0:00:22 > 0:00:26Hello and welcome it took Stormont. Inflation may be soaring,
0:00:26 > 0:00:31unemployment on the rise amid fears for a lost generation of young
0:00:31 > 0:00:37people, but here on the Hill, some members still can't help themselves.
0:00:37 > 0:00:43Given that �18.3 million has gone into 14 gale, and forgive my
0:00:43 > 0:00:52pronunciation, I have never had a great grasp of foreign languages.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57And it was back to hang a member as the Deputy Speaker issued a warning.
0:00:57 > 0:01:03It would be unfortunate if I found some members guilty of anti-social
0:01:03 > 0:01:13behaviour during a debate on anti- social behaviour. And with me
0:01:13 > 0:01:13
0:01:13 > 0:01:19From slurry spreading to booming food production, there was plenty
0:01:19 > 0:01:22of farming taught here today. Jim, you represent food producers. How
0:01:22 > 0:01:29do you think the assembly is shaping up in terms of protecting
0:01:29 > 0:01:36your interests? I suppose what we have is food production as a main
0:01:36 > 0:01:39source of income for our farmers. The ministers believe that it is
0:01:39 > 0:01:46the basis on which we can have economic growth, so they are doing
0:01:46 > 0:01:50their best to help producers. We are going to have cap reform and
0:01:50 > 0:01:54various different things. They meet tomorrow to fight our corner in
0:01:54 > 0:02:02Brussels because we need not protection, but help with food
0:02:02 > 0:02:06production. We need exports. Through agriculture, we employ it
0:02:06 > 0:02:11over 55,000 people, so we hoped the executive can get a good
0:02:11 > 0:02:16understanding of our situation. some ways, I do not recession-proof
0:02:16 > 0:02:20because of the help you get from a European funding? No, we are not.
0:02:20 > 0:02:27If you look at the cost of production, we are not recession
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Grove because we have fuel and the same input and costs as other
0:02:31 > 0:02:35industries. At the moment we are getting slightly better prices, but
0:02:35 > 0:02:42we can only produce a certain amount of product as what the
0:02:42 > 0:02:46consumer can afford to purchase. Again, our input costs have gone up,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49so we are not recession proof. you are doing well, so you are
0:02:49 > 0:02:55unlike a lot of other people in every sector in Northern Ireland.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00You have to consider from what base we come from. We have been at a
0:03:00 > 0:03:04very low ebb these last few years. Income for farmers has decreased,
0:03:04 > 0:03:10so it depends where we are coming from. We have quite a bit to come
0:03:10 > 0:03:14up to level the playing field. with us. Now, his Irish a foreign
0:03:14 > 0:03:20language? Should dogs get tattoos? Can Northern Ireland farmers feed
0:03:20 > 0:03:25the world, and how should we welcome China's gymnasts? All
0:03:26 > 0:03:28topics that came up in the pick and mix that is Question Time. He is
0:03:28 > 0:03:33the Agriculture Minister on exporting docks. Legislation
0:03:33 > 0:03:38requires that the movement of Dogs is in line with the council
0:03:38 > 0:03:45directive, and specifically in relation to identification in line
0:03:45 > 0:03:53with EC regulations. Article 4 requires dogs to be identified by
0:03:53 > 0:03:56means of a microchip, or by a clearly readable tattoo. From 3rd
0:03:56 > 0:04:02July any newborn dogs which are to be exported to another member state
0:04:02 > 0:04:07will have to be microchip. For dogs being exported to Third World
0:04:07 > 0:04:12companies, a health certificate will have to be completed. That may
0:04:12 > 0:04:18include conditions such as identification by a microchip or
0:04:18 > 0:04:24tattoo, or some other distinguishing mark. I am grateful
0:04:24 > 0:04:27to the Minister for her reply. Is she aware of the concerns of many
0:04:27 > 0:04:31local dog breeders of future changes to micro chipping
0:04:31 > 0:04:38requirements in other countries which may jeopardise future export
0:04:38 > 0:04:43markets? In my capacity as an MLA I have met with dog breeders who
0:04:43 > 0:04:46expressed those concerns. When it comes to legislation around dog
0:04:46 > 0:04:50breeding legislation, I intend to bring that forward in the near
0:04:50 > 0:04:54future. What am going to have to do is go out to consultation again to
0:04:54 > 0:04:58seek the views of dog breeders. If it is a competitive market, we
0:04:58 > 0:05:04don't want to disadvantaged local dog breeders in any way. There will
0:05:04 > 0:05:10be a full consultation on the way forward. One proposal is that all
0:05:10 > 0:05:14puppies should also have a microchip. The population of the
0:05:14 > 0:05:19Earth is expected to hit 7 billion any day now, and that could also
0:05:19 > 0:05:24hit one of our highly successful industries. Food production.
