather, retaining their

Westminster seat. That is Sammy Wilson and Gregory Campbell. Four

of Sinn Fein's five double jobbing MLAs, they have resigned their

Stormont seats and the one remaining of the Deputy First

Minister Martin McGuinness has given up his Westminster seat in

Mid-Ulster. We now have a date for that by election? At long last, it

has to be said. Contrast what has happened here to what has happened

in Eastleigh where Chris shoon resigned in a blaze of unwelcome

publicity last week. The voters there will go to the polls in 28th

February. That is not what happened in Mid-Ulster were Martin

McGuinness resigned at the end of last year. Yet, the by election or

not be held until March 7th, a week after Eastleigh. Early days as far

as that campaign is concerned, given that the announcement of the

date was only made today but do we know how the runners and riders are

shaping up? We have known that Sinn Fein's candidate will be Francie

Molloy. He is the deputy speaker here at the Assembly and he will be

the favourite. The SDLP's can live will be Patsy McGlone and the

loyalist victims campaigner Willie Fraser has also signalled his

intention to run as well but the bid speculation before this by-

election has been his will they be a unionist candidate, on a green

one candidate as in a Fermanagh us with Tyrone. Their last candidate

failed by an here for God's but Mid-Ulster is a different kettle of

fish. It is a very nationalist area so it would be a major surprise if

Francie Molloy did not win back seat for Sinn Fein but it seems

that the possibility of a unionist unity candidate is receding. We

learnt that the Ulster Unionist Party in Mid-Ulster are holding a

selection meeting on Thursday which of course is our times day so it

looks like they intend running a candidate. Unless it is alas no

surprise come it doesn't look like they will be a unity candidate.

The First Minister has warned that reaching a comprehensive agreement

on how to deal with the past will continue to be a difficult process.

Peter Robinson was speaking during question time when his department

was also asked about a sexual orientation strategy and gay

marriage. First though, a question on a key public appointment.

Can I ask the First Minister for an update on the chief Executive's

position? We went out to public advertising for those posts and be

received a number of applications. It was a general view that after it

had gone through the official -- officials that there was not

sufficient choice for the Deputy First Minister and I to move it

forward and therefore we have gone out to advertise again and I hope

there will be a public interest and people will put their name forward

for a important positions of a chair and board members. Does he

recognise that it is a major problem, the prevalent belief that

the IRA will never tell the truth about the past and therefore, does

he agree that it would be a significant confidence-building

measure if those terrorists he sustains in government would

publicly tell the truth about their past instead of the Deputy First

Minister for example trying to pretend to us all that he

mysteriously left the IRA in the 1970s? We would want everybody to

tell the truth, whether a member of the Assembly or minister in the

Executive. I am only left wondering if he feels the way that he does,

why he would have put forward a preference for a voluntary

coalition with Sinn Fein when he did, rather than going forward with

a mandatory coalition, as we did. The First Minister is a minister

without a terrorist past but can he confirm that if and when he is in

the capital of the Irish Republic at any formal event promoting jobs

in Northern Ireland for example, if there were a toast to the President

of that country, that he would stay and toast the President, unlike her

recent event in London when the Deputy First Minister did not?

they should be nothing and anyone's past that should put them in a

position where they fail to respect, tolerate and understand the

protocols that are involved and certainly when in the Irish public,

I have to recognise and respect the head of state. When the First

Minister today join with me in calling on the two governments and

all parties in this house to sit down soon to develop an ethical

basis on which we should do with a pass? We have had discussions in

terms of how we handle the past and my finger is a recognition that

before we set up this administration, we had to agree on

the past and our goals for the future. It is unlikely that this

administration would be set up. I think it is vitally important that

we do deal with issues from the past, we do that in terms of

considerable funding that we give to victims' organisations. We have

done that in terms of recommending that it would be appropriate for us

to build into the new peace and conflict resolution centre at the

Maze, some storytelling facility so that victims without harassment of

cross-examination by a lawyer has, can tell their story, can indicate

the hurt that it has caused them, the effect it has had on their

lives. I am not sure and I have had no indication that there is

agreement around this chamber, never mind outside, not even within

the victims sector for any one way of dealing with the past.

