:00:28. > :00:30.Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. A beautiful view from here on the
:00:30. > :00:36.Hill this afternoon, but while Christmas may be firmly behind us,
:00:36. > :00:43.the seasonal spirit of giving was still in the air.
:00:43. > :00:45.Over �200 million was announced for new school builds.
:00:45. > :00:48.�17 million was unwrapped for new buses and road improvements.
:00:48. > :00:51.�10 million extra was given to health.
:00:51. > :01:01.It wasn't all good cheer as the Agriculture Minister faced pressure
:01:01. > :01:19.
:01:19. > :01:22.And no stranger to goings-on up here on the Hill, the political
:01:22. > :01:24.commentator, Alex Kane, is with me in the studio.
:01:24. > :01:27.More on financial giveaways, questions to the Agriculture
:01:27. > :01:30.Minister, Michelle O'Neill, and the rest of the day's business in the
:01:30. > :01:32.Chamber a little later, but let's begin tonight with the other big
:01:32. > :01:35.debate in the corridors and cafes up here.
:01:35. > :01:39.Sinn Fein's call for a border poll and the DUP's response to it.
:01:39. > :01:43.The commentator Alex Kane is with me. What have you made of the DUP's
:01:43. > :01:46.reaction today to Sinn Fein's demand? Surprised by. It when this
:01:46. > :01:51.debate has been had before, when it was mentioned by Sinn Fein 18
:01:51. > :01:55.months ago that they liked the idea of a border poll the DUP was
:01:55. > :01:58.dismissive, unionism generally was very dismissive. They needed a
:01:58. > :02:02.response to the official launch to the campaign, contingency was on
:02:02. > :02:06.Saturday. Most people thought it would be fairly dismissive look,
:02:06. > :02:11.it's not going to happen anyway, the conditions aren't right, there
:02:11. > :02:16.are more important things. People were surprised when Arlene Foster
:02:16. > :02:21.suggested they would be in favour of tsm they seem to have rowed back
:02:21. > :02:25.slightly. She seemed to be clearer in one of the radio interviews, not
:02:25. > :02:30.quite so equivocal later in the day, is that fair? She got caught on the
:02:30. > :02:34.hop. She gave a gut reaction, yeah, if they want a poll bring it on. We
:02:34. > :02:39.are ready for. It they had a chat with her in the back rooms of the
:02:39. > :02:43.DUP afterwards and said, we don't want it at this time. I think that
:02:43. > :02:47.is what happened. Have unionists anything to fear from a border
:02:47. > :02:51.poll? They don't. If you look at the census and all the other
:02:51. > :02:55.polling figures it's absolutely clear there would be a comfortable
:02:55. > :03:01.majority for the union, from Catholics, nationalists whatever
:03:02. > :03:09.you want to call them as well as unionists. How the unionists
:03:09. > :03:14.reacted against a poll DUP seemingly for. It UK IP for. It
:03:14. > :03:20.they start on day one when this debate started Euniceism is already
:03:20. > :03:24.divided. My fears would be Euniceism would mix its message.
:03:24. > :03:28.might be something for unionists to unite behind. Something that would
:03:28. > :03:33.allow them to banish the flag debate which has been divisive?
:03:33. > :03:37.one day wonder. That would have worked if Euniceism had a united
:03:37. > :03:40.response to Sinn Fein's campaign and demand for a border poll. They
:03:40. > :03:44.came out today with Arlene surprising the media, surprising
:03:44. > :03:50.her own party and the rest of uniononism not where it stands.
:03:50. > :03:55.It's a bad day for them. Do you think the average unionist voter
:03:55. > :03:57.would relish calling Republicans bluff on the issue or would rather
:03:58. > :04:02.their representatives up here at Stormont and Westminster were
:04:02. > :04:06.dealing with more pressing issues like the state of the economy, and
:04:06. > :04:11.the unresolved flags issue? there was a real opportunity for
:04:11. > :04:14.the debate to happen, under the existing legislation it requires
:04:14. > :04:19.the Secretary of State who dismissed it. She is not keen. Most
:04:19. > :04:23.unionists and most nationalist woos compare the government to get on
:04:23. > :04:28.and govern to hands on relevant necessary legislation instead of
:04:28. > :04:32.flags debate, parades debate, we hate you more than you debates.
