:00:24. > :00:29.Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. Coming up on the programme.
:00:30. > :00:36.The Health Minister hopes new legislation on tobacco retailers
:00:37. > :00:40.will stop young people smoking. Northern Ireland has the highest
:00:41. > :00:44.smoking prevalence in the UK and every year around 2300 people in
:00:45. > :00:47.Northern Ireland die from smoking-related illnesses.
:00:48. > :00:51.The Justice Minister's still under fire for changing the criteria for
:00:52. > :00:56.the Chief Constable's job. What the Minister now accept that he
:00:57. > :01:00.made an error of judgement in the way he handled the whole issue of
:01:01. > :01:02.changing the criteria for the appointment of the chieftains to?
:01:03. > :01:09.And the political commentator Alex Kane joins me in the studio.
:01:10. > :01:16.A bill to create a register of tobacco retailers
:01:17. > :01:21.A bill to create a register of selling cigarettes to under 16s has
:01:22. > :01:23.A bill to create a register of are 357,000 smokers in Northern
:01:24. > :01:33.Ireland and about 2,300 people die from smoking-related illnesses every
:01:34. > :01:37.year. The main purpose of this bill is to
:01:38. > :01:40.make sure that the minimum age of Sail policy for tobacco products is
:01:41. > :01:45.more rigourously applied by retailers. This will be achieved by
:01:46. > :01:48.introducing tougher measures for noncompliance. It is a well-known
:01:49. > :01:52.fact that the majority of smokers take up smoking before they reach
:01:53. > :01:56.adult hood. Most smokers will have tried their first cigarette and many
:01:57. > :02:01.will have become addicted before they are legally allowed to purchase
:02:02. > :02:08.tobacco products. In Northern Ireland, more than 357,000 adults
:02:09. > :02:12.are smokers. This represents 25 per cent of the population. Northern
:02:13. > :02:17.Ireland has the highest smoking prevalence in the UK and every year
:02:18. > :02:21.around 2300 people in Northern Ireland die from smoking-related
:02:22. > :02:29.illnesses. Members will be aware that on the 3rd of February, the
:02:30. > :02:34.assembly approved a legislative motion. The amendment concerns the
:02:35. > :02:39.retail packaging of tobacco products, more commonly referred to
:02:40. > :02:43.as standardised packaging. The effect is to provide the Secretary
:02:44. > :02:48.of State with the powers on a UK wide basis. These revelations may
:02:49. > :02:53.impose requirements in relation to the appearance of and markings on
:02:54. > :02:59.tobacco products as well as the internal packaging in any wrappers.
:03:00. > :03:04.Another important amendment was in relation to who can still -- apply
:03:05. > :03:08.as a tobacco retailer. This was a significant issue and was discussed
:03:09. > :03:12.at length by the committee. We took the view that given the
:03:13. > :03:17.responsibility involved in selling tobacco, somebody who has a serious
:03:18. > :03:22.conviction should be prevented from registering as a tobacco retailer.
