15/04/2013 Stormont Today

Hello, and welcome to Stormont Today.

Coming up on the programme: More trouble at the Executive table

as the DUP and Sinn Fein clash openly. Our Political Correspondent

Martina Purdy is here with her analysis. MLAs elect a new Deputy

Speaker, the Sinn Fein veteran Mitchel McLaughlin, but not without

crossing swords. And Members agree on doing more to combat suicide

rates as one Alliance MLA recounts his own experience of losing a

loved one. My son in-law had fallen victim to this horrible thing plus.

He was a big, strong family man with everything to live for and now

our family, and the whole community, are faced with something we simply

There was plenty happening inside the chamber today and we'll be

looking at that throughout the programme. However the big

political story of the day is a developing war of words between the

two main parties in the Executive, the DUP and Sinn Fein. Our

Political Correspondent,Martina Purdy is with me.

Martina, you've been following these tensions between the two main

parties through the day, take us through what's been happening.

Sinn Fein were to and Andy Mayer at the weekend and the DUP were

keeping an eye on proceedings. Martin McGuinness questioned the

commitment of Unionists to making the executive works saying in

fighting was as destabilising as the dissident threat. Gerry Kelly

said he did not have confidence in the chief constable and there was

call for the release of Marion Price from prison. This morning the

DUP picked up the paper to find a straw poll of 50 Sinn Fein

delegates which said that violence was justified while Britain ruled

in Northern Ireland. The DUP asked about Gerry Kelly withdraw his

remarks and both -- are two men appeared at a news conference to

say Sinn Fein were carrying out mixed signals. We will hold them

accountable because that is our job and that is why we went into

government. If they are recoiling relation to their working

relationship with us. They need to wake up and smell the coffee and

start making decisions as ever frustrating the government. Deeming

the Social Welfare Reform Bill? That is not the only thing they are

messing about with. What else are they waiting about with? We will

wait and see. That was the response but what has Sinn Fein been saying?

John O'Dowd came down to speak to us and he was quite indignant that

the DUP eight -- DUP should question Sinn Fein's commitment to

police and police. He said the DUP had in some cases failed to face

down loyalist violence over flags etc and he said that Sinn Fein was

not messing around with issues and it was trying to get the right

decisions on issues like social welfare reform. He questioned the

Belfast Telegraph poll and said that was 50 delegates out of 2000

and he said the results were dubious and open to question. He

also said that Sinn Fein was not in the executive because DUP had

ordained it was allowed to be in the executive, he said it was in

there because it had been voted in by the people. And this spilled

over into today's election of a new Deputy Speaker? In order for

Mitchel McLaughlin to take that pose the had to be a cross-

community vote. The first minister said he wanted clarification or

from -- clarification from Mitchel McLaughlin that he was committed

toppled in the role of law. Thank you very much.

Well, as Martina mentioned there, the deteriorating relations between

the two main parties did indeed spill over into the election of the

deputy speaker. Despite a perhaps unexpected rival candidate for the

role, Sinn Fein's Mitchel McLaughlin was elected with the

backing of the DUP, but not before the main unionist party demanded he

reassert Sinn Fein's commitment to the peace process.

Let us proceed to the election of the Deputy Speaker. Do you have any

proposals for the office of Deputy Speaker, a rise in your place?

propose Mitchel McLaughlin be elected as deputy speaker. Is there

a second? I second that. Mitchel McLoughlin, do you accept this

nomination? With some relief I do accept it! Are they are further

proposals? Could I propose the name of Basil McCrea? Do we have a

second? Thank you, Mr Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me and a

great honour to propose my friend Mitchel McLaughlin as the Deputy

Speaker. I would like to place on record our thanks to Francie Molloy

who has left this assembly for another place, for the contribution

that he made. I think the North West has a very proud record over

supporting speakers and providing speakers for this assembly, not

least your own contribution over the course of a number of years,

which has been rightly applauded by society and by everybody in this

house. Mitchel McLaughlin, I believe will continue in that vein.