:04:32. > :04:37.They want them to govern and not get bogged down on side issues.
:04:37. > :04:39.now, thank you very much. Now, good news for some schools as
:04:39. > :04:43.the Education Minister, John O'Dowd, approved 22 new school building
:04:43. > :04:45.projects worth a total of �220 million.
:04:45. > :04:51.Making the announcement in the Assembly, the Minister said
:04:51. > :04:55.substandard accommodation has to be tackled. Last June I made it clear
:04:55. > :04:59.the capital budget available meant we had to do more with the existing
:04:59. > :05:04.estate. In support of this I announced the establishment of a
:05:04. > :05:10.new schools enhancement programme which would make �4 million
:05:10. > :05:13.available for refurbishing or sustaining schools. I will have the
:05:13. > :05:17.first call for projects under that programme. Information on the
:05:17. > :05:19.scheme and details on the ap pry kaition -- application process has
:05:19. > :05:23.been issued to the relevant managing authorities and schools.
:05:23. > :05:26.Details of the programme have been placed on the department's website.
:05:26. > :05:33.It is anticipated that the first projects selected under the
:05:33. > :05:37.programme will be announced before the end of the school year. After
:05:37. > :05:43.�20 million will be made available for this programme at each of the
:05:43. > :05:49.two financial years coming. The School Enhancement Programme will
:05:49. > :05:53.prioritise projects aimed at facilitating amalgamations,
:05:53. > :05:57.improving facilities and structural changes needed across the estate. I
:05:57. > :06:02.highlighted the funds being ringfenced to tackle the backlog
:06:02. > :06:05.across the estate, �40 million has been invested in the current
:06:05. > :06:09.financial year. This focus on maintenance will be continued over
:06:09. > :06:12.the coming financial year and taking with the investment in minor
:06:12. > :06:17.works the new programme as well as the investment in new builds should
:06:17. > :06:22.go a long way to addressing the long outstandinging accommodations
:06:22. > :06:27.issues across the estate. In relation to work on education
:06:27. > :06:31.campus, the department has taken recipe of the outlining business
:06:31. > :06:36.case and is progressing with the examination of this as a priority.
:06:36. > :06:46.I'm committed to delivering on the programme for the government
:06:46. > :06:47.
:06:47. > :06:51.flagship project as soon as prabgkabl. -- I'm announcing a
:06:51. > :06:56.further 22 projects to be advanced in planning. This represents a
:06:56. > :07:02.potential investment of some �220 million. These projects have been
:07:02. > :07:05.drawn from priority Jects identified by the various managing
:07:05. > :07:09.authorities. The process is available on my department's
:07:09. > :07:16.website. All the projects have been considered within the context of
:07:16. > :07:26.area planning. Work being undertaken and forming part of a
:07:26. > :07:33.
:07:33. > :07:39.long-term provision within their Of the 22 projects I'm announcing
:07:39. > :07:42.today, 14 are required to deal with previous or planned amalgamations
:07:42. > :07:44.orational ications within the estate. This is consistent with the
:07:45. > :07:49.drive towards viable and sustainable schools and the
:07:49. > :07:53.principle of area planning. Mr Speaker, I do not believe that a
:07:53. > :07:57.modern, forward looking society we should accept a situation where
:07:57. > :08:01.children receive their entire primary school education in
:08:01. > :08:06.temporary accommodation majority of which is clearly outdated. We are
:08:06. > :08:16.not in a position to resolve all situations at this time, six profit
:08:16. > :08:16.
:08:16. > :08:19.jects taken forward will provide permanent accommodation.
:08:19. > :08:20.Well, John O'Dowd wasn't the only Minister opening his purse strings
:08:21. > :08:25.today. Sammy Wilson, the Finance Minister,
:08:25. > :08:28.had some good news of his own. Executive agreed to �10 million of
:08:28. > :08:33.resource expenditure to the Department of Justice for the
:08:33. > :08:36.prison officers exit scheme. This allocation will help to drive
:08:36. > :08:46.forward ongoing Prison Service reform and members should also note
:08:46. > :08:49.
