21/02/2012 Stormont Today

Welcome to Stormont Today. We often criticise our MLAs fought lack of

progress on real issues. Today they stepped up to the mark and called

for action on how we deal with organ donation. It is inappropriate

to assume that you have consent to remove organs. At the same time, I

am very clear that if something happens to me, I want to give

others the opportunity to live. it was a very personal issue for

one MLA. When I looked up and saw Mark up in the gallery, I saw, -- I

thought, don't cry. I have been nothing forward to this for so long.

Perish the thought of criticising the Executive in a TV studio.

most productive dialogue and debate is that that takes place not in

front of the television cameras but behind the scenes. What difference

will this actually make? We are totally on behalf of the Ulster

Wildlife Trust and also the Marine Task Force. We are really pleased

that the minister is finally bringing the bill for it in order

to get it to move forward. What difference will it make in real

terms? What will be protected that cannot be protected without

The chance to have marine planning to take part so all industries can

work together to have a way to move forward and have a vision for the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds

Stay with us. Plenty more to talk about. Do we need a CCTV in our

slaughter houses? What is the Department of Agriculture Dearing

to get bored -- better of broadband connections? All of the answers

from a Agriculture Minister in a moment.

First, the first and deputy first ministers try to encourage

investment this year by jetting off to foreign shores. Before that,

progress to report on the C S I strategy, the one that is meant to

improve committee relations. parties must play their part. This

is a very important strategy for our Executive. We must focus on the

work ahead to finalise the strategy soon. I thank the First Minister

for his response. I would like to acknowledge the good work that is

being done. In relation to the culture of language, can the Deputy

First Minister tell us how having two a separate language strategies

instead of one fully comprehensive strategy can contribute to the

promotion of a C S I to which we can all support? I think they

member will be well aware that the reason for that has historical

roots in agreements that were made previously. That is as far back as

1998. There is an opportunity in the course of the discussions that

are taking place at the moment between the five political parties

to air or of the issues. I would be fairly confident that the way in

which these five parties are working, I understand there will be

a five -- a further meeting later this afternoon, and I hope that

will produce a successful conclusion to many of these

difficult issues that I think many people thought would be beyond us

in terms of resolution. I work on the basis that these things can be

resolved that we can reach agreement. Hopefully it can be an

agreement that all parties can sign up to. Any particular issue in

relation to language that is of a concern to the member, I would

advise them to raise that through the alliance representative. While

the finish line might be in sight, another member wanted to know what

was causing the delay. I think the decision we have made to bring

together all of the parties given that some of the parties were at

odds at was the initial decision and sensible. It is clear in the

course of those discussions that there are a number of issues that

create difficulties and problems. Flags are one of them as an example.

I think what we have to do is recognise now back to the body has

been in existence since September last year. It is continuing with

its work. The vibes that are coming out are encouraging. I would hope

that we will see a successful outcome sooner rather than later. I

know also that there's a temptation that members jump into television

studios to debate these particular issues. I have always found as

someone who has been involved why negotiations for 20 years that the

most productive dialogue and debate is that which takes place not in

front of the television cameras but behind the scenes. Then there was

news of a whistle-stop Investment off. Next month we will travel to

the United States and Canada to continue to promote our economic

strategies at the highest levels of the Obama administration. We plan

to meet the Canadian Prime Minister to build on our strong historical

cultural and economic links. We also planned to travel to the

economic power houses of India and the Emirates do meet existing and

potential investors and build trade links insuring local firms have all

possible assistant and development for export markets. The SDLP wanted

to know when corporation tax would be devolved? If all of the parties

in the house are in agreement to bring about a reduction in council

tax and I think that during the cause of our visits to the United

States it is clear from speaking to potential investors that if we were

to have the devolution powers transferred to us, that would have

a huge impact on attracting foreign investment. It is a key priority.

It is a work-in-progress. There are meetings taking place. Officials

are consistent -- consistently working with the Treasury and

others to ensure that we have a decision some time this year.

agriculture and farmers are high take these days and need broadband

connection. To underline my connection -- commitment, I have

announced a project in order to target rural areas and the areas

that we would deem hot spots in terms of only being able to get

under two megabytes of lines. We have started to get a process to

get more businesses including farmers to connect to broadband but

this will only work if they can access broadband. The DUP wanted to

know if the minister had plans to introduce compulsory CCTV in

slaughter houses. Some already have CCTV installed. There are a further

two plants that have CCTV in place. There are five remaining plants

which are smaller. I know that I did meet with Animal Aid

campaigners last year when she discussed the implementation of

CCTV in slaughterhouses. I made the point that I would consider it and

keep it under review if I felt it was necessary. I know other

legislators are looking at the issue. They do not have any plans

in the south to bring in compulsory CCTV. I know that in Britain there

have been a number of highly publicised cases but I think you

have to that at it in a different context because we are very local

here. We have a vet in every slaughterhouse. At this stage, I'm

not convinced of the need for CCTV. Anglers may be banned from catching

wild look -- wild Atlantic salmon in an attempt to address the

declining fish stocks. The Culture Minister was responding to an

Ulster Unionist demand for an action plan for the endangered fish.

