20/05/2013 Stormont Today

Coming up in the next half hour: A bill designed to protect victims or

discriminate against former prisoners? The Special Advisers Bill

was before the House for further consideration. There is a prisoner

elite who think that they have got higher entitlements than any of the

rest of the citizens in this part of the world.

The Health Minister says the care of patients is much more important than

party politics. I could not care less where I look to. I will work

with Dublin or whatever else is to ensure we deliver the best possible

service. And our political reporter, Stephen

Walker, is here to cast an eye over Back before the Assembly today was

Jim Allister's Special Advisers Bill. It was originally brought

forward after the controversial appointment of Mary McArdle who was

a Special Adviser to the Sinn Fein Culture Minister. She had been

jailed for her part in the murder of a judge's daughter. In a moment,

we'll get a flavour of the debate, but first, I'm joined by our

political reporter, Stephen Walker. Remind us what this Bill is all

about. This is the work of Jim Allister. If passed, this Bill would

ban anyone convicted of a crime which carried a jail sentence of

five years or more of being appointed to a Special Adviser. As

you said in the introduction, this is a direct case, following the

appointment of Mary McArdle. There was a blaze of publicity. One of

those who criticised that decision was and Travers, whose sister was

murdered in 1984. Jim Allister has championed this Bill and said if

this Bill went through, it would be a landmark piece of legislation. It

really has divided the party is up here. It has. It broadly got support

from Unionists. There was fierce criticism from nationalists and

republicans. The SDLP wanted to amend some of the wording. Sinn Fein

's position was slightly starker. Stephen, thank you. Well, let's have

a look at what MLAs had to say about the Bill and, as we'll see, it was a

series of amendments put forward by the SDLP that largely took centre

stage. No matter how much the SDLP might like to massage these works

and say they mean something they don't, the reality waves -- the

reality is, they merely require regret couched in language which

utterly undermines any suggestion that there is contrition. The member

will have to admit that contrition has to be interpreted. I do realise

that contrition is a very Catholic words, and perhaps the panel will

have to draw on the services of an imminent Catholic theologian to

divine contrition and decide whether or not a particular applicant was

contrite. Obviously, they will not go to that extent, but the point I

am making, that at the end of the day, the interpretation is

objective. I certainly think that contrition is something we can all

experience and express. Overall, the STL P amendments would substantially

weaken the Bill. They would diminish the protection for victims. The

easier you make the appointment for a serious criminal, the more you

diminish the right of the victims. If this Bill passes, I want this to

be seen as a landmark piece of legislation that, amongst the first

times, demonstrates that victims have a right to be heard, a right to

have a say and a right to be heeded. The SDLP's amendments are

brought forward. I see more with trying to be in agreement with Sinn

Fein on this matter and trying to protect some people. It is evident

to me that if somebody has been guilty of a crime, they should not

take the post. I have to say, I take exception with the member was trying

to do this to Sinn Fein. They haven't even got an amendment down.

The amendments which we have down today seek to remove the

retrospective element of the Bill. The purpose of which is to remove

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

indication that there was concern to kill off this Bill. That is the only

way the STL P can actually do that. Don't try and pretend this is

anything but an attempt to stop ex-prisoners from getting employers

-- employment. If the proposal... In my opinion, this Bill should be

stopped. There is a prisoner elite who think that they have got higher

entitlements than any of the rest of the citizens in this part of the

world. Released early, millions of pounds from Europe, millions more

going towards prisoners groups over the next period of funding and so on

and so forth. I would like to begin by mailing the suggestion that this

Bill picks out and discriminates against what had been terms

political ex-prisoners. There never were political prisoners. Even if

one stretches to understand the concept, this Bill does not

discriminate against that perceived group. This bill applies equally to

everyone with a serious criminal conviction. Be that person a rapist,

fraudster or a conflict. Joining me now is the SDLP MLA,

Dominic Bradley. All of your amendments failed today. We were

disappointed. We have put a lot of work into it. We came forward with

amendments at the consideration stage. They had limited success.