0:05:24 > 0:05:30Between 2007 and 2010, employment in the food and drink processing
0:05:30 > 0:05:35sector has increased by 6%, whereas turnover increased by 30%. In
0:05:35 > 0:05:39agriculture, gross output increased by 30%. There is a strong level of
0:05:39 > 0:05:45self-belief about the future in the sector. The global human population
0:05:45 > 0:05:50is growing rapidly and is expected to increase by 1 billion by 2030.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52In addition, water shortages, climate change, are all expected to
0:05:52 > 0:05:57impinge on the agricultural production capacity for other
0:05:57 > 0:06:07regions of the world. For these reasons, there is belief that this
0:06:07 > 0:06:07
0:06:07 > 0:06:11food sector will continue to blow - - Grove. -- Grove. What we need to
0:06:11 > 0:06:16reach is a sure plan for export growth for this important sector.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Culture next, often a fractious session when the Unionists attend
0:06:21 > 0:06:26to beat the Sinn Fein minister. The minister is often happen -- happy
0:06:26 > 0:06:33to bite back. My department offers funding to small communities, and
0:06:33 > 0:06:43in the last five years the Arts Council has provided over 800,000
0:06:43 > 0:06:52to bounce across the North. Musical instruments and awards for all and
0:06:52 > 0:06:56the small grants programme, again over 800,000. In addition, my
0:06:56 > 0:07:02department has produced a toolkit for marching bands which can be
0:07:02 > 0:07:06found on our website, which pivots -- provides information and
0:07:06 > 0:07:14guidance on encouraging new approaches to maximise
0:07:14 > 0:07:23opportunities for development. thank the Minister for her answer.
0:07:23 > 0:07:29Can I just ask the Minister, given that �18.3 billion has gone into 14
0:07:29 > 0:07:33Gayle - forgive my pronunciation, but a out of their annual budget.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36That clearly has had an impact on her ability to fund other projects.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41What advice can she get to my constituents who are in marching
0:07:41 > 0:07:45bands, who are unable to obtain funding because the criteria of the
0:07:45 > 0:07:52Ulster Scots Agency and the Arts Council has been constrained so
0:07:52 > 0:07:55much by budgetary reductions? of all, I take exception to the
0:07:55 > 0:08:02member describing the Irish language as a foreign language. I
0:08:02 > 0:08:06do appreciate his attempt to pronounce it, at least he tried.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11The SDLP's minister wants to know if Northern Ireland would benefit
0:08:11 > 0:08:15from the presence of the Chinese but gymnasts ahead of the 2012
0:08:15 > 0:08:20Olympics. There are key benefits arising from the Chinese Olympics
0:08:20 > 0:08:26gymnastics team training here, and not only does it improve -- include
0:08:26 > 0:08:31the promotion of sport, but also hit being a world-class venue that
0:08:31 > 0:08:35has been chosen by the Chinese. This was raised before, but the
0:08:35 > 0:08:43Chinese are coming here with a film crew and with presenters. Each day
0:08:43 > 0:08:49during their training this will be broadcast all over China, promoting
0:08:49 > 0:08:54potential benefits around tourism. It is important with those
0:08:54 > 0:09:01countries of Brazil, Russia and China, economies by the markets are
0:09:01 > 0:09:08developing. I think there is a significant boost to having that
0:09:08 > 0:09:15attention here, and we are keen to exploit that opportunity for local
0:09:15 > 0:09:20investment. Finally, it was back to the DUP's topic of the day. I want