:03:23. > :03:23.After consideration, the department proposed an amendment which is
:03:24. > :03:39.contained in clause four. A allowed to register as a tobacco
:03:40. > :03:44.retailer for a period of five years from the date of the conviction. To
:03:45. > :03:48.those who are not here today, and I wonder why they are not, for those
:03:49. > :03:54.who say this is the nanny state or this is unacceptable, it is very
:03:55. > :04:03.clear that society has had a sea change in its view on smoking. Thank
:04:04. > :04:10.you, Mr Speaker. Can I just point out to the member, and I support his
:04:11. > :04:15.views on smoking, I am supportive of all the measures against tobacco,
:04:16. > :04:21.but most of the people saying it is the nanny state have been his party
:04:22. > :04:27.colleagues. By their absence, I think they are realising the tide is
:04:28. > :04:33.inexorable. They have always made it very clear that they pose not on
:04:34. > :04:48.health issues but on employment issues. They are defending their
:04:49. > :04:55.constituents jobs. Where riders agree was that perhaps
:04:56. > :05:03.by a fine of ?1000 per the retailer could profit, even by losing his
:05:04. > :05:06.licence. It is important that there was an increased fine for stopping
:05:07. > :05:12.an officer from gaining access to evidence that would perhaps allow
:05:13. > :05:15.conviction. I am pleased, following lobbying by the committee, the
:05:16. > :05:23.Minister has agreed to increase that to ?5,000. Listening to the debate
:05:24. > :05:27.this morning, it is one of the best reasons why this assembly should
:05:28. > :05:32.only ever grant accelerated passage in exceptional circumstances because
:05:33. > :05:36.when you look at the work the committee, the engagement they had
:05:37. > :05:43.with the department, and to be fair to the Department, they were
:05:44. > :05:47.receptive on how to improve a piece of legislation, he talked about the
:05:48. > :06:00.amendment he was particularly strong on, and this is a better
:06:01. > :06:04.amendment he was particularly strong today? Which is almost a novelty in
:06:05. > :06:08.Northern Ireland. It is a good sign. It is one of the few occasions
:06:09. > :06:12.when they have taken a bill quite literally from start to finish
:06:13. > :06:17.without great acrimonious. Actually, for most of the time, they had a
:06:18. > :06:22.very serious debate about it. There was not any of the dissension in the
:06:23. > :06:27.DUP ranks which we have seen about cigarette packaging but it was
:06:28. > :06:33.referred to very clearly. There was nice little interplay between Jim
:06:34. > :06:39.Wells and John McCallister. East Antrim and North Antrim are both DUP
:06:40. > :06:46.held constituencies and fewer people smoking fewer cigarettes so fewer
:06:47. > :06:49.production means unemployment. The cycle is going to last for the next
:06:50. > :06:57.two years. No Assembly Member wanting to defend their seat wants
:06:58. > :07:01.to go to that electorate and say the consequence of what we have done may
:07:02. > :07:06.result in thousands of people being let off. You don't oversimplify it
:07:07. > :07:11.but it is not wrong to say that fundamentally, in a sense, the
:07:12. > :07:16.debate can be distilled down to jobs versus health. That is exactly what
:07:17. > :07:22.it is and that is not unique to Northern Ireland. We should not
:07:23. > :07:27.forget that. It is 25% of adults smoking in Northern Ireland but when
:07:28. > :07:32.I was born in the 1950s, it would have been 70% so it has gone down.
:07:33. > :07:36.Ynyr Llwyd and has gone down. It is going to continue to go down because
:07:37. > :07:43.you can't bombard people with the reality of smoking and expect them
:07:44. > :07:46.to compete -- continue to smoke. You had Edwin Poots playing the health
:07:47. > :07:51.card very clearly in the chamber today but you have got Sammy Paulo
:07:52. > :07:58.in Westminster and here and Ian Paisley Junior in Westminster saying
:07:59. > :08:03.this is about jobs and what is best for constituents. They don't want to
:08:04. > :08:08.encourage people to smoke but if they do, they want to make sure they
:08:09. > :08:12.come from their constituency. Every sitting member will have to make
:08:13. > :08:16.that argument in defence of their own constituency. I am surprised
:08:17. > :08:16.that Edwin Poots has not made a stronger case
:08:17. > :08:31.that Edwin Poots has not made a Health Service. It is also a cost in
:08:32. > :08:36.terms of long-term health. I am surprised he is not offering that. A
:08:37. > :08:42.quick point on John McCallister that accelerated passage should only be
:08:43. > :08:49.used in exceptional circumstances. He thinks it is better legislation.
:08:50. > :08:52.It is always better legislation. It usually comes with terrorism or
:08:53. > :08:56.economic stuff when you push them through very quickly but some of the
:08:57. > :08:59.nuances are lost and it is only three or four years later you
:09:00. > :09:02.realise you should have taken your time.