:08:49. > :08:52.that this allocation will be more than matched by DOG -- DOJ
:08:52. > :08:56.surrendering capital, that should help the Executive address the over
:08:56. > :09:00.commitment in that year. �10 million also allocated to the
:09:00. > :09:04.Department of Health and social services and public safety. This
:09:04. > :09:08.allocation allows the department to address additional demand on
:09:08. > :09:13.emergency departments and other acute hospital services which
:09:13. > :09:17.result from winter and unscheduled care pressures. It provides some
:09:17. > :09:20.additional resources for family and childcare services, general dental
:09:20. > :09:26.services and further work on infection control in our hospitals.
:09:26. > :09:31.I think that should be welcomed by the Assembly. The Executive agreed
:09:31. > :09:36.to allocate �17.7 million of capital investment funding to the
:09:36. > :09:44.department of regional development and that will allow the department
:09:44. > :09:50.to purchase 42 new buses. I have got good news for the Green Party
:09:50. > :09:55.who don't turn up at a total cost of �6.7 million. Furthermore, it
:09:55. > :10:01.provides an additional �10 million towards roads structural
:10:01. > :10:04.maintenance and �1 million for the replacement of 600 street lighting
:10:05. > :10:14.columns. That brings expenditure to structural maintenance on this year
:10:15. > :10:22.
:10:22. > :10:32.Earlier I caught up with Danny Kennedy to find out his reaction.
:10:32. > :10:49.
:10:49. > :10:59.It is very good news for road that we will be getting the basses.
:10:59. > :11:37.
:11:37. > :11:45.They will be very pleased. -- We have 130 gritters in operation.
:11:45. > :11:55.300 staff were actively employed. Resources are given to the
:11:55. > :11:56.
:11:56. > :12:06.maintenance programme. You did say we are ready for the winter, bring
:12:06. > :12:16.it on. Some people are not very happy with the way the network was
:12:16. > :12:20.
:12:20. > :12:30.acquitted. What to do have to say to them? I am aware. I was a
:12:30. > :12:36.
:12:36. > :12:46.casualty of the road conditions. If Road agencies are working hard to
:12:46. > :12:54.
:12:54. > :13:04.provide the grit. Up for her to disruption. -- that led. Moths due
:13:04. > :13:04.
:13:04. > :13:07.She made the decision and she's standing by it, that's the attitude
:13:07. > :13:09.of the Agriculture Minister, Michelle O'Neill, as she hit back
:13:09. > :13:12.at criticism over the decision to relocate her department's
:13:12. > :13:16.headquarters from Belfast to Ballykelly. There is a real sense
:13:16. > :13:23.you have moved ahead of your department and officials with them
:13:23. > :13:27.now playing catchup. Can you explain why you took the decision
:13:27. > :13:31.on effectively a political decision on Ballykelly before asking your
:13:31. > :13:36.officials to write the business case? Well, I'm the Minister, it's
:13:36. > :13:41.my job to make decisions. I think that the member will be very well
:13:41. > :13:44.aware in the programme for government we had a commitment to
:13:44. > :13:49.relocate our headquarters to a rural area. All parties signed up.
:13:49. > :13:54.That was the, I suppose, starting point for me to make the decision.
:13:54. > :13:59.Using the criteria I outlined to the member, the 23 local government
:13:59. > :14:04.districts under the recent development strategy we used those
:14:04. > :14:14.criteria alongside the other criteria this area came up as being
:14:14. > :14:23.
:14:24. > :14:28.We have a programme board in place which is very competent, which is
:14:28. > :14:38.looking at all the issues, particularly buildings which can be
:14:38. > :14:57.
:14:57. > :15:04.save money to the public purse. Also the fact there are buildings
:15:04. > :15:14.on the site which could potentially be used. Any that can be used, we
:15:14. > :15:25.
:15:25. > :15:29.A direction is necessary in the case where you want to avoid delay.