0:09:21 > 0:09:23to ask the Minister, has she any plans to have lessons given to the
0:09:23 > 0:09:30deputy first minister before he returns to his duties, given the
0:09:30 > 0:09:35fact that DG 4 was going to have its Presidential programme but had
0:09:35 > 0:09:44to be given in English, given the fact that Michael Higgins was the
0:09:44 > 0:09:48anyone who could competently speak the language? Order, order. All
0:09:48 > 0:09:57members know that the topic matter must relate to the original
0:09:57 > 0:10:02question. Businesses here that have problems
0:10:02 > 0:10:05getting money from banks will soon be able to turn to Invest NI for a
0:10:05 > 0:10:11loan. The new loan fund is a sign that the agency is responding to
0:10:11 > 0:10:16economic Tangiers, or so we are told. - macro economic challenges.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19What we have discovered in the business is that small and medium-
0:10:19 > 0:10:23sized businesses have been starved of credit by the banks. The banks
0:10:23 > 0:10:27say they are lending, businesses said they are not lending. I think
0:10:27 > 0:10:32this is a good way by Invest Northern Ireland to circumvent the
0:10:32 > 0:10:36banks. If the banks are not lending, then Invest Northern Ireland should
0:10:36 > 0:10:44lend. I think this is an imaginative scheme. They have to be
0:10:44 > 0:10:49a number of caveats. One, at the time period for repayment should
0:10:49 > 0:10:53not be too excessive. Also, in addition to that, the rate of
0:10:53 > 0:10:57interest should be in -- reasonable. I know that the rate of interest
0:10:57 > 0:11:02being discussed might be higher than the bank rate. Yes, they did
0:11:02 > 0:11:07say that. That might put people off. Thirdly, the bureaucracy in terms
0:11:07 > 0:11:11of vetting people for a loan should not be excessive either. Is this
0:11:11 > 0:11:17replacing grants, or will it run alongside them? I think it will run
0:11:17 > 0:11:21alongside grants. This is an extra weapon that Invest NI has brought
0:11:21 > 0:11:24to try and stimulate the economy here. As everybody knows, the
0:11:24 > 0:11:28economy here it relies very much on small and medium-sized businesses.
0:11:28 > 0:11:35This will be a shot in the arm for those businesses, and I hope it
0:11:35 > 0:11:45will help businesses to invest and to expand their workforce. We need
0:11:45 > 0:11:49
0:11:49 > 0:11:53that, and this is a good initiative Are you satisfied Invest NI is
0:11:53 > 0:11:57operating properly? There is that about what they have given out in
0:11:57 > 0:12:02loans and whether they are giving out money generously enough to our
0:12:02 > 0:12:08struggling business people? position is this; the reason in the
0:12:08 > 0:12:12main why money was sent back to the finance department was because
0:12:12 > 0:12:18Invest Northern Ireland could not spend that money because of the
0:12:18 > 0:12:23companies they had earmarked to grant the money to had slowed down
0:12:23 > 0:12:27in terms of their business operations. In other words, it was
0:12:27 > 0:12:33indicative of the sluggishness of our own local economy. That
0:12:33 > 0:12:40highlights the problems that we have here - an economy which is not
0:12:40 > 0:12:43coming out of recession quickly. this an example of the executive
0:12:43 > 0:12:48doing something? �50 million available within three months?
0:12:48 > 0:12:52is a great idea. It is a good initiative. I think that Invest
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Northern Ireland have responded well to the critical circumstances
0:12:55 > 0:13:00that small and medium-sized businesses find themselves in. I
0:13:00 > 0:13:04hope this will work. I hope it will work well. They need the help.
