0:00:20 > 0:00:23Local an welcome to Stormont Today. Coming up on the programme. MLAs pay
0:00:24 > 0:00:27tribute to the victims of the Boston bombings.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31And the agricultural committee grills officials about their
0:00:31 > 0:00:34handling of the snow crisis. We will hear from the chair of the committee
0:00:34 > 0:00:43and the journalist Steven McCaffery will be here with his analysis of
0:00:43 > 0:00:46the events on the hill. Today's proceedings at Stormont
0:00:46 > 0:00:50began with the Assembly members paying respects to the victims of
0:00:50 > 0:00:54yesterday's bomb attacks in Boston. Three people were killed, including
0:00:54 > 0:00:58an eight-year-old boy and at least 140 were injured in the blasts at
0:00:58 > 0:01:04the finish line of the city's marathon. The Assembly tributes were
0:01:04 > 0:01:09led by the SDLP's Alex Attwood behalf of the intped icon vase
0:01:09 > 0:01:14sympathy and condolences to the Boston mayor, the Governor of
0:01:14 > 0:01:19Massachusetts, to the people of Boston, to the marathon participants
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and their families, I think Mr Speaker, there has been a particular
0:01:22 > 0:01:26relationship not just between Ireland and Boston, but between
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Derry and Boston, between Belfast and Boston, and with the people of
0:01:30 > 0:01:35Northern Ireland, and the people of Boston. And, all of us who have been
0:01:35 > 0:01:40to Boston will know that the city is at once American, European and
0:01:40 > 0:01:46Irish. I think many of us Mr Speaker, will have heard the
0:01:46 > 0:01:51interview with the Boston journalist who is very well-known to
0:01:51 > 0:01:55politicians and the people of Ireland, and of the north, and his
0:01:55 > 0:02:01interview, where he told the story, of the young boy, greeting his
0:02:01 > 0:02:06father, as he passed the marathon finishing spot, returning to his
0:02:06 > 0:02:13mother, and sister, only then to be caught up in the bombing, with the
0:02:13 > 0:02:18young child losing his life. I think that Kevin captured the awfulness
0:02:18 > 0:02:21and the loss, what happened on the streets of Boston yesterday.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Mr Speaker, when I was a little younger I had the great opportunity
0:02:25 > 0:02:31to run the Boston Marathon on two occasion, and there is nothing like
0:02:32 > 0:02:36it. To come down that finishing stretch, with the sense of some
0:02:36 > 0:02:40achievement, fun, and for many people, having contribute
0:02:40 > 0:02:45contributed to chartable cause, and all of that is in sharp and chilling
0:02:46 > 0:02:53contrast to the images of what we saw in Boston yesterday. But I think
0:02:53 > 0:02:59we should also remember, Mr Speaker, that the scenes and means of terror
0:02:59 > 0:03:04in Boston yesterday, had previously been visited upon us in our own
0:03:04 > 0:03:09experience, bombs in a crowded street, in refuse bin, leading to
0:03:09 > 0:03:13the death of a child. I think we should, in remembering the people of
0:03:13 > 0:03:16Boston today, also remember that there will be others who the pain
0:03:16 > 0:03:24and poignancy of what happened yesterday, is very relevant to their
0:03:24 > 0:03:29own lives. Thank you Mr Speakerer, may I on
0:03:29 > 0:03:35behalf of my party extend our sincere sympathy to the people of
0:03:35 > 0:03:42Boston, and indeed the people of the United States, on this tragedy,
0:03:42 > 0:03:47which unfolded yesterday. I know that in term terms, listening to the
0:03:47 > 0:03:53journalist this morning, and it was a poignant story he told in relation
0:03:53 > 0:03:58to the 8-year-old boy, and his sister, injured mother injured, and
0:03:58 > 0:04:04the father had just -- father had just run the marathon. Always as Mr
0:04:04 > 0:04:10At wood says many times terror has struck our streets and similarly,
0:04:10 > 0:04:15innocent people have paid the price. Alex Attwood. Terrorism is wrong,
0:04:15 > 0:04:19from no matter what quarter it comes from and cannot be condoned, in any
0:04:20 > 0:04:25circumstances, or in any situation. There is no doubt the people that
0:04:25 > 0:04:28carried out this particular evil, were terrorist, you cannot describe
0:04:28 > 0:04:32them as anything else, their intention was to Serb tries and they
0:04:33 > 0:04:37have succeeded. -- John Terry rice. I heard the
0:04:37 > 0:04:43reports on Radio Ulster as I was driving up, and it started off by
0:04:43 > 0:04:46actually playing the bombs going off. And that terror, will be
0:04:46 > 0:04:52revisited on people who live in Northern Ireland.