:09:03. > :09:05.Alex Kane, thank you for now. The Justice Minister, David Ford, told
:09:06. > :09:08.the Assembly he did nothing wrong in his handling of the appointment
:09:09. > :09:12.criteria for the post of PSNI Chief Constable. Mr Ford was asked if he
:09:13. > :09:14.had made an error of judgement during Question Time today. The
:09:15. > :09:17.Justice Minister was also asked about changes to legal aid and the
:09:18. > :09:22.financial implications of the Richard Haass proposals.
:09:23. > :09:27.Leaving aside the proposals that came out of the Richard Haass
:09:28. > :09:32.process, does the Minister accept the status quo is not tenable and if
:09:33. > :09:39.so what pressures and what ideas does he have to deal with the
:09:40. > :09:43.pressures? I am thinking of coroners courts, Article two compliance under
:09:44. > :09:47.the European Convention of human rights. What additional resources
:09:48. > :09:56.does he envisaged for putting this right? I appreciate the question. I
:09:57. > :09:59.am not sure I agree with the premise that the Richard Haass process
:10:00. > :10:03.failed given that some of us has been spending several hours a week
:10:04. > :10:08.this year trying to make the process tie together. What is absolutely
:10:09. > :10:10.clear is that if we do not have the historical investigations unit they
:10:11. > :10:14.will need to be significant work done by the Department of Justice
:10:15. > :10:23.which is already underway in preparatory form to deal with issues
:10:24. > :10:27.around the fact that some have been found to be not Article two
:10:28. > :10:30.compliant. There are funny mental issues that will have to be
:10:31. > :10:35.addressed to deal with some of those points. It is clear that anything we
:10:36. > :10:39.do in that area will require some very considerable investment,
:10:40. > :10:42.whether it is done under the Richard Haass process or something separate.
:10:43. > :10:44.On the basis of the information currently available, there
:10:45. > :10:56.On the basis of the information invited stakeholders to submit their
:10:57. > :11:00.views on the proposals and work on sorties might be aware of any
:11:01. > :11:03.additional data on the subject to submit any additional evidence
:11:04. > :11:06.regarding the impact. I acknowledge these reforms may require
:11:07. > :11:10.practitioners to consider more efficient models and adapt for the
:11:11. > :11:14.future. However, the nature of legal aid reform is such that there is
:11:15. > :11:19.such a long lead-in time allowing firms to adjust their practices. How
:11:20. > :11:23.can the Minister seriously suggest, and I agree with him that there
:11:24. > :11:28.needs to be reductions in legal aid, but how can he seriously suggest
:11:29. > :11:35.that there will be no impact upon the profession? This certainly are a
:11:36. > :11:38.small number of solicitors firms which gained significant income from
:11:39. > :11:42.criminal defence work but they are the people who have the most
:11:43. > :11:45.opportunity to adjust their business models to make sure they take into
:11:46. > :11:50.account the changes. The simple reality is, even if you exclude the
:11:51. > :11:53.very high cost cases, we are still looking at the average cost of a
:11:54. > :11:57.Crown Court case in Northern Ireland being double the cost of a Crown
:11:58. > :12:02.Court case in England and Wales. That is unsustainable. Will the
:12:03. > :12:05.Minister accept that he made an error of judgement in the way he
:12:06. > :12:12.handled the whole issue in the change of criteria for the
:12:13. > :12:16.appointment of Chief const? No. I carried out my functions entirely in
:12:17. > :12:20.accordance with the legislation to leave the Policing Board to carry
:12:21. > :12:22.out its functions. I have nothing that I did wrong, I did it precisely
:12:23. > :12:39.as I should have done it. Thank you. We'll minister not accept
:12:40. > :12:46.it was a mistake that he didn't consult or talk to policing bird
:12:47. > :12:51.dashboard and isn't a matter for them to make this decision? I really
:12:52. > :12:55.would love to know how I didn't consult with the policing board when
:12:56. > :12:58.this matter has been discussed since May of last year. A clearly
