13/11/2012 Stormont Today

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

Culture Minister is under pressure again over the ongoing stand-off

with Sandy Row Boxing Club. club receiving any funding must be

affiliated. That is what has said yesterday. That is what I said this

morning. If you've had a tough day at the

office, don't worry, apparently you're not alone. Korea pathways

change. -- career pathways change. And the success of our athletes

this summer is in the spotlight with cross-party backing for young

Paralympians hoping to make it in their chosen sport.

A recent inspection of schools in Northern Ireland found there's a

problem with poor leadership. Well, today, in a DUP motion, MLAs

discussed those findings and called for the Education Minister, John

O'Dowd, to introduce more stringent measures to increase confidence in

the management of schools. It was quite alarming to see such a report

come out. It does highlight a number of serious issues within the

education system. What the report does not do this criticise the

overall achievements of those attending the school or the

teaching quality within the school itself. But it does go on to

criticise how those schools are actually governed. While I see some

issues out there, I would never have dreamt that they were as large

as it is in this report. It is not up to me to say it if it is right

or wrong, that is what the inspectors are finding. Personally,

I have a lot of sympathy for teachers. It is a job I have always

admitted to openly that I could not do. I would not have the patience

to teach in a classroom. I have future admiration for all of those

teachers out there who not only teach but in some cases actually

have to manage and run their particular schools. What we need in

our schools is effective motivated management that is not afraid to

challenge. And take the appropriate steps were necessary. If a school

leader has the commitment, drive and energy to deliver the ethos of

the school, this will have a positive effect on others. I

believe this report has highlighted many good examples of where

improvements have been made in the sector and it does have to be

welcomed. In answer to the question we hear that out of the 59 on the

ground inspected schools, 38 have no classroom experience, 38 out of

59. We need to make sure there are more teachers involved and to cut

some system that includes teachers -- look at some system. Those who

continue to deliver at the chalk face are school staff not just

teachers but all of the staff who have to create is stimulating

learning environment. Despite in some cases poor classroom

conditions, having to cope with half-baked ideas bike computer-

based assessment -- like computer- based assessment and increase

bureaucracy. We all recognise the challenges facing a syndicate colt

economic times -- facing us in difficult economic times. Last week,

if you said school leaders play a vital role. You are right. The

classroom leader, the Department leader, the school leader. It

starts and ends in the classroom. This is where school leaders are

born. You have do have the ability to ignite the minds of your

audience. The vast majority of our schools are doing well or improving.

The vast majority of our people in leadership positions are doing well

and improving. Why then do we her still questions around leadership

in some schools and why do we still have poor teaching? You cannot

blame that entirely upon the Minister of the day or the

Department of Education. I do have a responsibility and I take the

responsibility very seriously and I have every policy and proposal I

bring for it is targeted at improving education. But members

are going to have to accept that every now and again occasionally it

arises that the fault lies with the individual in the classroom, the

individual in the principal's office, the individuals around the

governing tables and they have to be held to account. She asks, who

holds the Minister to account? That is your job. It is your job to hold

me to account along with the 170 MLAs, the Education Committee, the

media and ultimately the electric. I am held to account and regularly

so. -- the electorate. We're interest in our education system

our young people. -- we can trust. We allow them to show their futures.

Thankfully, the vast majority of our teachers and school leaders

provide them with the chance in life.