0:04:52 > 0:05:00I almost froze as I was driving up the road. Because I immediately
0:05:00 > 0:05:08thought of Omagh. On 15th August 1998, when my town was visited by
0:05:08 > 0:05:17evil people. And that fear came back in to me, that we could be seeing
0:05:17 > 0:05:22this revisited on us again. On the 15th June 1988, in Lisburn, six
0:05:22 > 0:05:27soldiers were murdered, at a similar event by terrorists.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32No excuse can be made for this type of activity. I listened to the story
0:05:32 > 0:05:38of the father crossing the line, and his eight-year-old son running into
0:05:38 > 0:05:41his arms. I am not a father, but if I were and I could hold my
0:05:41 > 0:05:46eight-year-old son and share that moment with him, it would be a
0:05:46 > 0:05:51moment you would never forget. But then, some evil people decide
0:05:51 > 0:05:55they were going to detonate a bomb. And how can any human being do that
0:05:55 > 0:06:01to another? My thoughts will be with the pupil of Boston over the coming
0:06:01 > 0:06:04days. -- people. But my thoughts will be with those who have lost
0:06:04 > 0:06:08relatives in similar circumstance, and particular willy the families of
0:06:08 > 0:06:13the soldiers who were murdered on the -- particularly the families of
0:06:13 > 0:06:21the soldiers who were murdered. Who needlessly lost their lives in a
0:06:21 > 0:06:27similar situation. Terrorists copy each other. . In the first instance
0:06:27 > 0:06:31can I on behalf of Sinn Fein, send our couldn't lentses to the family
0:06:31 > 0:06:36-- condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones yesterday
0:06:36 > 0:06:40in Boston. Alex Attwood, when he was speaking alluded to the great
0:06:40 > 0:06:44connection between Derry and Boston, and many people will remember Derry
0:06:44 > 0:06:50and Boston vents, the recent initiatives between the people of
0:06:50 > 0:06:52our city and Boston, indeed many, many former mayor, etch some who
0:06:52 > 0:06:57severed in this House have visited Boston on behalf of the city, and I
0:06:57 > 0:07:03know the current mayor this morning has been in contact with his counter
0:07:03 > 0:07:08part in Boston, to send condolences on behalf of the people of Derry and
0:07:08 > 0:07:13Ireland. This wasn't just an attack on the people of Boston, this was an
0:07:13 > 0:07:17attack on the international community. This was the Boston
0:07:17 > 0:07:22Marathon, one of those prestigious, if not the most prestigious marathon
0:07:22 > 0:07:26race round the world, attracting participants from a whole range of
0:07:26 > 0:07:33country, including from here in Northern Ireland, and elsewhere, in
0:07:33 > 0:07:37these islands. Mr Hussy is right when he remined us that not only --
0:07:37 > 0:07:42minded us, that not only in the generality of the great swathe of
0:07:42 > 0:07:49terrorism, to which Northern Ireland was subjected, but within that we
0:07:49 > 0:07:54have had specific incidents, like the Lisburn attack, where again,
0:07:54 > 0:08:00advantage was taken by wicked terrorists, of the gathering of
0:08:00 > 0:08:05people, on a fun occasion, to wreak havoc and leave a trail of death,
0:08:05 > 0:08:10and destruction. I like all colleagues here, would
0:08:10 > 0:08:14have been appalled and shocked, when we learned of the event, in Boston.