:15:29. > :15:35.When you want it reduce uncertainty. Stand standard procedure would be
:15:35. > :15:38.to apraise all options even those which don't make the exactives
:15:38. > :15:44.identify policy as set out in the programme in government to move to
:15:44. > :15:51.a rural location by 2015. In the final analysis wasteful of
:15:51. > :15:57.resources. The decision was taken on the criteria I outlined. Anyone
:15:57. > :16:02.can explore it further. In the further objective criteria where
:16:02. > :16:05.applied. Whether you like it or not the north-west was identified. The
:16:05. > :16:09.top two areas identified as a result of that objective criteria
:16:09. > :16:13.applied. As a result of that the Ballykelly site for the obvious
:16:13. > :16:18.advantages which I outlined being an Executive-owned site was a
:16:18. > :16:22.natural option to take. Next, at the despatch box was the
:16:22. > :16:26.Culture Minister, Caral Ni Chuilin, who dealt with questions on sports
:16:26. > :16:31.as diverse as boxing, tennis and even road bowls.
:16:31. > :16:33.First though, she was asked if progress is being made towards
:16:33. > :16:35.solving the accommodation difficulties faced ahead of the
:16:35. > :16:40.upcoming World Police and Fire Games. Accommodation has and
:16:40. > :16:44.remains a key area of work for 2013 where police and fire games limited
:16:44. > :16:50.and in recognition of this the company has developed an
:16:50. > :17:00.accommodation strategy based on analysis of the acam --
:17:00. > :17:15.
:17:15. > :17:19.accommodation required for athletes This is a big opportunity for local
:17:19. > :17:24.businesses and local people generally. Is there any specific
:17:24. > :17:29.advice that the minister would give to those who wish to provide
:17:29. > :17:33.additional accommodation to both visitors and athletes? I think the
:17:33. > :17:37.member is right, it's a brilliant opportunity. It's a once-in-a-
:17:37. > :17:41.lifetime opportunity where we will have Games of this size in Belfast.
:17:41. > :17:45.As many as people as possible who feel they can offer something
:17:45. > :17:49.towards the Games in towards of accommodation, we want to hear from
:17:49. > :17:55.you. Every opportunity should be made available to them to make that
:17:55. > :17:59.process as easy as possible.. Games anticipate 23,000 visitors.
:17:59. > :18:03.Account Minister provide some details of how the plans that she
:18:03. > :18:10.has in place or is putting in place, how that accommodation is going to
:18:10. > :18:15.be met? If all 25 visitors come to Belfast this August, there is an
:18:15. > :18:22.estimate shortfall of between 5,000-70,000. That is where the
:18:22. > :18:25.idea of campus hotels, campus and student accommodation come. In the
:18:25. > :18:29.assurance given is that the accommodation must be of a certain
:18:29. > :18:34.standard. That is why the work is starting now with the tourism board,
:18:34. > :18:43.with the Belfast Visitors and Convention Borough so all the
:18:43. > :18:48.requirements are in place as soon as possible. Bowls is important in
:18:48. > :18:55.my constituency. Would the Minister join me with me in supporting the
:18:55. > :19:00.association in seeking recognition from Sport NI. I am very aware of
:19:00. > :19:03.road bowls. I met someone from Cork. It's Cork and Armagh are the two
:19:03. > :19:06.main counties that are prominent. Other sports who hadn't received
:19:06. > :19:12.recognition have came to the department and we have made
:19:12. > :19:18.arrangements with Sport NI getting recognition, as a member for North
:19:18. > :19:22.Antrim will know will weightlifters, is a long process. We have to make
:19:22. > :19:26.sure there is transparency is all on board. I' happy to support it.
:19:26. > :19:31.I'm hoping that other counties take up road bowling. It's one of those
:19:31. > :19:37.sports that is very much linked to a loft our cultural and heritage.
:19:37. > :19:41.Could the minister explain how the funding package for boxing can go
:19:41. > :19:45.forward fairly at this time given the Assembly's commitment to
:19:45. > :19:51.equality and fair treatment being in -- bearing in mind the abuse of
:19:51. > :19:55.Sandy Row Amateur Boxing Club? Would she agree that the governing
:19:55. > :20:02.body needs to look at it is own systems and get it is house
:20:02. > :20:06.urgently in order? I don't agree that the Irish Amateur Boxing
:20:06. > :20:09.Association urgently needs to get its house in order. I don't agree
:20:09. > :20:14.with. That I don't agree of the accusation that the member has made
:20:14. > :20:18.in terms of well documented systematic abuse. Despite my offers
:20:18. > :20:23.to meet this member and indeed other members in relation to this
:20:23. > :20:31.club, neither of which, for some reason, haven't accepted that offer.