John O'Dowd. It was a busy day for Mr O'Dowd because it was also the

Minister's turn to take questions. But following a playground row with

the SDLP, he discussed the Education and Skills Authority, so-

called STEM subjects and even a possible career change. Can the

Minister confirm the new arrangements will have no impact on

the day-to-day autonomy of schools? They will not have any day today in

terms of employment practice in schools... They will be the

employing but 34 or staff. Boards of governors will manage the

school's and take the employment decisions. It will bring better

workforce planning. But there will be no loss of autonomy for our

schools. I would like to ask the Minister how he sees exactly this

new yardstick for measuring social disadvantage and will it in his

opinion, changes to the benefit system, lead to less children being

eligible for free school meals? do not want to see less

schoolchildren eligible and my department is working with the sub-

committee set up to examine the possible implications of the

welfare reform bill. We are examining the proposals. I have on

the record said I want to protect the family is currently on free

school meals and ensure that they remain eligible under any future

definition of welfare reform. However, you will be aware that the

previous Education spokesperson spoken against free school meals so

I'm not sure now whether the SDLP position has changed... You are now

in support? I seem to have upset him. Order. Order. It was so fat on

numerous occasions, the previous SDLP education spokesperson... If

the member would let me finish. I am only repeating what he has told

me. In numerous debates and Miss Turner, the previous SDLP

spokesperson Stubbs and criticised the social cause in the pre-school

setting -- in numerous debates in this chamber. Would he looked up

some comprehensive way of speaking to the teachers and hearing whether

they work? The previous system worked well and maybe we we should

be looking at changing the legislation. I devoted the energies

of the Department to resolving the problems currently. I think that we

need to look at computer-based assessments and how they fit in

with the other programmes. If we need to change or review the

legislation, let us do that. I do not want to dismiss computer-based

assessment, the principle of it, how it is done, what its objectives

are, I am open to persuasion on and discussions with parents, teachers

and schools. It is important we move away from a courier service

which is not about Korea pass. It is up to the individuals' to decide

what path they follow but can the Minister give the House any

guidance on specific strategies he has in place to try to encourage

young people to follow a course in the STEM subject? It is quite

difficult for young people to decide their career path way. There

are matters such change. I am sure there have been many Korea pathways

in this house. Every time there is question-time, I think about

changing my career. There has been a greater focus placed on the STEM

subject. Careers advice around a STEM subtext is vitally important.

I have been meeting with providers of STEM employment and talking to

them about how they can enhance the STEM subtext at an early age. I

want pupils to think outside of the traditional academic careers,

whether it's the law, medicine, whatever it maybe, teaching, think

outside of that and look at the STEMs as a good career. There is

more work to be done and we have to learn from the employers and I

think the STEM subtext... It is difficult to bridge it economy will

look like but I think any student with a number of STEM subjects

under their belt is equipping themselves well. I am very sad to

hear that the minister is thinking about a career change. I would be

quite happy for him to stay in post as long as he does not play as much

party politics as he is this afternoon.

The SDLP's Conall McDevitt. The subject of sectarianism in boxing

was on the agenda again today at Culture, Arts and Leisure Question

Time. First though, the Minister, Caral ni Chuilin was asked about

support for young footballers who want to play professionally across

the water. Responsibility for supporting young footballers who

wished to progress to professional football in Britain West in the

first instance with individual football clubs and the governing

body of sport. We support centres of excellence. The development of

coaches and partnership with the Sports Institute and a Pala network

aimed at more effective identification of talented players

-- a network end that more effective identification. I thank

the Minister for her response. Would she encourage and develop

professional football in Northern Ireland to the extent that the

cream of our young crop are encouraged to play football for

longer here in Northern Ireland before being snapped up by the

bigger clubs in England to no benefit to Northern Ireland? I have

sympathy for the member's point. Recently, if I could use my own

constituency as an example, we lost a player but Swansea gained out of

his expertise. Beating have not felt that loss. Given the result

recently! -- the team. When you invest in young players, we hope

they say. But we should not look to keep people here for the sake of

keeping them here. It is up to the Northern Ireland sport and the

clubs and the department to try to make it attractive. But if they

wish to move elsewhere, we should support their development. Would

the Minister agree with me that the recent successes of the Northern

Ireland Women's Under 17 and under 19 teams in qualifying for the

elite sector in Europe is something that this House should be proud of

and which she also joined me in wishing our national team for the

best as we take on Azerbaijan Well, his definition and mine are

different but I wish them all the best. I wish them all the best and

I agree it's important, particularly when talking about

young women in sport that every sport is helps. Encouraging and

nurturing and assisting the talent of sports people here. In an

interview, the minister said Nelson did nothing in relation to the

concerns raised by the boxing club but in a letter to the committee,

the minister was detailing the work the minister did undertake. Will

the Minister retract the statement? Well, if I have it wrong, I will

retract. The mend his free to have a copy of the transcript. The

question from Noel Thompson was accusing the Department of

institutional sectarianism from the club in boxing. My question was

what had other ministers, including Nelson McCausland done? I assume

you have a copy of it. If I am wrong I'll put it on the record and

apologise to the minister and do it in writing. I think what she is

saying it's her colleague Nelson McCausland has done something, my

question was Campbell and the other ministers who for some reason for

10 years when the allegation was made allegedly did nothing.