0:08:14 > 0:08:23I too, like other colleagues listened to that very moving
0:08:23 > 0:08:30interview, this morning, on Radio Ulster. Sort of brings it home, as
0:08:30 > 0:08:36both as individuals or as parents, the pain and agony that random acts
0:08:36 > 0:08:40of terror can visit. People from my own constituency, and from probably
0:08:40 > 0:08:46neighbouring Newry and Armagh that were over reign raiding money nor
0:08:46 > 0:08:51the southern area hospice, those type of event events that go to to
0:08:51 > 0:08:56raise money, to bring out the very best, in human nature, to help and
0:08:56 > 0:09:01support others, that it should end in such horror, I think it is truly
0:09:01 > 0:09:08shocking and it has appalled each and every one of us, I do hope that
0:09:08 > 0:09:13those responsible are brought to justice speedily. That was John
0:09:13 > 0:09:17McCallister -- John McCallister. Thank you for joining us, it was
0:09:17 > 0:09:22obvious watching that report, that last night's attack on Boston did
0:09:22 > 0:09:26strike a chord with members here. Yes, absolutely. It was the most
0:09:26 > 0:09:30emotional striking element of today's proceedings by far, and
0:09:30 > 0:09:36there was genuine concern and genuine emotion in the room, it was
0:09:36 > 0:09:40clear that the account of events in Boston given by the journalist Kevin
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Cullen, somebody who is familiar to people in this area, it has a
0:09:44 > 0:09:48powerful effect and then it caused people to reflect on some of the
0:09:48 > 0:09:51similar scenes we have seen, and it struck the Assembly member, they
0:09:51 > 0:09:55weren't just going through the emotion, there was genuine upset
0:09:55 > 0:10:00there for the disturbing images we have seen. It is not the first time
0:10:00 > 0:10:04we have been sitting in this studio talking about another rather
0:10:04 > 0:10:07truncated day in the chamber. It would have been a busy day with the
0:10:08 > 0:10:12Welfare Bill due to be discussed, but it was withdrawn, as we know,
0:10:12 > 0:10:17remind us of what is happening with that, and why it has not been
0:10:17 > 0:10:22debated. . Well, not only is it going to have a huge impact on the
0:10:22 > 0:10:27lives of a lot of people, more so than much of what is discussed in
0:10:27 > 0:10:30the Assembly, it is something that has become a hugely divisive issue
0:10:30 > 0:10:35twine the DUP and Sinn Fein. Sinn Fein have made it clear they are
0:10:35 > 0:10:39prepared to use petition of concern, even on a multiple basis to block
0:10:39 > 0:10:44the element they are most exercised about. The reason it was held, it
0:10:44 > 0:10:50has to be fully explained, it may be it is feeding into the discussion
0:10:50 > 0:10:53the BBC has reported, of the two parties brokering an agreement
0:10:53 > 0:10:56political editor has been reporting this big clear the air meeting
0:10:56 > 0:11:00between the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister, where
0:11:01 > 0:11:06everything was on the table, the Welfare Bill, and other matters, to
0:11:06 > 0:11:10try to get them back on track again? Well, I mean, dependling on who you
0:11:10 > 0:11:14speak to, on the face of it the arguments we saw at the start of
0:11:14 > 0:11:17this week were visceral, there seemed to be genuine discord between
0:11:17 > 0:11:21the party, some of their political opponent claim there is a sham fight
0:11:21 > 0:11:25about this, but regardless of that, from a public point of view, there
0:11:25 > 0:11:29was a big bust up and there was an attempt to draw a line under that
0:11:29 > 0:11:34and move forward. But that will be measured on delivery and what comes
0:11:34 > 0:11:38out of it. Now, there are a number of factor, once being the
0:11:38 > 0:11:43politicians faced the choice of them setting the agenda in terms of
0:11:43 > 0:11:47breaking the deadlock or vents taking over outside. With the G8
0:11:47 > 0:11:53coming they might be the ones to change thing, but what can they
0:11:53 > 0:11:56deliver? We have had the Welfare Bill, a mennion of -- just a mention
0:11:57 > 0:12:00of the Special Advisers Bill. What is happening with that? It is only
0:12:00 > 0:12:04two stage stages away, so it was surprising it wasn't put forward.