:20:31. > :20:36.I'm assuming you are afraid to step into the ring! Can the Minister
:20:36. > :20:42.inform the House as she had any discussions with the Education
:20:42. > :20:48.Minister in respect of trying to introduce tennis in schools or
:20:48. > :20:54.reintroduce it, I know it used to be when I was at school there were
:20:54. > :20:58.tennis clubs and a lot of issues around tennis. Has she had
:20:58. > :21:02.discussions and if not, will she to encourage people to get back to
:21:02. > :21:06.playing tennis? I haven't had any discussions with the minister of
:21:06. > :21:13.education about tennis. I am I would ignore your colleague abouts
:21:13. > :21:16.their jibe abouts how long ago was it you were playing tennis? I have
:21:16. > :21:20.spoke to the Department of Education and the Minister for
:21:20. > :21:25.Education around making sure we do what we can to open up sports
:21:25. > :21:28.facilities and and grounds during school and after school hours. The
:21:29. > :21:32.Department of Education are involved in the sports monitoring
:21:32. > :21:36.and implementation group we are looking at sports provision in
:21:36. > :21:41.school that the whole community can benefit from. No particular
:21:41. > :21:45.discussion on tennis. The Environment Minister, Alex
:21:46. > :21:48.Attwood, spent a considerable amount of time on his feet this
:21:48. > :21:54.afternoon extolling the virtues of his new Planning Bill.
:21:54. > :22:00.He told the House that a trip to Belfast City centre last weekend
:22:00. > :22:03.had reminded him why economic benefit should be a factor in
:22:03. > :22:06.planning policy. It does not say, as PPS24 suggests, that economic
:22:06. > :22:13.consideration should be given. That is not the intention of the Bill.
:22:13. > :22:20.What the Bill will do is recognise, I think it is appropriate to
:22:20. > :22:24.recognise, that the planning system, not least in these difficult times,
:22:24. > :22:30.I spent two hours on Saturday afternoon, Mr Speaker, in this
:22:30. > :22:36.Belfast City Centre, I hadn't spent that length of time in Belfast City
:22:36. > :22:41.centre... Sorry. Protest? I was doing what a lot of other people
:22:41. > :22:46.did over Friday, Saturday and Sunday and reclaiming the streets
:22:46. > :22:50.for true purpose in terms of the city centre, to shop, drink, have a
:22:50. > :22:56.coffee to eat and to do some business. And there were many other
:22:56. > :23:02.people who did so. I was struck, I have to say, when you walk the
:23:02. > :23:12.streets of Belfast down town and spend a couple of hours walking the
:23:12. > :23:12.
:23:12. > :23:16.streets in lawful activity about the scale of vacancies. It's only
:23:16. > :23:21.when you spend time on the streets that you see the scale of the issue.
:23:21. > :23:28.In my view, it is timely and it's appropriate and it is reasonable
:23:28. > :23:32.and it is legal to send a message without compromising the wider
:23:32. > :23:36.purposes and principles of the planning system. It's entirely
:23:36. > :23:41.appropriatable, necessary and timely to spend -- send a message
:23:41. > :23:46.through this Assembly, through the Planning Bill that a material
:23:46. > :23:52.consideration, when it comes to a planning application, our planning
:23:52. > :23:55.policy is economic considerations. After 40 years in existence, the
:23:55. > :23:59.Housing Executive was given its notice by the Social Development
:23:59. > :24:02.Minister last week. Nelson McCausland said the move is
:24:02. > :24:05.part of a restructuring move by his department.
:24:05. > :24:11.He was asked though if the changes would result in a reduction in
:24:11. > :24:16.staff, as we can hear now in our weekly look at committee business.
:24:16. > :24:19.Change is about to have an effect, but the reassurance I'm giving, I
:24:19. > :24:23.will give it to the trade unions directly, autumn the function that
:24:23. > :24:26.is are now happening will still have to happen, it will require the
:24:26. > :24:30.same amount of time for somebody to do a function probably in the
:24:31. > :24:37.future as it does now. It will require ruffle the same number of
:24:37. > :24:41.people, but it would be premature at this point to speculate exactly.