Unfortunately, they were not successful. We are disappointed

about that, but we are pleased we have made every effort we possibly

could to make this Bill into good law. Jim Allister says your

amendments would not have been good for victims. We disagree totally for

that. We stood for victims and good law. We reject Jim Allister 's

allegations in that respect. We have worked very hard in this Bill and

are amendments would have got to a stage where we could have supported

it. The argument against your amendments was made in the House

today that it would have made it easier had they been taken for the

appointment of a serious criminal to the position of Special Adviser.

don't accept that. We were arguing mainly for an appeal mechanism which

would give people a reasonable chance. Any appeal mechanism should

do that. Mr Allister's appeal mechanism closes the four -- closes

the door very tightly. Will the SDLP now use a petition of concern to

kill the Bill at the next stage of proceedings? We have made every

effort and spoken with Mr Allister. We have brought amendments to the

consideration stage. That hasn't been successful. We are considering

using the option of a petition of concern. We have tried the other

options available to us. They have not been successful and we have to

consider a petition of concern. Could you be persuaded to live with

the legislation as it will be? don't think we can be persuaded to

live with the legislation. We have made every attempt that we possibly

could to shape this into good law. That has not been successful at this

stage, we are considering supporting application of concern. But will you

do it? Probably. A lot of people would be disappointed that that.

have come forward with reasonable and well thought out amendments

which afforded people a reasonable chance of success. They have been

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 45 seconds

rejected so I don't think we have Eye make-up and to discuss whether

there was flexibility. I asked him to give consideration to a to

centre model. Potentially providing services in Belfast and Dublin gay

bar. In the Belfast -- in Belfast and Dublin. I ought to expedite

this as quickly as possible. Can I ask if he believes if there is a

more ambitious or enervated framework. Than the one identified

in the expert working group report? That would hopefully see some form

of surgery maintained. Go quality and safety must remain at the top

of the agenda. I suspect that the model will maximise quality but it

might not maximise safety. We cannot look at one without the

other. Those children who get there at appropriate times can be treated

at that site. And we will get better outcomes. I do not want to

raise expectations on the matter but what was previously proposed is

not a done deal. I am looking for a different kind of outcome.

Buildings do not save the lives are. It is the people who work in them.

It is important we do our best to maintain an element of elected such

a. To do that, and to be attractive to surgeons. We must be part of a

larger network. A stand-alone site will not do it. I have been

criticised from a political perspective about what it would do,

looking to Dublin, for assistance here. I frankly could not care less

where I looked to after it saved the lives of children. I will work

with Dublin or whoever else to a deliver the best possible service.

I want to retain some elective surgery. The health minister. The

First Minister has told the Assembly that there is still a

range of announcements to come on the proposed Shield future. Peter

Robinson was speaking during forced Minister's Questions today. He also

told the Assembly how far they believe Northern Ireland had come.

Hour announcement on 9th May of a package of strategic actions

towards a united community is clear evidence of over commitment to this

critical a her. The latest peace monitoring report recognises we

have come a long way as a society. The collective effort at an

individual level and community level is to be commended. This

report is useful in the measuring progress. It highlights the

progress to date and the challenges for the way ahead. The Deputy First

Minister and I welcome the reassuring evidence that we live in

a community where citizens are less likely to be the victims of crime.

Racist hate crime has decreased. And segregation has diminished.

There are a number of wide-ranging issues. But which ones would you

highlight? If I was to look at the indices which are provided, and

which are widely available, and draw out some of the more positive

aspects, it has been the longest period of sustained stability for

the devolved institutions. Sectarian incidents and crimes are

significantly down. The number of crimes based on the religion are

down dramatically. From 148 in 2005/2006, to 14 in 2011/2012.

Attacks on Orange halls and chapels are down. Casualties per annum as a

result of paramilitary shootings are down. A significant increase in

young people who believe that relations between Protestant and

Catholic are better. If 90% of people believe that their neighbour

had is a shared neighbourhood. People on all side indicate respect

towards cultures and identities. No new peace walls since 2008. One

since devolution but that was put up by the Northern Ireland Office.

If I could draw on hundreds of indices that show the positive

progress that has been made. But again I emphasise, there is a long

way to go off. Can be First Minister outline ongoing

negotiations with the Secretary of State on the matter of the

substantial financial package for Northern Ireland? We had the

opportunity to talk in detail about the financial package. The

Government's attitude to extending it, as far as the individual

proposals, I am reluctant to go over them. In some cases the Deputy

First Minister and I will seek to alter or and extend it does

Coppetts other proposals. But we are both of the view that we have

been disadvantaged because of the overall climate with the economy in

Northern Ireland. We need to have impetus, momentum, to move for work.