I think he is someone with vast experience of the workings of this

house and he will make his own unique contribution towards

supporting the work of the chair. think everyone knows that it is

essential for the working operation of the institutions that there is

appropriate cross-community balance in positions like this. This

position was held by a Sinn Fein member and therefore I think it

would be assumed that automatically there would be a Sinn Fein member

to replace them. However, I think it would be irresponsible of us if

we were not to provide the likely candidate the opportunity to

indicate his position on some key issues. It would not have been a

matter that I would have raised had it not been for certain responses

to a Belfast Telegraph poll to the activists, the members who were

present at the Sinn Fein conference because that puts some doubt for a

large section of the Sinn Fein membership as to where they stood

on the role of dissidents and their activity, on its support for the

police. I know from having been a finance minister when a major

McLaughlan was the chairman of the committee what I believe his

responses would be to these matters but I think it is important that he

shows that he is in support of the position that the Deputy First

Minister has taken on those issues which is contrary to some of the

positions that have been adopted by the active membership of his party.

This house likes to publicly portray itself as a beacon of

inclusive at it. Some of us, of course, have come to experience

that this inclusiveness is only for those who were are inside the

executive tent and therefore, this position of Deputy Speaker and the

filling of it is an opportunity for this House to disprove that

perception and to prove, in fact, that it does genuinely believe in

it inclusiveness by appointing a Deputy Speaker from outside the

party's that are represented in the executive and daring, of course,

lies the nomination of Mr Basil McCrea. I am disappointed that the

First Minister has taken the opportunity to respond to a rather

dubious poll. The most important poll that was taken over the

weekend, and there were 206 polls taken over the weekend, was on

party membership that were going into the voting hall and voting for

the leadership of marked him a Canice -- Martin McGuinness and

Gerry Adams. That leadership has been very clear whether his party

stands in relation to the use of violence. Basil McCrea has amply

shown that during his time in this assembly that he will represent

everyone in this assembly as Deputy Speaker without fear of a favour.