After consider rock -- after a consideration of the available data,

it has been concluded that eight continued commercial exploitation

of wild Atlantic salmon is currently unobtainable. Authorising

such exploitation would be inconsistent with the Department's

applications under the habitats directive. This could lead to

significant fines being imposed by the European Union. If this finds

were levied, they would have a real lamplight not just on our fisheries

but on wider public services. -- if these fines were levied they would

have a real impact. Salmon stocks need to be sustainable for the sake

of salmon and to avoid cuts in our public services. I have called on

stakeholders to support their voluntary conservation measure for

2012. We have asked for voluntary cessation this year. To help us

prepare gaps in legislation -- repair gaps in legislation, we need

to take this forward. It may also include not catching salmon at all.

We need to be clear beyond this what we are intending to do. We

will make a decision within the next few days. A decision is

imminent. The minister said a lot but not quite enough to know

exactly what is going to happen. Taking her. About asking fishermen

not to look catch the salmon on a voluntary basis. Is that going far

enough? It really does depend if the fishermen take that up. The

problem is, those salmon are protected because they do not just

come from Northern Irish waters, they come from Irish waters as well

where they are protected in an area similar to a locked under the

Special Area of Conservation. That means that we could be facing fines

as the minister said. She needs to think about the fact that you need

to take the precautionary never and -- measure and you need to protect

the salmon. I am speaking to the Ulster angling group and they have

said that for a catch and release they have a 97% rate of the salmon

surviving and going back out to sea when they catch and release.

anglers are saying it is not the licensed anger is doing what they

should not be doing? There will be some anglers who were taking the

salmon. However, if they make it mandatory, that means that there

will only be catch and release and that will have benefits for

Northern Ireland's tourism and hopefully it will include not

just... It will be part of the future strategic plan. How can you

believe something like that given the vast stretch of water? This is

part of the problem. It is not just a matter for the Department of

Culture and leisure. It is wider than that. As the minister

mentioned, the Department of Justice may have to get involved.

This is one of those factors that is why as part that is why as part

of the marine pass false there is a marine... This was streamline his

actions. Lots more still to be sorted. Thank you very much. Could

reddest in to be an organ donor soon be a thing of the past? --

could registering. After a lengthy debate, members agreed a review was

We are duty bound to explore the number of organ transplant people

in Northern Ireland. Organ donation is stressed to be a UK service. Co-

ordination between locally based doctors and co-ordinators across

the UK. I would urge further Coe ordination and co-operation with

Dublin government on this issue, also. I commend the Minister on his

attitude and actions with regard to north/south co-operation on

healthcare issues. The well shall government are currently

undertaking an approach based on a soft optout system, which sees the

removal and use of organs and tissues as permissible unless the

deceased has made their objection to this clear during their lifetime.