0:13:04 > 0:13:10Thanks for joining us this evening. Well, you could say it was the
0:13:10 > 0:13:15hawks verses the doves in the chamber over, during a debate on
0:13:15 > 0:13:21antisocial behaviour T DUP want the police to be given more power to
0:13:21 > 0:13:25deal with the problem. Others say that greater partnerships is the
0:13:25 > 0:13:30answer. This is the way rather than giving more powered to the --
0:13:30 > 0:13:37powers to the police. We would be opposed to the original motion. I
0:13:37 > 0:13:42would apose it on three planks. First of all, the police aren't
0:13:42 > 0:13:47asking for more powers. Secondly, what powers the police have are not
0:13:47 > 0:13:52always utilised properly. Thirdly, experience shows that the best
0:13:52 > 0:13:56results come when the police, the community and statutory agencies
0:13:56 > 0:13:59work together. Therefore we need to take action now to bring it under
0:13:59 > 0:14:03control and then we let these programmes suggested by the members.
0:14:03 > 0:14:08There'll be long term, they will be very expensive and there'll still
0:14:08 > 0:14:10be people, let's be honest, the vast majority of young people in
0:14:10 > 0:14:14Northern Ireland are decent citizens there are young people in
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Northern Ireland who are frankly evil in what they're doing to our
0:14:17 > 0:14:21communities. They simply, they are feral, they have lost control.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Their parents no longer have any authority over them whatsoever.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29They are causing great difficulty. There has to be the strong arm of
0:14:29 > 0:14:34the law to bring those people under control. I cannot accept the point
0:14:34 > 0:14:39of view that they may end up in prison for a few weeks. I think
0:14:39 > 0:14:43they might need that "short, sharp shock" treatment, to realise they
0:14:44 > 0:14:50cannot continue to torture their community. Tackling antisocial
0:14:50 > 0:14:56behaviour is a key thing of my department. We have intervention
0:14:56 > 0:15:06enforcement which has contributed to 20% reduction in this behave
0:15:06 > 0:15:07
0:15:07 > 0:15:13wror since 2007-2008. It is of interest the target was 15% and we
0:15:13 > 0:15:17have achieved 20%. If you bothered to do your homework you would have
0:15:17 > 0:15:20seen what people say. There is report after report, which says
0:15:20 > 0:15:26people want more physical policing, policing on the ground. Would he
0:15:26 > 0:15:30make his remarks through the chair. As I was saying, deputy Speaker, as
0:15:30 > 0:15:33I was admiring the fine art work around here! I will not give way. I
0:15:33 > 0:15:38will not give way because you would not give way earlier when we tried
0:15:38 > 0:15:45to have the debate. The issue here is that you have been....
0:15:46 > 0:15:50SPEAKER: The order will resume his seat. It would be unfortunate if I
0:15:50 > 0:15:56were to find some members guilty of antisocial behaviour. You should
0:15:56 > 0:16:00not make a remark from a secondary position. When it came to the vote,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03members were on their best behaviour, agreeing a community not
0:16:04 > 0:16:09a police response was the answer and the Ulster Unionist motion was
0:16:09 > 0:16:15agreed. A breaking story, if you like today,
0:16:15 > 0:16:19about the potatoes rejected in Morocco in 2010. There seems to be
0:16:19 > 0:16:28some development, but it may not be good for the farm es who sent those
0:16:28 > 0:16:33potatoes. The development, as far as I am aware was discussed today
0:16:33 > 0:16:37and as far as I'm aware the potatoes were inspected here and
0:16:37 > 0:16:41they met the perimeters to be eligible for export. When they
0:16:41 > 0:16:47reached their destination there were inquiries and then apparently
0:16:47 > 0:16:51they were inspected again. So, I'm not sure exactly what the problem
0:16:51 > 0:16:57is now in Morocco. But the difficulty is that there are a
0:16:57 > 0:17:01number of producers here who have produced what they reckon is
0:17:02 > 0:17:11quality produce to the requirements of the purchaser, which were
0:17:11 > 0:17:15certified as such and now... Again it was put to the agriculture
0:17:15 > 0:17:20committee, it was put to the represents today that perhaps some
0:17:20 > 0:17:24sort of compensation could be sought for the producers. From a
0:17:24 > 0:17:29producer's perspective we tonight want to see them losing. There is
0:17:30 > 0:17:36dialogue going on. Where money is available for this, it's the same
0:17:36 > 0:17:40almost with every avenue - it's all down to finance. �1 million, that
0:17:40 > 0:17:44is what the Londonderry City of Culture is looking for from a Leeds
0:17:44 > 0:17:49sponsor. They came here to meet MLAs and business people in the
0:17:49 > 0:17:53hope of securing money to help them fund the year of events in 2013.