That is the calibre of individual we want to be electing to this

office. The concerns that the First Minister and the minister for

enterprise, trading and investment raised, the concerns about the Sinn

Fein conference at the weekend, they have no such concern with

Basil McCrea. Will they support a candidate who will stand up for the

independence of this chamber against the executive? I do think

that this house should recognise that there are people who are not

part of the executive, that the one to make a contribution, that will

attempt to chair the debates as others have done, in a fair and

impartial way. Those of you that have sat with me on committees and

there have been many, from all different parties, will accept that

I am fair and impartial in the way that I chair such debates. I put

this question directly to members opposite, you have concerns and you

have the opportunity to vote for somebody other than the candidate

you have concerns about. We will watch and we will listen to what

you have to say but the decision is yours. I am honoured to be

nominated for this position today. I am somewhat disappointed that the

First Minister took the particular line that he did because I have

been a member of this desert -- assembly from when it was

established. I was part of the negotiation and brought it about

and also brought about the new beginning and the establishment of

a new justice system. In all of that, I see it as part of my

personal legacy and a stand 100% beside it and it is one of the

proudest experiences of my life and I have demonstrated to any fair-

minded person that I can discharge -- discharge my duties and do it

fearlessly. The experience of standing up to dissidents, standing

on to those who challenge the rule of law has been at my home has been

petrol-bombed and attacked with in the last fought back. That doesn't

determine. Every, that the Deputy First Minister has made, from the

earliest days of this peace process right through to this weekend,

where he addressed our party committee consent. I offer the

member my congratulations and look forward to working with them in the

future. Martina Purdy is still with me. Shortly after he was elected,

Mitchell McLauchlan was then elected principal Deputy Speaker. The best

explain that. -- you best. There's not much a distension other than

that it is a fancy title. Adding it as a matter of seniority. -- I think

it is. The speaker would look at that person has number two. That is

why the SDLP and the Unionists were sniffy. Suppose the big thing is

that he would succeed as speaker. Is that the plan? If a deal was done --

a deal was done some years ago. He would be next in line. Why do think

Sinn Fein selected Mitchel McLaughlin? He has been around a

long time. He has done his time in terms of the party. He helped

negotiate the Good Friday agreement. He helped bring about the new

policing standards. He is a safe pair of hands and experienced. He

has been loyal to the party that he has shown through his various briefs

that he is capable of handling conflict issues. He knows how the

system works and you seem to be fair-minded. He is well thought of

across the assembly. He is reaching the end of his political career at

67 and this is a nice way to enter it. Just briefly, John McAllister,

trying to get his friend and ally elected, what should we make of

that? There is no such thing as bad publicity. The independence do not

get an opportunity to become much. It is a way of saying that they are

still here. -- independent is. It is a way of telling the other parties

that they are inclusive, but the independence do not get a share of

the spoils. We heard some of the unionist questioning, whether the

DUP were that concerned about whether Mitchel McLaughlin was

committed to nonviolence. If you were so concerned, they could have

put Basil McCrea in the post. It was a bit of fun, really. Now, thank

you. Around 300 people in here in Northern Ireland take their own

lives. The figure has doubled in the last 30 years. The rise in the

suicide rate has prompted MLAs to discuss the topic many times.

Today, emotion called upon the executive to our ties suicide

prevention. It was a rational story which had a major impact on the

chamber. -- personal story. I have prepared my contribution to this

debate. I'm prepared my contribution some time ago but things changed

dramatically last Tuesday. Last Tuesday morning, I was in this

chamber taking part in the business of the day when I was asked to take

a phone call from home. A hysterical voice at the other end of the phone

told me to come home immediately. My 39-year-old son in law had been

found dead in our garage. I've raced home, to my daughter's home, to be

confronted with ambulance, police and other personnel, and my

distraught daughter and family members, to be told of the

circumstances of the tragedy. My son-in-law had fallen victim to this

horrible illness. He was a big, strong family man. He had everything

to live for. He had a good home and a wonderful, hard-working wife, and

a fantastic daughter, a good job. He was the principal of the local

Primary School. And now our families and the whole community are faced

with something that we cannot understand. The question is, why?

Why, why? It has been asked in Northern Ireland 300 times. We're

not the first family to ensure this shocking experience. 300 people in

Northern Ireland have lost their lives in such unexplained

circumstances. This is through 300 and beings, all good people, far too

many, and we must continue to strive for answers. -- this is 300 human

beings. I welcome the Minister's commitment and his department 's

fight against suicide. Much work continues to protect this strategy

and the continued effort of the public health agency, particularly

the recent TV advertisement -- TV at on looking after your mental health.

But unfortunately, we continue to lose people to this illness. In

conclusion, I refer to my own experience last week. I'm make an

appeal to John Dowd, the Minister of education. And indeed to other

departments. My son-in-law was a teacher, and so was my daughter.

They do sterling work, and just maybe they are being asked to

overstretch themselves. Anyone in this chamber that has family members

who are teachers will know what I speaking about. They do not finish

at 3pm. They come home with cases and work all hours of the night.

Officials much -- officials must look for signs of targets, results,

inspections and so one, as King too much. There is a fine line between

success and disaster. -- asking too much. We all want to see success,

but at what price? We need to look after all our providers and prevent

people from going over the edge. There is so much more to be said on

the issue, and I thank the members that have so many -- that have

already spoken. Cross agency work and fulfilment of the comfort

report, economic factors... Until we get on top of this issue, we will

have more sadness and grief, more tears. We need action now. Thank you

very much. Kieren McCarthy with his very personal experience of losing

his son-in-law to suicide last week. The culture minister revealed today

that she has commissioned new research into sectarianism in local

football. She said she had taken extra steps after becoming concerned

about the ongoing presence of sectarianism around the local game.