Can I remind him of his words to this House on 17th September? I

croaked, his confirmation to have that draft ready and out for

consultation by the end of 2012. Can he tell us what has led to the

slippage? We remain committed to publishing the strategy. We are

continuing to work with many people within the sector, continuing with

our officials are to work through. When we can bring this strategy to

the house we will do so. Can the junior minister confirmed that

following last week's House of Commons, there are no plans to

change the definition here in Northern Ireland? There are no

plans to change the definition of marriage here in Northern Ireland.

But can I equally say, I am against all friends -- forms of homophobia.

The Office will continue to act against any form of homophobic

bullying that exists in society. It is wrong, it should not occur. But

your specific question was, the house had a motion before it about

marriage of people of the same sex. That was defeated by this assembly

on the 1st October 1920 12. It is not an issue that is under active

consideration. -- October 2012. Junior minister Jonathan Bell.

Northern Ireland should aspire to a system of apprenticeships that is

regarded as a gold standard across Europe, that was the call from a

employment minister Stephen Parry. I strongly endorse the concept of

apprenticeships. They constitute a form of training that is warmly

embraced by the community. An apprentice is someone who is

trained while being employed. I believe that in our evolving

economy, there are now new types of employment and therefore training

where the apprenticeship concept would be of value. As our economy

is going through considerable transformation, bears in terms of

the types of goods and services, and the nature of employment and

job opportunities, I have decided to launch a major review of

apprenticeships and youth training. Our excellent universities already

provide clear pathways towards higher skills. Northern Ireland has

a clear footprint in higher education. We also have a strong

and flexible further education sector, with six excellent colleges

providing skills and qualifications at a range of levels. But we also

need to ensure week are providing alternative not academic pathways,

including a higher level qualifications. Pathways which I've

just as rigorous and just as valid. Apprenticeship have lost some of

their earlier status and there are several reasons. They are still --

and there are still perceptions that they are only for manual jobs.

Often, other pathways of education are held in better esteem. A false

hierarchy between academic and vocational or technical training

and education has been created. This can lead to some rigidity. I

want the review to examine how the apprenticeship pathway to a career

can be seen as equal or even better than the academic route to enjoying

a high levels of a steam, returning it to the level of prestige it once

a jury at -- it once enjoyed. My aim is to have a system of

apprenticeships that is regarded as gold standard across Europe. I will

draw to the minister's attention a statement by the CBI to the

committee -- to the committee to set out some difficulties. Of the

2000 people that applied, 300 did not bother to turn up. Of the 1,700

who set basic skills tests, only 600 came through. Of the 600 that

came through and do practical tests, only 283 that. And of the 200 that

were interviewed, only 45 were taken on. This shows that

apprenticeships cannot be taken in isolation. We need a total solution.

What we are dealing with this review is looking at

apprenticeships and youth training. But nothing ever happens in

isolation and there are are other avenues on the way. I have spoken

directly to RNID and I am aware of their particular issues and are

happy to engage with them. What consideration has or will be given

to the German model, who seemed to have different pathways, and indeed

it has to be set, are leaning away so far as the youth employment is

concerned? We are going to look very closely at what is happening

in Germany. He's right to say that there are very clear alternative

pathways that have been established over many generations. We will not

be able to just lift that and drop it into our society, given that we

have a number of different features locally, which may be are not

reflected elsewhere. That way may be holding common with the rest of

these islands. But there will be lessons to derive from that in

terms of how we better this within industry, how we can build up the

esteem of an apprenticeship, how we can communicate to young people

that an apprenticeship is as worthwhile as college or university.

I am joined by the minister Stephen Farry. You said you were looking at

apprenticeships for a much wider jobs -- range of jobs, some of

which might not necessarily have been associated with apprenticeship.

What sort of areas? For example, the ICT sector, engineering and

creative industries, but we also want to hear from employers as to

where they feel we should be making investments. For example, I have

been talking to some businesses where they have had some

apprenticeships. They are training people on the job at a much higher

level with technical skills. Although there is no formal

accreditation. Some of this training is happening but has not

been formally recognised. It is important we look back and see that

Northern Ireland has a wonderful industrial heritage, people

associated with manual trades. The workshops of the world. But today

in the 21st century, with the nature of jobs and employment,

things have evolved dramatically. But isn't that the. Accra, that was

then, this is now. -- isn't that the point? That was then, this is

now. Some of the industry is investing in Northern Ireland want

highly qualified IT graduates, not apprenticeships. They actually do

want people with apprenticeships but the key point is that the

skills requirements in our economy are going to be much higher than

has been the case before. We have to upscale across a broad front.