:12:59. > :13:01.irritated David Ford. The Enterprise Minister has rejected a call from
:13:02. > :13:07.the Alliance Party that murals should be removed from the route of
:13:08. > :13:09.the Giro Italia. Arlene Foster said that provided they are not of a
:13:10. > :13:12.paramilitary nature, the murals should remain to celebrate our
:13:13. > :13:13.cultural heritage. The Minister also answered questions on
:13:14. > :13:24.firstly, the number of flights in and out of our airports. I do hope
:13:25. > :13:29.that we will be able to make some announcement in the near future in
:13:30. > :13:34.relation to new routes. Obviously, it is critical and I am on record
:13:35. > :13:39.many times as saying if we want to see more tourists coming to Northern
:13:40. > :13:42.Ireland, we need to have more direct access. Canada remains very much,
:13:43. > :13:47.for me, a key area where I would like to see direct access coming in
:13:48. > :13:51.and we continue to make progress in that market. But, of course, we want
:13:52. > :13:56.to see more connectivity through Belfast, through the international
:13:57. > :14:00.or the city in terms of European destinations, as well, so we will
:14:01. > :14:07.continue to work within airports. We believe that, if we are successful
:14:08. > :14:10.in being able to bring the Rugby World Cup to both jurisdictions in
:14:11. > :14:17.2023, it will make a huge difference in terms of how people view the
:14:18. > :14:19.island and also, in terms of our tourism potential. Frankly, as a
:14:20. > :14:26.rugby fan, I'm very excited by the prospect as well. In terms of flags
:14:27. > :14:29.and emblems, obviously, this has been an issue which has caused some
:14:30. > :14:35.people in Northern Ireland a concern in terms of the IRS you. We would
:14:36. > :14:40.hope that when they are playing in Northern Ireland, Northern
:14:41. > :14:44.Ireland's position in the UK will be respected and, of course, when we
:14:45. > :14:48.are playing in the Republic of Ireland, their position will be
:14:49. > :14:52.respected because, bid for the Rugby World Cup is absolutely nothing to
:14:53. > :14:58.do with flags and emblems, it is do with sport. What would the Minister
:14:59. > :15:01.think about the current proposal that perhaps we should refrain from
:15:02. > :15:07.displaying election posters, flags and emblems, murals along the route
:15:08. > :15:11.for the duration of the Giro d'Italia in order to sell Northern
:15:12. > :15:14.Ireland even more effectively? I have no to the ongoing discussion
:15:15. > :15:20.around this issue. Let me be clear on it. As regards election posters,
:15:21. > :15:25.the dap to leader has already indicated that we will be more than
:15:26. > :15:29.happy for them to be taken down right across Northern Ireland
:15:30. > :15:36.because we don't need election posters to get the vote out,
:15:37. > :15:39.frankly. So that much is very clear, but I have noted the comments of the
:15:40. > :15:52.Alliance Party in relation to flags and murals. Let me
:15:53. > :15:57.issues in and around murals and flags in working-class areas right
:15:58. > :16:00.across Northern Ireland? Does he think it would be better to
:16:01. > :16:05.encourage communities to deal with the issues, and I do commend the
:16:06. > :16:07.work that has been going on in various communities, and indeed,
:16:08. > :16:14.speaking to my colleague for East Belfast, he informs me a very
:16:15. > :16:17.effective programme has been happening in east Belfast, for
:16:18. > :16:24.example, where they have managed to take away some of the paramilitary
:16:25. > :16:27.murals and put up murals to CS Lewis and others in East Belfast, and I
:16:28. > :16:32.welcome that because I hope he's not suggesting we get rid of me was
:16:33. > :16:36.completely. Murals are actually come if he listens to what he said, he
:16:37. > :16:41.said get would have murals, they are part of a cultural expression, right
:16:42. > :16:47.across Belfast. And Northern Ireland, and I think it would be sad
:16:48. > :16:49.if the visitors Northern Ireland couldn't engage in appreciating the
:16:50. > :16:53.rich cultural heritage that we have here in Northern Ireland.