0:17:53 > 0:17:59is one of a whole series of engagement events. We were in
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Dublin last week. We want to be here in Stormont to tell people in
0:18:02 > 0:18:09Belfast, tell community leaders, arts, businesses about the energy
0:18:09 > 0:18:15and the buzz and what is happening in Derry being the City of Culture.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20Are you looking for sponsorship? are. As you can imagine, it is a
0:18:20 > 0:18:26huge challenge to deliver on all of the ambitions. We'll need our
0:18:26 > 0:18:30commercial partners. We had BT as our partner. We want others to get
0:18:30 > 0:18:35involved with this amazing project. You are looking for a lead sponsor
0:18:35 > 0:18:41and it is big money? Yes, it is big money to put on a showcase of
0:18:41 > 0:18:47events like the ambition we have for 2013., yes it is big money, and
0:18:47 > 0:18:50also this is the first ever time the city has been given the UK City
0:18:50 > 0:18:54of Culture title. In terms of benefit back to business it is
0:18:54 > 0:18:58unprecedented. What do you think it will mean for the people of Derry?
0:18:58 > 0:19:02I think it will be a transformation. I think the impact on the people of
0:19:02 > 0:19:08Derry, in terms of their belief, confidence, ambition, ideas - just
0:19:08 > 0:19:13that sense of right here in our own town that this can happen. I think,
0:19:13 > 0:19:18the same as Liverpool and Glasgow, cities which have held the European
0:19:18 > 0:19:20title in the past, I think that catalyst in transformation is what
0:19:20 > 0:19:25we're looking for. What about everybody else in Northern Ireland?
0:19:25 > 0:19:31What do you think it will mean for everybody else? I think Northern
0:19:31 > 0:19:34Ireland is a small place. We work closely together. We are talking
0:19:34 > 0:19:37with arts organisations here in Belfast and right across Northern
0:19:37 > 0:19:41Ireland. We're working with other local authorities across Northern
0:19:41 > 0:19:46Ireland. So, I think the benefits will be felt across the whole
0:19:46 > 0:19:51region. And the sense of community then? Yeah, I think people will
0:19:51 > 0:19:55find it irresistible as well. There is a sense of energy behind this
0:19:55 > 0:20:00project. Even in Dublin last week they described it as there was an
0:20:00 > 0:20:04energy happening in the north-west of the island which they hope will
0:20:04 > 0:20:08have a viral effect across. That is what we intend to do. Sinn Fein
0:20:08 > 0:20:14were accused of chasing rainbows in their attempt to recoup money paid
0:20:14 > 0:20:18to the Queen. Around �1 million a year is paid by wind farms and fish
0:20:18 > 0:20:21farms in the coastal waters of Northern Ireland. That money goes
0:20:21 > 0:20:28into the Crown Estate. Sinn Fein think control of the money should
0:20:28 > 0:20:31be given to the executive. If it is not so profitable why would the
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Crown Estate want to give that up and hand it back to Northern
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Ireland? If we mess around in the way the member is proposing there
0:20:37 > 0:20:42is every chance that the opportunity that we have, the
0:20:42 > 0:20:46capital -- to capitalise on off- shore renewables and the potential
0:20:46 > 0:20:51around his constituency will be lost. Now, it is time to stop
0:20:51 > 0:20:57looking at chasing moon beams. We are chasing after nonsense here.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59When we are losing sight of the bigger picture. I can understand