All of our competitors are doing the same thing. We do not have to

focus only on academic pathways. If we look at the ICT sector, for

example, they will be looking to take people from traditional

academic places but there is also a real hunger to train people on the

job. We have started an ICT pilot at level four. I want to see how we

can take back to greater heights. Will the scope of the review

involves simplification of the system? Because a game, you want to

expand it but she might make it a fairly complicated. -- but again

you might expand it but you might make it overly complicated. We have

to encourage employers to take on apprentices. Without the support of

employers none of this can happen. And then people themselves will

have to be encouraged to consider taking on an apprenticeship. So the

easier we can make it, the better it will be. We have to bear in mind

that in our economy we have a bigger profile of small and medium-

sized enterprises than our competitors. We have to see how we

can join some of those not up. Thank you. If underoccupancy

proposals, the bedroom tax, featured as a hot topic during

today's questions to the Social Develop minister.

He said his department will do all it can to prevent people becoming

homeless but he said his hands were tied by Westminster. It must be

remembered that Westminster has brought forward these proposals and

in keeping with the principle of Parliament, we are repelled to do

the same. However, in order to help people we will put in place housing

services. -- we are compelled to do the same. I have tasked the housing

associate movement to bring forward an action plan. It will provide a

range of support measures to mitigate and support those

households affected. My priority remains doing all I can to prevent

evictions and tenants being declared homeless. I have asked

social landlords to ensure that as far as possible, all options are

explored to prevent social tenants are being evicted. Further support

for the there is groups may be affected, such as those whose

children have grown up and moved on, may be available in discretionary

housing payments. The reform changes have identified the

potential for stock mismatch and tenant mobility. This has been

recognised and his proposed from 2013-14 -- a target for smaller

units will be present in the programme. Landlords will be asked

whether they are able to bring forward smaller accommodation that

would increase their stock of one bedroomed units in those designated

areas of particular need. Given the historical circumstances in the

North and the lack of housing stock, could he indicate when the

proposals will be introduced, and does he really think that they

actually can be realised? Member speaks about the historical

situation and the historical situation is that unfortunately, in

the past, the social housing development programme did not take

account of this, even though people knew for a while it was coming, and

they should have been a better range of accommodation provided in

the programme over a number of years. There are measures we are

looking at and I believe those measures, which I said will be

brought forward soon, will go a long way to addressing the issue.

However, it is a problem not of our making. This is something that has

been introduced by the coalition Government and it is something that

therefore is effectively put upon us and we cannot shake our heads

and hope it will go away, we cannot pretend it is going to go away.

This is something that confronts us directly and we have to look at

what is possible. Can I ask him to act like what measures are being

put in to mitigate the effects of underoccupancy? -- to outline.

Building more homes and providing support to those seeking to

downside. There is a telephone advice line that will be put in

place to raise tenant awareness and to help social tenants consider

their options. We also want to see what he's being done with this in

the rest of the UK. The measures will include promoting and

assisting tenant mobility. Helping them to move to more appropriate

sized housing. Examining options that can be put to those tenants

who need to move and facilitating home swaps and advising on how to

take in lodgers and drink Terence. Also increasing the provision of

one bedroom stock. -- and joint tenants. This is something that is

being imposed directly by the coalition Government. It is foisted

upon us and we have to therefore do what we can I do believe we have to

put measures in place. The Social Development Minister, Nelson

McCausland. A few final thoughts. Basil

muckrake received a formal warning from the Ulster Unionists party. --

Basil McRae. He could have accepted his punishment, had the whip

restored, but he gave a strong indication to you yesterday on the

Sunday Politics that that is not what will happen. There is a

possibility of an appeal against this decision. There is even the

possibility of legal action. He seems supremely confident of his

position whatever happens. But whatever happens, it is impossible

to imagine that he will remain a party member for much longer.

other thing is the growing controversy over horse meat and

they will address this tomorrow? Yes, in a pretty unusual move, the

Health and Agriculture committees who are meeting during May and will

be briefed by officials on what is happening. -- they are meeting