Later, the minister condemned those who carried a mock coffin of

Margaret Thatcher outside Cliftonville's around head of the

title clinching victory over Linfield on Saturday. First of all,

I would like to congratulate Cliftonville the book club on

winning the Irish league. Our commiserations to Linfield. The

Irish Football Association sees local -- oversees local soccer and

is in charge of dealing with sectarianism where it arises. The

company -- the organisation already runs a successful campaign seeking

to promote an inclusive culture throughout the game and challenge

prejudice, and sectarianism within the sport. I'd endorse this

campaign, which is consistent with the ends of my department and my

strategy for sport, seeking to promote good relations and

integration between communities. I'm concerned that despite the good work

of the Irish were Bob Association, the remain in the concerns that

sectarianism remains to be a problem in soccer. As a member for North

Belfast, can I congratulate Cliftonville on winning the Irish

league? It is a pity about the result. Will the Minister join with

me in condemning those Cliftonville supporters who carried a Coffin

draped in a black flag with a witches hat on it up the

Cliftonville Road, singing offensive songs about Baroness Thatcher, using

gratuitous language and mocking her passing before the game? Such

behaviour is unacceptable. It should not be tolerated. Will the Minister

join me in condemning it. Does she agree that Cliftonville is the

bookclub should distance themselves from such behaviour? -- Cliftonville

football club. I condemn any sectarian incident but I have not

seen the footage that my colleague refers to. I asked people who were

there and they said it was not Cliftonville fans who were involved

in that activity. I do not think, at that activity occurred in the

ground, that we would be having a different conversation. Cliftonville

the bookclub need to be given the flight ability to make remarks about

this. In terms of people celebrating Margaret Thatcher's passing,

regardless of how they feel about that, and have my own feelings, and

regardless of her legacy in this island, which was not good, and the

fact that she was a divisive character in our own country, do not

think it is befitting that someone who brought nothing but misery, the

milli Asian and degradation to this country should behave in a way that

is undignified. This should not follow in her footsteps. I would

encourage no want to be involved in that activity. The culture minister.

Horse meat was back on the menu at Stormont Today with the Agriculture

Minister taking ten -- taking questions on the latest

investigations into collision is. There been no solutions as yet but

are there any extra controls? remains the response ability of the

businesses and the processors, catering suppliers and retailers to

insure the food they sell is what it says on the label. The DNA testing

has extended. Never states to notice you -- notify the EU rapid alert

system if they discover more than 1% in their products. Numbers are being

asked to take one sample per 50 tons of force meat for testing with the

minimum of 5000. Each DNA test will cost up to 400 euros. A programme of

preparation establishments have confessed -- have begun. All cold

storage, meat processing plants and cutting plants have now been

visited. Can the Minister detail whether she believes that the

current regulations are in place with regard to the regulation and

are as strong as they need to be to allow authorities to bring every

single person or party involved in the scandal before the courts?

is an issue with confidence in the food chain. As I have said

consistently throughout this crisis, our local industry maintains a high

reputation and is not involved in this incident. We're talking about

processed food and there is an initiative to be resolved there. --

and issue to be resolved. By the end of the year, we expect more

discussions and regulations on the country of origin labelling. The

Minister indicated that up until this crisis -- this crisis, the

practice in recent years was that at most two inspections took place. But

there was never any taking or testing of actual product. How far

does the Minister accent that that contributed to the ability to cause

force meat to appear? I think the issue is very clear. It is either an

issue of gross negligence or criminality. No matter what checks

and balances you have in place, if there is a criminal element

involved, they will try to find a way to put forward the actions that

they have been involved in. The Agriculture Minister. MLAs have

agreed to a shakeup of Assembly Question Time, in order, they say,

to make it more relevant to the public. For the first time,

ministers will take a topical questions on which they have not

been briefed. He is the chair of the procedures committee on why the

change has been introduced. It may be a short report, but I believe the

implementation of the Redmond Asians has the potential to transform

question Time. Most importantly, to increase engagement. The review has

concluded that while there are already a number of absences for

screw -- opportunities for scrutinising ministers, these are

largely scripted and the timing for tabling requests can result in a

loss of topicality. Questions for oral answer are separate. They are

taken several working days before they are due to be taken so newly

emerging issues that arise between the submission of questions and then

being asked in the chamber cannot be covered. Urgent oral questions

prevent some opportunity for more current questioning, these are

limited to single tablets. -- single topics. The committee has considered

the potential benefits of introducing this system. These are

outlined in the report. Topical questions would present an

additional opportunity for ministers to be held to account on more

immediate issues, while the topic is still current. As a committee, we

approached the question of topical questions with an open mind. I'd

think anybody had a closed mind English and to this mission. We felt

that there was something lacking in question Time. We felt too many

questions were scripted, and too many cancers were scripted as well.