0:20:59 > 0:21:04the financial attraction of identifying new revenues for
0:21:04 > 0:21:08Northern Ireland. Indeed, we need to do more of that. Our recent
0:21:08 > 0:21:16experience has shown that some opportunities necessitate a
0:21:16 > 0:21:21clawback from the black grant. The recent was the air passenger duty.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25We saw the problem that came at a cost to the Assembly. It was to
0:21:25 > 0:21:30note that the Scottish Government have their eye on the same issue.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35They used to have -- wish to have full devolution of the Crown Estate
0:21:35 > 0:21:39in Scotland. 50% has been suggested. But the riches of the off-shore oil
0:21:39 > 0:21:45and gas industry remain immense in that part of the United Kingdom.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Realistically there is no chance that the UK Government will offer
0:21:48 > 0:21:54arrangements to evolve in some cases over centuries. It appeared
0:21:54 > 0:21:59to work very well. This system appears to be efficient. I frankly
0:21:59 > 0:22:04doubt it to arrange the commitments any more efficiently than they are
0:22:04 > 0:22:09dealt with by the Crown Estates. Sinn Fein's Oliver McMullan
0:22:09 > 0:22:12proposed the motion. Are you disappointed it didn't succeed?
0:22:12 > 0:22:19am disappointed with the attitude of the DUP. I thought they would
0:22:19 > 0:22:24have taken a more gentlemanly point of view. What we're talking about
0:22:24 > 0:22:30is money back into the Assembly. It turned into a political agenda
0:22:30 > 0:22:33and saving the Crown and saving the union. It has nothing to do with
0:22:33 > 0:22:37that, whatsoever. The Crown estate we work with because of its name.
0:22:37 > 0:22:42You can call it whatever you want. If the DUP cannot get their head
0:22:42 > 0:22:45around what we're trying to do, to bring extra money back into the
0:22:45 > 0:22:51assembly they should go back into the streets and tell the people out
0:22:51 > 0:22:55there who are in poverty, the people who the community trusts
0:22:55 > 0:22:59have stopped taking to hospital for appointments, pensioners who cannot
0:22:59 > 0:23:03make the decision to eat or heat. That is what they have to do. It
0:23:03 > 0:23:09was very disappoint from their point of view. Personally, they
0:23:09 > 0:23:13made absolutely fools of themselves today. Was it good use of Assembly
0:23:13 > 0:23:16time? Given if your motion had succeeded we would not have been
0:23:16 > 0:23:19able to change the rules on Crown estate? I would not agree with that.
0:23:19 > 0:23:28It opened up an avenue of discussion. That is what we were
0:23:28 > 0:23:31trying to do. We have the marine -- Marine Bill and that would come in
0:23:31 > 0:23:36for discussion. Because reserve matters cannot be touched the
0:23:36 > 0:23:40justice power to hand it back here, they reserve matters. All that can
0:23:40 > 0:23:44be discussed. That is what we were trying to do. They said 50% of the
0:23:44 > 0:23:48income they get back is now going to be given back in the form of
0:23:48 > 0:23:55grants. So, in some ways the money is already going back in, isn't it?
0:23:55 > 0:24:02We are talking 50% of �1 million. We are talking �450,000. I would
0:24:02 > 0:24:06have thought the other � 450,000 the crown east tailt is keeping
0:24:06 > 0:24:13would not -- Crown estate is keeping would not made a dent.
0:24:13 > 0:24:20Could they not argue and take that off the block grant? If we had it
0:24:20 > 0:24:23in one hand it would be taken off the oh thiser? -- of the other?