needs to look at the records in terms of my time as minister but I

want to ask her about the money under the boxing strategy and a

statement to this House yesterday which indicated a sandy road boxing

club would be eligible for funding because it had been affiliated in

the past three years. She appears to be saying something different to

date and something difference morning Post It Could you please

explain to us what she means? club affiliated in the last three

years can put in an expression of interest in. Any club receiving any

funding must be affiliated upon receipt of funding, that's the case.

That's what I said yes sir, this morning and today. In relation to

your own performance, you will be aware that it is not a case

ministers... If I am on the record and I am wrong, the minister's name

was not on the list of people who stood up and try to do something

about it, as minister for sport at the time. The DCAL Minister, Caral

ni Chuilin. The many achievements of athletes from Northern Ireland

were the focus of discussion in the chamber both this morning and later

this afternoon. First, the Green Party brought forward a public

petition calling on the Sports Minister to develop a new strategy

to help athletes fulfil their potential. Athletics is the Blue

Ribbon sport of the Olympics and it's an increase in sport receiving

support from all sections of society. Those behind the petition

believe insufficient support is provided by central and local

government. No strategic plan exists to develop and promote the

sport and the facilities which are available in Northern Ireland are

inadequate to meet the needs of the next generation of athletes. I

believe Northern Ireland has an ideal opportunity to capitalise on

this year's Olympic legacy to inspire a generation. Sport makes a

valuable contribution to society in terms of the enjoyment of the

participants and viewers but also in terms of the lifelong health

benefits it offers young people. The petitioners would like the

Nacewa to explore the possibility of a dedicated indoor training

facility at the current site -- the minister. It's a timely petition

given the debate on the legacy of the Paralympics but also given

yesterday's announcement the executive may find itself with

unspent capital in the near future. Well, as Steven Agnew mentioned

there, the achievements of our Paralympian athletes was the topic

of discussion this afternoon. Sinn Fein MLAs called on the Sports

Minister to secure the support of other authorities to increase

sporting opportunities for people with disabilities. The challenge

moving ahead is to create a genuine a legacy I greatly increasing the

scale of sports provision across Northern Ireland given people with

disabilities and opportunity to meet an active and healthy

lifestyles through sport without fear or of any government

department interfering. We are lucky to have teachers who gladly

give up their own time to train and mental athletes but unfortunately

so many schools have stopped because of lack of funding. To take

a pupil to Dublin to compete costs �400. We need to be concerned.

committee was disappointed at a lack of bespoke programmes in local

government and the governing bodies. The committee wrote to the minister

and departments to ascertain what more can be done individually and

collectively to continue to build on the success of the Paralympics

for a disabled athletes. Disability sport partnership approach with two

councils and four District Councils has led to the delivery of many

successful projects. Including participation projects giving 6,000

people with disability the opportunity to lead a full and

active lifestyle through sport. These projects are not offered or

delivered by other councils and that's why the committee intends to

host an informal meeting with disability sport and a sub-group to

discuss the issues in more detail. The Paralympics have raced respect

for sporting ability of disabled people are celebrating what

disabled people can do in their chosen fields. Despite a great

Paralympic, the reality is the majority of people with

disabilities in Northern Ireland simply don't get the opportunity to

participate in sport. If the legacy is to enable young people with

disability to look up to a sports person, it gives them the

encouragement to take part and the self-confidence to become involved

and in a sporting activity in they would not have become involved in.