0:12:04 > 0:12:11The listen is one aspect refers to the Civil Service commissioner, now
0:12:11 > 0:12:15taking a role but it seems that will have to be rubber-stamped by the
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Secretary of State. We will hear more from you later. There is
0:12:19 > 0:12:23concern in rural communities according to one MLA about the
0:12:23 > 0:12:26possibility of local primary schools closing their doors. It follows the
0:12:26 > 0:12:31publication of plans in March outlining scores of schools at risk
0:12:31 > 0:12:35of closure. Today, the Education Minister was asked for more details.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40From the outset of this area planning process, I have said this
0:12:40 > 0:12:44is not a budget driven process. I could continue with the budget I
0:12:44 > 0:12:47have and keep all the schools open we have. Across the board, but I do
0:12:47 > 0:12:49not believe it would be a proper use of resources.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53It wouldn't be beneficial to the education of our young people
0:12:54 > 0:12:56either. So when it comes to a decision round any school, and in
0:12:56 > 0:13:01this instance you refer to rural school, through the development
0:13:01 > 0:13:05proposal and before I make any decision, all the criteria will be
0:13:05 > 0:13:09taken into account, and the educational wellbeing of the child
0:13:09 > 0:13:19will be first and foremost. We have taken into consideration what
0:13:19 > 0:13:24
0:13:24 > 0:13:28alternative school will the pupils The information which was published
0:13:28 > 0:13:32within the area plans a lot of the concerns arise from the fact as to
0:13:32 > 0:13:35how the media published the information and that they published
0:13:35 > 0:13:39lists of schools particularly in rural communities under the
0:13:39 > 0:13:44criteria of 105. I'm on record, I put it on record again, this is not
0:13:44 > 0:13:47a numbers game. It's not an economic equation. It is an
0:13:47 > 0:13:51education equation I'm involving myself in. There is rural
0:13:51 > 0:13:54communities out there that require and will continue to have very
0:13:54 > 0:13:59small schools within their vicinity because they are required and what
0:13:59 > 0:14:03is right for that community. I have listened carefully to the Minister.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09I know he is awash with reports and all sorts of things. Could he tell
0:14:09 > 0:14:15the House how does he measure the likely impact the closure of a
0:14:15 > 0:14:20rural school will have on a community? If we knew that we might
0:14:20 > 0:14:26better understand the other issues that he is discussed with us today?
0:14:26 > 0:14:31I measure through the development proposal process, which is a
0:14:31 > 0:14:35statutory process in which involves two stages. Firstly, pre-
0:14:35 > 0:14:37consultation process. With the managing authority of the school
0:14:37 > 0:14:41will engage with the Board of Governors of the school to discuss
0:14:41 > 0:14:45the future of the school and other interested parties. If the managing
0:14:45 > 0:14:49authority decides the best way forward is to publish a development
0:14:49 > 0:14:53proposal for closure it moves into a two month consultation process
0:14:53 > 0:15:00where I take written and verbal recipations. There are two measures
0:15:00 > 0:15:04I need to take into account. Those young people who through no fault
0:15:04 > 0:15:07of their own were allowed to attend unsustainable schools throughout
0:15:07 > 0:15:12their education career because no- one had the courage to make the
0:15:12 > 0:15:15decision to close it. The South Down MLA, Jim Wells, has
0:15:15 > 0:15:19described the low number of visually impaired people in full-
0:15:19 > 0:15:22time employment as a "disgrace." During Employment and Learning
0:15:22 > 0:15:32Questions, Mr Wells pressed the Minister, Stephen Farry, on what he
0:15:32 > 0:15:34
0:15:34 > 0:15:39can do to mitigate the difficulties Through the additional support fund
0:15:39 > 0:15:42my department provides �3.5 million each year to further education
0:15:42 > 0:15:45colleges for support and assistance to students with learning
0:15:45 > 0:15:48difficulties or disabilities. Students with learning difficulty
0:15:49 > 0:15:54or disability are assessed to determine the level of support they
0:15:54 > 0:15:58require. For visually impaired impaired students there may be
0:15:58 > 0:16:06technical aids, learning material in alternative format and personal
0:16:06 > 0:16:10support. We provided funding for an information hub for learners to
0:16:10 > 0:16:13improve access about college provision, services and the support
0:16:13 > 0:16:18available. The department provides funding for the development of
0:16:18 > 0:16:23online guides for disabled students. These guides were developed by
0:16:23 > 0:16:28disabled GO, the UK's leading provider of disabled access
0:16:28 > 0:16:33information. They provide information on campus lay out,
0:16:33 > 0:16:40signage. They help people to access college premises and make the best
0:16:40 > 0:16:46use of facilities. Visually impaired are offered orientation
0:16:46 > 0:16:50visits tie Lou them become familiar of the lay out of the buildings,
0:16:50 > 0:16:56assistance is there to ensure safety between going between
0:16:56 > 0:17:00classes. They can make use of a budding engagement. Especially in
0:17:00 > 0:17:03the event of an emergency. Will he accept from me that those who pass
0:17:03 > 0:17:06through further education in Northern Ireland, who are visually
0:17:06 > 0:17:13impaired, the outcomes, in terms of employment are extremely bleak?