:16:54. > :16:57.Paramilitary murals, of course they should never have gone up. But I
:16:58. > :17:02.have to say, pronouncements from here won't solve that. Working with
:17:03. > :17:04.communities will, and I commend those in this House who do work with
:17:05. > :17:07.that. Working with communities will, and I commend those in this House
:17:08. > :17:11.who do work with the committees and tried to solve those problems.
:17:12. > :17:13.Arlene Foster. And cycling was also on the agenda for the Regional
:17:14. > :17:16.Development Minister today. Danny Kennedy was asked about election
:17:17. > :17:20.posters on the Giro d'Italia route and if bikes could be allowed on
:17:21. > :17:23.buses. But first, the Minister was asked about damage to the road
:17:24. > :17:25.network caused by the recent bad weather. A number of roads in
:17:26. > :17:29.Northern Ireland has suffered damage as a result of recent tidal events
:17:30. > :17:33.and storms. I have today placed in the assembly library a comprehensive
:17:34. > :17:38.list of those locations where roads have been subject to sea wall
:17:39. > :17:44.damage, or undermining as a result of storm damage since the turn of
:17:45. > :17:50.the year. During last week's severe weather, short section of road
:17:51. > :17:57.between... Collapsed. We are assessing the situation to repair
:17:58. > :18:00.them as soon as possible. We have carried out remedial works as a
:18:01. > :18:04.number of locations. And preparatory work is underway in the advancement
:18:05. > :18:09.of works at other locations, however, it could be sometime before
:18:10. > :18:15.the impact is known. And necessary repairs are fermented and the full
:18:16. > :18:20.cost is realised the estimate cost is currently 1.2 million. However,
:18:21. > :18:22.this figure could increase significantly once detailed
:18:23. > :18:27.inspections of sea defences are completed. Given your
:18:28. > :18:31.responsibilities for lamp posts and road signs, what is your view on
:18:32. > :18:37.restricting election posters from the various routes of the Giro
:18:38. > :18:43.d'Italia? My party colleague Robin Swan, was the first person to
:18:44. > :18:50.advocate that the political parties in the run-up to the European
:18:51. > :18:53.elections should available opportunity to promote the area
:18:54. > :18:59.positively and therefore, not show the election posters until after the
:19:00. > :19:03.event. I agree with those sentiments, and I have other parties
:19:04. > :19:08.in that spirit will agree with that suggestion. Would he agree with me
:19:09. > :19:13.at important that we extend the removal of election posters to flags
:19:14. > :19:19.that are turned to rags and other paramilitary paraphernalia? Which
:19:20. > :19:26.are along the route of the Giro d'Italia? We don't like to see the
:19:27. > :19:38.flag of the UK run to a rag, on any lamp post. And again, against that,
:19:39. > :19:42.I appeal that if there are such incidences, and they can be dealt
:19:43. > :19:50.with, appropriately, then it's a case. But there is a significant
:19:51. > :19:56.difference between cultural and other murals, that many visitors and
:19:57. > :20:01.tourists will like and expect to see. And illegal memorials and
:20:02. > :20:14.monuments to paramilitary organisations. Recently, we haven't
:20:15. > :20:21.had a proper cycle visibility on buses. I've spoken to the local
:20:22. > :20:25.company and they have have rear vehicle and internal solutions for
:20:26. > :20:31.bicycle transport on buses, and these can be attached to existing
:20:32. > :20:34.stops, so I see no reason why this issue cannot be progress. Can I ask
:20:35. > :20:46.him would he be willing issue cannot be progress. Can I ask
:20:47. > :20:50.it will work? One of the successes that we are constrained by in terms
:20:51. > :20:58.of room, available room for bicycles, to be placed on trains, I
:20:59. > :21:04.know the train company has a political policy at the moment on