:24:41. > :24:45.This is not about cutting jobs. I want to emphasise that as much as
:24:45. > :24:48.possible and will do that to the unions. Core function also have to
:24:48. > :24:53.be done and it will require ruffle the same number of people. Are you
:24:53. > :24:58.able at this early stage again to indicate you, you know, say in the
:24:59. > :25:05.two or three year period post the shake down, is it likely that there
:25:05. > :25:10.will be rental freezes or just in line with inflation? People are
:25:10. > :25:15.looking for reassurance there won't be inflation-busting rental
:25:15. > :25:19.increases post the change? Well, as the member will be aware, annual
:25:19. > :25:29.rent increases have been a feature of social housing over many years
:25:29. > :25:31.
:25:31. > :25:37.and that needs to happen to maintain standards. I think in
:25:37. > :25:43.future - future rent levels will need to be better aligned to
:25:43. > :25:48.provide funding requirements. I consider should - we need to have
:25:48. > :25:52.some convergence over a period of time, this is over a period of time.
:25:52. > :25:57.It's not suddenly. The housing executive have spent a lifetime
:25:57. > :26:03.building up a connection with people that they rent houses to.
:26:04. > :26:09.Housing Associations are estranged from most of their clients. Unless
:26:09. > :26:15.we get this right, we have the task now of setting housing on a
:26:15. > :26:20.platform for the next 40 years. If we get it wrong, we have done a bad
:26:20. > :26:28.job. I think if we remove the community cohesion that exists and
:26:28. > :26:33.social housing, then we have lost a lot? Yeah. There is an opportunity
:26:33. > :26:37.here to get this right for a long period of time. Yes. There are
:26:37. > :26:41.things, people have identified them here, that are not as it should be
:26:41. > :26:44.with the presence system. Problems that arise otherwise I wouldn't
:26:44. > :26:48.have people coming to my door raising problems and issues. There
:26:48. > :26:55.are things that need to be worked on. There is a huge opportunity,
:26:55. > :27:00.with a huge responsibility. Alex Kane is with me. We talked quite a
:27:00. > :27:04.bit on prot gram last night about Basil McCrea's position in the
:27:04. > :27:08.Ulster union party. He is facing a disciplinary hearing on Friday. How
:27:08. > :27:13.do you read what is going on there? I think Basil is clear he is on
:27:13. > :27:16.solid ground. He thinks he has not been in breach of party policy. He
:27:16. > :27:20.would accept he should have contacted the press office before
:27:20. > :27:25.going on Nolan or any other programme, he is fighting it on the
:27:25. > :27:30.basis he was defending party policy. That the three councillors involved
:27:30. > :27:34.didn't discuss anything with the leadership. They are not being
:27:34. > :27:39.disciplined. There may be a surprise there. What are the
:27:39. > :27:42.options open to the party in terms of sanctions? Does it come down to
:27:42. > :27:45.whether the party allows him to stay or kicks him out? Is it as
:27:45. > :27:49.simple as that? It will be that simple. Other thing is, because
:27:49. > :27:53.Mike Nesbitt has withdrawn the whip already, anything that stops short
:27:53. > :27:58.of expulsion will look like a kick in the teeth to Mike Nesbitt.
:27:58. > :28:04.People will say, you withdrew the whip and your own discipline
:28:04. > :28:07.committee say that is is too much. If he decides to leave, other also
:28:07. > :28:13.follow across the party officers in constituency and members. It's a
:28:13. > :28:17.win, win for Basil and a lose, lose for Mike. It's not good for him
:28:17. > :28:23.personally. The party won't make to Kay Kay a martyr on Friday,
:28:23. > :28:27.presumably? They will choose not to be. Basil is prepared to be a
:28:27. > :28:34.martyr. The difference between Basil McCrea and Dave individual
:28:34. > :28:38.McNarry and Ken McGuinness, if he is thrown out he will demand why he
:28:38. > :28:43.has been thrown out much he wants the party and media to understand.
:28:43. > :28:47.In that understanding I think he hopes martyrdom lies. He is saying
:28:47. > :28:51.to people, if this party is no longer a comfortable place for
:28:52. > :28:55.people like me, it's no longer a comfortable place for people like
:28:55. > :29:01.you. Is it a unionist realignment here? We are witnessing the very
:29:01. > :29:06.beginning of the final end of the Ulster unionist party. Realignment