0:17:13 > 0:17:17Indeed, the RNIB in a recent survey showed that 25% of blind and
0:17:17 > 0:17:23visually impaired adults in Northern Ireland are in full-time
0:17:23 > 0:17:28paid employment. That is a dreadful indictment of the system that
0:17:28 > 0:17:33allows so many capable people to end up with no form of paid
0:17:33 > 0:17:37employment? I thank him for his question and highlighting that
0:17:37 > 0:17:40issue. The first thing to say, anyone who comes through, whether
0:17:40 > 0:17:45it is the further education system or the higher education system with
0:17:45 > 0:17:50a qualification is a peer and of equal standing to anyone else with
0:17:50 > 0:17:54the same level of attainment. We still have issues and barriers
0:17:54 > 0:17:58within the wider employer network in this regard, but I do believe
0:17:58 > 0:18:05that there are many employers who now recognise that either blind or
0:18:05 > 0:18:08visually impaired people have a lot to offer to their workforce. My
0:18:08 > 0:18:11department has the disability employment service and have
0:18:11 > 0:18:13programmes there to assist people with a range of disabilities in the
0:18:13 > 0:18:19workplace. I think it's important that we continue to highlight that
0:18:19 > 0:18:22those are available. More than 20,000 sheep were lost in
0:18:22 > 0:18:25the recent snow storms and it may be next month before all the dead
0:18:25 > 0:18:27animals are found and counted. The news emerged as the Stormont
0:18:27 > 0:18:32Agriculture Committee quizzed departmental officials on their
0:18:32 > 0:18:35handling of the crisis. The so-called 'spring blizzard'
0:18:35 > 0:18:39last month was one of the worst on record and has left farmers,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42particularly those with livestock on hills, counting huge costs.
0:18:42 > 0:18:48The Chair of the Agriculture Committee, Paul Frew, is with me
0:18:48 > 0:18:52now. Thank you for joining us. It was a huge challenge for farmers
0:18:52 > 0:18:57and for the Department. You have got concerns and you expressed them
0:18:57 > 0:19:01today in the committee meeting that departmental officials didn't quite
0:19:01 > 0:19:05measure up to the challenge? believe they react toad late to
0:19:05 > 0:19:08this crisis. I think, as the emergency evolved over that weekend,
0:19:08 > 0:19:13I think the Minister and the department were slow to react. I
0:19:13 > 0:19:17believe they should have had people on the ground. I had called for the
0:19:17 > 0:19:23deployment of TA. She had asked for air support. I believe then when
0:19:23 > 0:19:27she got that air support she let it go too soon. I believe if we had
0:19:27 > 0:19:30retained the air support and the Chinook helicopters, the two of
0:19:30 > 0:19:33them, we have saved thousands upon thousands of livestock. You think
0:19:33 > 0:19:39that. Do you have evidence for that? The officials today suggested
0:19:39 > 0:19:44they did everything they were asked to do. That food was dropped to
0:19:44 > 0:19:48sheep where sheep were seen. Short of dropping individuals in to dig
0:19:48 > 0:19:52sheep out there wasn't anything else that could be done?
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Chinook helicopters can carry tonnes and tonnes of cargo, feed,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59but they can carry personnel. I believe personnel could have been
0:19:59 > 0:20:04dropped in and helped farmers find and locate livestock and it would
0:20:04 > 0:20:08have saved them. I have evidence to suggest there are sheep being
0:20:08 > 0:20:10pulled out even yesterday alive from the snowdrifts. I believe that
0:20:11 > 0:20:15whilst the Minister made the decision to withdraw the air
0:20:15 > 0:20:20support, the likes of the Mountain Rescue team were pulling livestock
0:20:20 > 0:20:24out and they could have helped produced more... Better results
0:20:24 > 0:20:28with regard to this livestock being saved. Are you satisfied the
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Department was not motivated by cost, do you accept that?