Just to give them the confidence to participate in a sporting activity

which is usually seen to be applicable to the able-bodied

professionals rather than someone with a disability and if that's the

legacy, I think we have achieved something in this place. I would

like to talk a bit about Lawrence McGivern. A Paralympic swimmer from

County Down. He came to find his extraordinary talents in the

swimming pool through the support of the Newry Council. He has gone

on to inspire other young athletes with disabilities and there are

councils around Northern Ireland he deserves some credit, Mr Speaker,

Newry is one of them. The participation in the swimming

championships rose dramatically in the aftermath of Lawrence and

Bethany's performances. One thing I will always remember when leaving

the ceremony of the Olympic Games, going to the airport with the

billboards being posted saying thank you for the warm-up, lads and

that summed up the spirit and anticipation we help Paralympic

Games. I do believe we are in a time when we are looking to see

about what the ratepayers can get for their money. In an elegant way

he spoke about equality and rights and I am 100% behind that. It is

not either/or. Everyone should have access and there has been an

imbalance around access for people with disabilities and arts. Caral

ni Chuilin. Now, earlier in the programme we saw the Green Party

MLA, Steven Agnew, present a public petition to the Assembly about

provision for athletics. But what's the potential influence of such

petitions? Well, at the moment, the Alliance Party says they too often

get lost in the system. The party's sent a letter to the Speaker to

review the current petition process - and to tell us more, Trevor Lunn

from the party joins me now. Why it you want the issue reviewed?

think public petitions have the potential to be important in terms

of input into parliamentary business. It's a good way for the

public to raise issues. If several thousand people signed a petition

it is meaningful, at the moment they are delivered to the Assembly,

a single member gets three minutes to talk about it. It is hand to the

Speaker, it is passed to the minister and that's as far as it

goes. And you think there are models that are used in other

legislature's on these islands there would be better for Northern

Ireland? We give the Scottish and Welsh assemblies are looking at the

situation. The one we like the look of his Westminster where they have

adopted a series of the petitions. If 100,000 people signed the

petition and if it's a sensible subject, it has to be discussed at

some time. The threshold would be a lot lower than 100,000. A couple of

1000. And then you could be debating things the public are

interested in but MLAs are not. Did we elected to decide things like

that for us? If several members of the public think something is

important, it should be relevant to us. At the moment, we decide what

to discuss. Some petitions were relevant. We eventually get debates

about it but I would lead to the public being able to set the agenda.

You have written -- your colleague has written to the Speaker. Will it

be progressed? There's been an acknowledgement issue. If it is

progressed it has to go to the Committee on procedures because

they govern the standing orders of the Assembly. We will hear more in

due course. I need to ask you about these leaflets circulating in

Belfast criticising your party's alleged position on flying the

Union flag on a city hall. You are not happy. The Ulster Unionists

were responsible. What are you annoyed about? If any party was to

circulate a leaflet giving their own views about things they can do

so. When they say it is from our party and our colours, and a phone

number, invited you to contact us, making out it has come from the

Alliance Party Dunne it is done in the style, it says tell the

Alliance Party what you think. Why do it in the style of the Alliance

Party? It's an arresting image. is disgraceful politics. We are

very angry about it. I am thoroughly disappointed with the

two parties and lack of integrity and honesty. They are unrepentant.

We will see where it goes from here. An apology would be nice but I

don't think we were getting. Trevor Lunn, thank you. We all love to

talk about the weather - and so it seems do our politicians. Last week

the Environment Committee was given an update from the Met Office on

future predictions for Northern Ireland, as we can now hear in our

weekly look at committee business. You have seen this before. It is

the famous curve showing the change in global average temperatures,

temperature measurements from around the world and we take the

average in a sophisticated way. Through time, up to the present day

the green points is 2011. 0 is because we bass line Dipti pre-

industrial measurements. You can see a warming of 0.8 degrees. There

are lots of wiggles, global climate has changed and there is this

overall warming. And this information about Northern Ireland,

increased average temperatures on the 30 average, increasing rainfall,

the increased rainfall is straightforward to understand, the

atmosphere warms and it can hold more water so were the events bring

more water. It is that strip for. The headline must just a hot and

dry summers and warmer and wetter winters. A we still haven't got the

climate change act. How urgent to think we should implement this and

should be also include targets? Irrespective of all we do in future,

as the emissions continue, so of course the changes will get larger

as projections suggest. Professor Stephen Belcher from the Met Office.

If you're interested, by the way, it's going to be a wet night for

most of us! And that's it from Stormont Today for this week, but