We have put forward a very extensive proposals in terms of a

shared future. They go beyond what the Government expected us to do.

There is a range of other announcements to make. Having shown

ambition we are now looking to see the reward. During the discussions

that the First Minister take the opportunity to raise the matter of

the G8? The in relation to the G8, there was considerable enthusiasm

for the benefit that would flow on both sides of the border. Being

close to the border, even in terms of accommodation, the South is

getting a considerable benefit. As I understand, the teacher has been

invited by the Prime Minister to attend part of the discussion. It

has significant benefits for Northern Ireland and permits us to

show case nor on Ireland in the new year, moving forward. We'll take

the worldwide attention to our advantage. Today marks the first

day of community relations week. After the winter of discontent and

concerns that the summer might bring more of the same, is there

any hope that such initiatives can help? I am joined by teeth

Executive of the Community Relations Council. -- the chief

Executive. For this week community relations is top of the agenda.

What about the other 51 weeks of the Year? We get the chance to

focus very specifically on lots of different events going on across

the country. A chance for people to show case what they are doing. And

more importantly, for those who are not involved, to get a chance to

see what we are involved in and to blow out some of the maths that are

there about community relations work. It is now top of the

political agenda with the driver to find a strategy as far as the

Executive is concerned. How much does your work chime with the

worker to Deputy First Minister and First Minister? An hour off this is

funded by their office. And we receive support from the European

Union and International Fund for Ireland. -- hour of this. So they

are supporting us even without the new strategy. New initiatives have

come for what. We did not know about those in advance. And we

still do not know the detail of what is involved. Are we

disappointed? In the long run it would be better if there was better

connection in terms of working with organisations involved in community

relations to bring forward ideas. If but nevertheless it is progress

and we welcome it. What about the strategy launched by the Office of

the First Minister and Deputy First Minister one week ago? That does

not deal with key issues like parades, flax. We believe the full

detail will be announced later next week or possibly next week. --

later this week. One difficult issues, they are enormously

difficult and we fully recognise that. What we know so far is that

there will be an all-party discussion. I know there is a great

deal cynicism regarding that. We have been there. But this time

there will be independent voices involved. Maybe that will help us

move on. Are we moving in the right direction, in you have you? I hope

so. The Pope to -- peace monitoring report shows a very good statistics.

To the First Minister is right to quote them. It was a good year. We

cannot be blind to the issues we must tackle but we're making

progress. The Assembly had time to discuss spot this morning when

there was widespread praise for a golfer, Graham McDowell. He won the

the World Match Play Championship over the weekend. We cannot over

estimate the scale of the success that Northern Ireland golfers have

achieved in the recent years. When we look at the illustrious list of

previous winners of the World Match Play Championship we see, Jack

Nicklaus, Gary Player, said it Alastair Ross, Nick Faldo, golfing

greats. Many of them legends. Now, Graham McDowell, joining that

illustrious list. Geoff I hope that the achievement will be an

inspiration to other young sportspeople to take up golf or to

take up other sports. I pass on my congratulations to Graham McDowell

and his father, Kenny. At it inspires a new generation of sports

people that would be very pleasing. There is no doubt that this success

is timely. It brings the spotlight back. Since the Open was played at

Royal Portrush, the spotlight has been brought back to Irish golf,

Irish to risen, and the opportunity of jobs that surrounds the two rows

and product. A very timely victory. Very timely for bringing our minds

back to the opportunities that we have around two risen and golf

tourism in particular. I also want to admire congratulations. A

terrific example for all of our golfers. Particularly with such an

incredibly difficult course. That is where Alexander the Great

started his world domination. Lex maybe see it go on and we can have

grey and the great! By Our political reporter is with me.

Going back to the bad issue of the day. The special advisers still. --

debt issue. We have from Dominic Bradley, the nuclear option, a

petition of concern, will be If you listen carefully to what he

said, clearly the SDLP are very happy. This was the nuclear option.

He admitted that. He admitted it was an option he was looking at.

Looking at the mood music it would seem to be the only option open to

the SDLP. If they are unhappy with the bell and if they want to kill

it that is the only option A quick what about other news - the

Deputy First Minister getting ready The ministers met the Chinese