0:20:31 > 0:20:34concerned. Thiss with a question that was raised at the last
0:20:34 > 0:20:40committee meeting we had discussions on this. The question
0:20:40 > 0:20:46was put, you know, the cost of the Chinooks. I wouldn't like to think
0:20:46 > 0:20:49there was cost involved in the decision-making process. The full
0:20:49 > 0:20:54cost son the farming community. They said it was for technical
0:20:54 > 0:20:57reasons, not because of cost? asked the question. I fut down on a
0:20:57 > 0:21:01written question to the minister with regard cost and if this was
0:21:01 > 0:21:03part of the decision-making process. I'm not convinced as yet. I don't
0:21:03 > 0:21:07believe the technical advice they would have received would have
0:21:07 > 0:21:12suggested that they did not need the air support. I believe at that
0:21:12 > 0:21:15point it was about speed and the Chinooks would have produced speed.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18You are a lone voice in respect in the committee today. There were
0:21:18 > 0:21:21sheep farmers there. They had an opportunity to criticise the
0:21:21 > 0:21:24department. They choose not to take that opportunity. It sounds like
0:21:25 > 0:21:30they are a lot happier with what was done for them than you are?
0:21:30 > 0:21:35When you are a farmer and you are in dire straits will you accept any
0:21:35 > 0:21:40help. I must stress, the Chinook helicopters were a God send. The
0:21:40 > 0:21:44farming community realised that. They did produce results and get
0:21:44 > 0:21:50feed to the hillsides. The farming community are thankful for the help
0:21:50 > 0:21:53and support that they did receive. I, as Chairman of Agriculture
0:21:53 > 0:21:58Committee must scrutinise this and scrutinise the actions of the
0:21:58 > 0:22:03Minister and the Department. I feel they let the farmers down. Are you
0:22:03 > 0:22:07satisfied that the compensation scheme or hardship scheme put in
0:22:07 > 0:22:11place for farmers will be fair? needs to be fair and drawn down
0:22:11 > 0:22:14quickly. The reports we are hearing, the talks we are having in the
0:22:14 > 0:22:17farming community, we need the money now. We need to get something
0:22:17 > 0:22:20that is balanced, that is fair, it something that can be produced
0:22:20 > 0:22:25within a matter of weeks. We heard today it could be a couple of
0:22:25 > 0:22:29months. That is unacceptable. rather than months? It has to be
0:22:29 > 0:22:32weeks. Thank you very much. A "hugely excellent choice", that's
0:22:32 > 0:22:34how one MLA described the Prime Minister's decision to locate the
0:22:34 > 0:22:37G8 Summit in Fermanagh. But while the world's leaders and
0:22:37 > 0:22:40entourages will be getting a look at the lakeland county, there are
0:22:40 > 0:22:42also concerns about policing, protesters and price - who will be
0:22:42 > 0:22:49footing the bill for the June gathering?
0:22:49 > 0:22:53It all came out in the final debate of the day. The budget of the
0:22:53 > 0:22:57entire security situation is, obviously, another aspect. Who is
0:22:57 > 0:23:00going to meet that budget? I'd like to hear if that is going to be met
0:23:00 > 0:23:05by the United Kingdom Government, how much is come from the Northern
0:23:05 > 0:23:09Ireland Executive and how much of it is coming from the other nations
0:23:10 > 0:23:16that will be involved in the G8 Summit? That is important as well
0:23:16 > 0:23:20to get some perspective on it and how much will be required,
0:23:20 > 0:23:27particularly from our local Executive. I'm led to believe that
0:23:27 > 0:23:33there will be a quite a significant fence going up around the resort
0:23:33 > 0:23:36itself and there are all sorts of rumours in County Fermanagh, as I'm
0:23:36 > 0:23:39sure you, Deputy Speaker and others will appreciate, some of these
0:23:39 > 0:23:44rumours are indicating that the fence will be so high this they may
0:23:44 > 0:23:50have to put out warnings to flights going over it that it may actually
0:23:50 > 0:23:55affect the flights. Anyway... Regrettably, events such as the G8
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Summit also attract all the Mall contents and anarchists from, not
0:23:59 > 0:24:03only within our own society, but indeed from right across the world.