:21:05. > :21:09.that. I'm happy to explore opportunities either to the private
:21:10. > :21:12.sector or indeed via the train company as to how it can be improved
:21:13. > :21:15.upon. The Roads Minister, Danny Kennedy. Business wasn't just
:21:16. > :21:18.confined to the chamber today. A group from county Fermanagh met with
:21:19. > :21:21.the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee at Stormont to discuss
:21:22. > :21:24.wind energy. Renewable energy is a growing industry in Northern Ireland
:21:25. > :21:28.and the Fermanagh Trust wants to see more engagement with the local
:21:29. > :21:33.community on the subject. And joining me now is the trust's
:21:34. > :21:39.director, Lauri McCusker. What was the purpose of today's meeting? The
:21:40. > :21:41.purpose was to talk to the politicians and the stakeholders
:21:42. > :21:47.about what communities can have in terms of renewable energy. And not
:21:48. > :21:51.campaigning against it nor campaigning for it? What is your
:21:52. > :21:57.position on it. In terms of wind energy, renewable energy, it is the
:21:58. > :22:00.community's involvement. If they want to be involved, then we are
:22:01. > :22:04.supportive but of communities have an issue, then it needs to be taken
:22:05. > :22:09.on board by the politicians and planners. Very often Trinity 's do
:22:10. > :22:12.have an issue with it for that they feel quite nervous about it and they
:22:13. > :22:19.feel they are not heard by the big companies. Big companies, they say,
:22:20. > :22:22.coming over their heads, to profit from the local environment. That is
:22:23. > :22:27.how some group to see it. Absolutely. One of the key issues is
:22:28. > :22:31.how the communities engage with this process of energy? In Northern
:22:32. > :22:35.Ireland, we have a successful track record of credit union movements,
:22:36. > :22:38.development of enterprise centres, and committed playgroups, and other
:22:39. > :22:44.things, but in terms of energy, communities have a limited role but
:22:45. > :22:50.it's been put upon them. Today's event was to explore how community
:22:51. > :22:52.'s can engage in energy discussions and builds on something which
:22:53. > :22:56.happened to Mexico in London with the Department of climate change, a
:22:57. > :23:00.document saying committed to route it should have ownership of this
:23:01. > :23:02.process. How can they benefit from some of these developments? Well,
:23:03. > :23:16.process. How can they benefit from generated by communities. In
:23:17. > :23:21.Northern Ireland, we don't have target, so their committees are
:23:22. > :23:27.playing an active role rather than a passive role. We need to turn the
:23:28. > :23:31.discussions on its head, where to develop a lead discussion to get a
:23:32. > :23:36.communities into the heart of it. Would you like to see, for example,
:23:37. > :23:40.big companies who set up wind farms and other renewable energies, where
:23:41. > :23:46.some of their profits are ploughed back into the local community? For
:23:47. > :23:49.there to be a tangible benefit? There are committed benefit from
:23:50. > :23:52.summer wind farms for the many would argue it's not enough but some
:23:53. > :23:58.companies are stepping up to the plate now. If you look at what's
:23:59. > :24:02.coming out of London, the Government there is insisting, following their
:24:03. > :24:06.strategy, committees might be offered a shared in the ownership of
:24:07. > :24:15.these developments that community is. -- communities. What about the
:24:16. > :24:22.damage to the beauty of the local natural environment which can have a
:24:23. > :24:28.big impact in terms of jobs? Communities need to being gauged and
:24:29. > :24:42.have their say in this process -- engaged. 80%. Communities, to many
:24:43. > :24:45.of them, they are hosting this development but don't have a say in
:24:46. > :24:52.it. Interesting to hear your thoughts. Lauri McCusker, thank you.