0:24:23 > 0:24:27According to the Crown estate they are looking at taking out new
0:24:27 > 0:24:33leases and giving them to these people who want to invest in the
0:24:33 > 0:24:39marine. Now, it only follows if you take out new leases you'll up the
0:24:39 > 0:24:44rent. That could be �10 million in ten to 15 years' time. If we're
0:24:44 > 0:24:51going to give away that money, so lightly, without putting up a fight
0:24:51 > 0:24:54for it because Sam mi Wilson told us in the Assembly we have to look
0:24:54 > 0:25:00for alternative revenue streams. We have identified one on our back
0:25:00 > 0:25:05door. For the DUP to turn it around into a sham fight and retaining the
0:25:05 > 0:25:08union, keeping the Crown, and then on the other hand the official
0:25:08 > 0:25:12unionists backed the amendment and then turned around and voted
0:25:12 > 0:25:16against it. It turned out to be a phase from the union's point of
0:25:16 > 0:25:23view today. We'll have to leave it there. Thank you for coming in. Now
0:25:23 > 0:25:28the countdown is on to find the new leader of the SDLP. The final
0:25:28 > 0:25:33campaign launch happened today. Patsy McGlone, Alasdair McDonnell
0:25:33 > 0:25:39and Conal McDevitt set out their stalls. Alex Attwood had the big
0:25:39 > 0:25:45guns out today. He had one of the Guildford four praising his
0:25:45 > 0:25:50tenacity, saying he was a boxer who punched above his weight. There was
0:25:50 > 0:25:56a letter read out. And of course the former MP for South down was
0:25:56 > 0:26:01there. He gave an impassioned speech. Indeed he almost threatened
0:26:01 > 0:26:05to upstage Alex Attwood himself. We have a clip of that from earlier
0:26:06 > 0:26:09today. The Government at the moment in Stormont is not a reflection of
0:26:09 > 0:26:15what was intended by the Goodwood Treasure.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17The Goodwood Treasure -- the Good Friday agreement. It is about
0:26:17 > 0:26:26partnership, reconciliation and co- operation. That is not what we have
0:26:26 > 0:26:29there, that is what I want Alec to put there as leader of the SDLP.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32course he did address the press conference. He appealed for support
0:26:32 > 0:26:36saying he had shown leadership skills at various levels of the
0:26:36 > 0:26:40party, including the minister's post. He has three other people in
0:26:40 > 0:26:45that race with him. It will be decided the first week into
0:26:45 > 0:26:50November. Alex Attwood says he doesn't mind being the underdog.
0:26:50 > 0:26:55The cost of north-south council meetings? The executive were given
0:26:55 > 0:27:03a hard time when there is a perceived waste of money. The first
0:27:03 > 0:27:07and deputy minister said they can save money on north-south
0:27:07 > 0:27:12ministerial meetings. They could cut the cost to �5,000. It is a
0:27:12 > 0:27:16moutful, but there is some information on the cohesion and
0:27:16 > 0:27:21integration strategy? That is known as CSI. In simple terms it is about
0:27:21 > 0:27:26a shared future. The proposals were published last July. Criticism at
0:27:26 > 0:27:31the time that, although the executive are trying to tackle
0:27:31 > 0:27:34issues around sectarianment and peace walls, the critics said the
0:27:34 > 0:27:38first and Deputy First Minister's office has not gone far enough in
0:27:38 > 0:27:41terms of substance and targets. For example, when will peace walls come
0:27:41 > 0:27:45down? There was a public consultation last year. And the
0:27:45 > 0:27:49results are now being discussed publicly. The people who carried
0:27:49 > 0:27:52out that consultation will brief the office of first and Deputy
0:27:52 > 0:27:57First Minister's committee. There'll be a fair amount of
0:27:57 > 0:28:04interest in that tomorrow. other biggish shoe facing farmers
0:28:04 > 0:28:10is the CAP reform. What do you think of what we know so far?
0:28:10 > 0:28:15honest the new document had been leaked. At the same time, what came
0:28:15 > 0:28:19out, if you like the aims and aspirations we have, the next year
0:28:19 > 0:28:23or more than a year to decide what we can get for Northern Ireland. We
0:28:23 > 0:28:26need tweaks and changes to suit the farmers. Thank you very much for
0:28:26 > 0:28:30being our guest this evening. That's it from Stormont tonight. We
0:28:30 > 0:28:38are back next Monday, of course, at the usual time. Before then you can