0:24:03 > 0:24:08I suspect that this will be no different when it arrives here in
0:24:08 > 0:24:14the very near future. They see it as a window of opportunity to
0:24:14 > 0:24:21express their worse excesses. We have to look at the despicable
0:24:21 > 0:24:26behaviour of a loud minority who have raised their heads since the
0:24:26 > 0:24:32death of the former Prime Minister, Baroness Thatcher. I would like to
0:24:32 > 0:24:39take this opportunity it denounce, unreservedly, those who engage in
0:24:39 > 0:24:41such low-life activity. I trust the Minister will have a similar
0:24:41 > 0:24:46understanding as the Chief Constable view that the British
0:24:46 > 0:24:50government will pick up the bill because it's their gig. That's,
0:24:50 > 0:24:54basically, that. We have paid a loft attention in the Policing
0:24:54 > 0:25:04Board to the question of mutual aid and police officers from Great
0:25:04 > 0:25:35
0:25:35 > 0:25:42Britain spending time here they clear message to the world media,
0:25:42 > 0:25:47to the G8 leaders. They can be facilitated in doing so. That is
0:25:47 > 0:25:57many people's big concern about this G. That the message and the
0:25:57 > 0:26:02
0:26:02 > 0:26:07legacy that goes around the world will be based upon how the genuine
0:26:07 > 0:26:10campaigners. Not everyone wants to engage in violence. It has been
0:26:10 > 0:26:13assessed that the summit and vairyousz events will attract mass
0:26:13 > 0:26:18protest groups. There are some indications of that planning
0:26:18 > 0:26:22already. Police are planning for major security operations at the
0:26:22 > 0:26:27summit venue, at the airport and other locations. Planning is well
0:26:27 > 0:26:33advance for each of these locations. The final itinerary of the world
0:26:33 > 0:26:38leaders are not fully established much we are not awork of the
0:26:38 > 0:26:41protest arrangements at this stage. Some of the plans do not include
0:26:41 > 0:26:45fences high enough to disrupt the operation of the international
0:26:45 > 0:26:49airport. I would like to reassure members and the wider public it's
0:26:49 > 0:26:52the intention that both of our airports will remain open to the
0:26:52 > 0:26:57travelling public throughout. Effort is being expended to ensure
0:26:57 > 0:27:05that security arrangements cause as little does ruption as possible.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Steven McCaffery is still with me. Steven, I want to talk to you about
0:27:07 > 0:27:08an incident which happened in the Chamber while the Employment
0:27:08 > 0:27:15Minister, Stephen Farry, was speaking this morning.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Before we talk about it, let's have a look at what happened.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21regulations are subject to the Assembly procedures which require
0:27:21 > 0:27:26that a debate is arranged to approve the regulation nos later
0:27:26 > 0:27:36than six months after the regulations... -- regulations no
0:27:36 > 0:27:39
0:27:39 > 0:27:42later than six months after the regulations... (SHOUTING) Students
0:27:42 > 0:27:46interrupting from the public gallery complaining about the
0:27:46 > 0:27:50changes he wants to implement to the Education Maintenance Allowance.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55Not the first time we have seen interuptions like that in the
0:27:55 > 0:28:04public gallery? By comparison with other events it was fairly tame. We
0:28:04 > 0:28:08don't know how representative these individuals are of student concerns.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12There are high-security at Stormont. There would be little support for
0:28:12 > 0:28:15this prompting a ramping up of that security still further. We arrived
0:28:15 > 0:28:18at the conclusion this is the price we have to pay for having a public
0:28:18 > 0:28:23gallery. If you live in a free society you want members of the
0:28:23 > 0:28:26public to see the debate coming place. If people don't come into
0:28:26 > 0:28:31the public gallery and throw things it's difficult to know what someone
0:28:31 > 0:28:34is going to do. You assume they will sit there quietly. Sometimes
0:28:34 > 0:28:39they don't? It's difficult to fault the people who work here because of
0:28:39 > 0:28:42what happened today. It seems that they did their job efficiently they
0:28:42 > 0:28:52couldn't have foreseen what was going to happen. In the great
0:28:52 > 0:28:53
0:28:53 > 0:28:55scheme of things, it's not the most serious thing we have seen here.