:24:53. > :24:55.Breakfast, we often hear, is the most important meal of the day and,
:24:56. > :24:59.it seems, that's something all our MLAs can agree on. Today they passed
:25:00. > :25:02.a motion calling for more to be done to make sure all schoolchildren are
:25:03. > :25:05.fed properly before school. But first, the chair of the Health
:25:06. > :25:09.Committee began by passing on her condolences to the families of two
:25:10. > :25:12.young people who died as a result of eating disorders. The awful
:25:13. > :25:17.tragedies particularly in relation to particular eating disorders that
:25:18. > :25:22.have resulted in the untimely deaths of a number of young people, and I
:25:23. > :25:35.do want to take this opportunity to send our
:25:36. > :25:41.a result of this particular illness. Many children prepared the school
:25:42. > :25:46.day both, coming to school adequately prepared. A proper
:25:47. > :25:50.nutritional breakfast is an essential part of this preparation.
:25:51. > :25:57.The primary purpose of the school is to educate. Not to provide catering
:25:58. > :26:00.childminding service. The primary responsibility for ensuring children
:26:01. > :26:03.arrive at school with a good breakfast in their stomachs and
:26:04. > :26:08.ready to learn lies with the parents. It's about food. It's about
:26:09. > :26:17.the quality of food. And it's about getting pupils to enjoy eating good
:26:18. > :26:22.food. And it's about a preference of growing, cooking and eating good
:26:23. > :26:32.food. And, essentially, underpinning all of that, it's about health. We
:26:33. > :26:36.note that Paul diet is detrimental to children's learning. And
:26:37. > :26:40.concentration and behaviour and it can affect participation in school
:26:41. > :26:44.-- poor diet. We know children from low-income households and those
:26:45. > :26:47.living in poverty are at greater risk of poor nutrition and are more
:26:48. > :26:50.likely to have unhealthy food and have insufficient amounts food. John
:26:51. > :26:58.O'Dowd. And Alex Kane is with me again. A rare enough event then,
:26:59. > :27:00.cross-party agreement on something in the chamber. The importance of
:27:01. > :27:05.children coming to school properly fed. It's one of those odd things, I
:27:06. > :27:11.agree with them but John O'Dowd or any other MLAs was to feed my
:27:12. > :27:15.children at 7am, they are more than welcome. You can't force them to
:27:16. > :27:18.eat. The bigger issue is not food. A lot of teachers will tell you it's
:27:19. > :27:23.children who are coming in tired. Because they been watching
:27:24. > :27:26.television, playing games on their phones and computers, tired because
:27:27. > :27:29.they are struggling into bed after a short nights sleep for the buck the
:27:30. > :27:33.real problem for the children will eat when they choose to eat. It ties
:27:34. > :27:45.in with his other issue at the moment, the common funding formula,
:27:46. > :27:49.in with his other issue at the there a fair argument for saying
:27:50. > :27:52.that but, again, comes down to the actual difficulty of making children
:27:53. > :27:56.need. Yes, you can provide free school meals, have a breakfast club
:27:57. > :28:01.for them, but the reality is, with most children, five or six years
:28:02. > :28:05.old, 13 or 14, setting them down and saying, you must eat, that's the
:28:06. > :28:09.real problem and it's not going to be addressed by free school meals
:28:10. > :28:14.all saying, they should eat breakfast together. It's not
:28:15. > :28:16.possible to solve that with kids. The Alliance Party has announced its
:28:17. > :28:22.Belfast candidates for the council elections. Someone is throwing his
:28:23. > :28:31.hat into the prodigal wringer. Duncan Morrow, very high-profile. He
:28:32. > :28:44.established a high profile for himself. -- political wringer. --
:28:45. > :28:50.ring. He is allowing himself to have something bigger down the line in
:28:51. > :28:53.the assembly. That's an interesting point. We will see if you are right.
:28:54. > :28:57.Thanks, Alex. That's it for now. There's no edition of The View this
:28:58. > :29:00.week because of the half-term break. But I'll be back here next Monday
:29:01. > :29:02.night at the usual time of 11.20pm. Until then, from everyone in the
:29:03. > :29:06.team, bye bye. Should Britain have entered
:29:07. > :29:08.the Great War? Britain's decision
:29:09. > :29:11.for war was a disaster not just for this country,
:29:12. > :29:15.but also for the entire world.