Presumed consent. Now is the time for Northern Ireland to take a

similar investigative approach to such options. I would be all in

favour of organ donation. I'm not in that position where a loved one

of my has just died. I think when we need look at the opt in and opt

out issue we need to look at the education and how we encourage

people at such a vulnerable time in their lives that being involved in

organ donation gives the gift of life or, indeed, the gift gift of a

better life for others out there. We should, of course, encourage

those who wish to do so to carry a done ar card. As other members have

said, encourage them to talk to their loved ones so they know what

those individual's wishes are in the event of death. I would

encourage the minister to examine how to encourage more people to get

on the donor register. Also to investigate whether or not the

system at present is efficient enough in ensuring we get a

translation from potential organ donations to be brought to the

transplant stage. I do, however, have a number of concerns about

moving towards a model of presumed consent and wish to focus my

remarks on those today. My colleague, Mr Dunne, had said it's

about a competing argument about whether or not it's a gift. I

listened to the moving speech from Mrs Dobson about the gift of life

and whether it's a duty. A system of opt-out raises questions about

the power and role of the state over the individual. One would have

thought some members would have cherished the principles of the

Magna Carter and limitations of the state over the individual and more

resistance to moving towards the position where the state assumes

ownership of a person's organs. Presumed consent is not actual

consent. I think that is very important that we take note of that

today. We heard the issue about not taking something that doesn't

belong to you. I believe that that is right. It's ain propiate to

assume you have con stopbt remove organs from someone's body. At the

same time, I'm very clear that, if something happens to me, I want to

give others the opportunity to live. Joining us now James We wills

Deputy Chair of the Health Economy. We talked about organ donation in

Northern Ireland over the past number of years. Does this take any

further forward? It does because we've now sounded out the views on

Assembly members on possible changes. Today was an excellent

debate. The whips weren't involved today. People had a free vote and

could speak as they wanted to. It was interesting to see the

diversity of opinion. It's clear we need more organ donors we are

committed to taking steps to ensure it's happening. In terms of opting-

out or having a new system there were dissenting voices on your side

of the House today? There was the. The opting-out we are looking for,

you want to opt-out you have to register. Your family have the

final say. That is a safeguard. Whether that has been introduced in

Spain there has been a dramatic increase in the number of organs.

There are still, for instance, last year, 17 people who died in

Northern Ireland because there were no organs available. That is a

tragedy. That has to be avoided if at all possible. A big figure

mention in the chamber this afternoon, 2 people in Northern

Ireland currently waiting on some form of transplant? Sadly, people

are dying every week in Northern Ireland who have organs that could

be used to save the lives of those people. They can't be used because

there is no consent. That is the issue we are trying it get around.

One MLA spoke from personal experience on organ donation today,

Jo-Anne Dobson's son Mark was 15 when had a kidney transplant.

found it emotion. When I saw Mark in the gallery I thought, "don't

cry now". It's a debate I have been looking forward to for so long. One

I enjoyed taking part in. Mark, tell us about what happened to you

then when you were 13, is that right? I had... I went into renal

figure at 13 and my kidney transplant at 15. If somebody told

me three years ago that I'd of been up and leading a healthy lifestyle

because of somebody Coe donating me a kidney, I would never of believed.

It the ultimate gift to think that I'm able to lead healthy lifestyle

now. Before you were given the transplant, how did it impact your

life? What were you able to do and what weren't you able to do?

would have been able to go to school and all, I wouldn't have

much energy or anything. I would of fallen asleep easy. I wouldn't have

been able to do much fitness or walking or stuff like that. What

was it like. Your mum spoke about waiting for the transplant, waiting

for getting a kidney. What was that like for you? It was very emotional.

I remember my mum coming into me at 5.30 am saying, "we've got a call

from the hospital. You have to be down by 8.00 am to get the kidney".

My operation didn't take place until midnight because all the

airports were closed and all. There was doubt the kidney would get

there. I remembered coming up to into theatre and waking up and was

a couple of hours later on my phone to my granny and she couldn't

believe I was already speaking. Amazing for a familiar family to go

through something like this. What was it like from your point of view

as mum? Your life is on hold when you are dealing with renal failure

and living with it every day. Normal family life is out of the

window. When you get that call, as Mark said, in the middle of the

night, nothing prepares you for that call that a suitable kidney

can be found. As Mark said we travelled down. We waited, to the

children's hospital, we waited 12 hours on the kidney. It was held up

with the snow in the UK. A surreal experience. We thank every day the

person that we will never know or meet for giving Mark the ultimate

gift. A happy illustration of what can happen. Not everyone is so

lucky? That was the highlight of the debate, Jo-Anne Dobson's

contribution. We heard testimonys from other constituents who are on

that list and who didn't get the phone call. Of course, we heard of

examples who died whilst waiting on the list. That was very sad. Why do

you think the Minister hasn't gone further? The Minister today wanted

to take soundings as to people's views, MLAs views on it. Then he

will make a decision. There are many things we can do already

without going to the opt-out clause. We haven't done those. We need to

improve our present delivery. If that works we may need oment-out

with tpwroing demand we may have to move that that situation eventually.

What could we do now? 40% of those with kidney donor cards, when they

passe way their relatives do not give permission for the organ to be

removed. In other parts of the world that is a much lower figure.

We have to identify why is that happening. Why do people pull back

at that stage? Would better training of staff help us to ensure

that we maximise organs available at that stage. It's difficult

because the opt-out could surely give rise to more court cases as

well because people could then say, step in at that stage and relatives

say, no, I don't want this to happen? If the relatives on opt-out

could stop it happening. There is unlikely to be a court case. The

experience in 22 countries have indicated that opt-out works. It

increases the numbers of people available for kidney or other organ

transplants. It's important that you advertise there is an opt-tout

give those who have a conscious about it, which is a small number

of people, a chance to register. If they register there is no chance of

their organ being taken for any purpose. The agriculture Minister

is to announce a major investment to tackle rural poverty tomorrow.

16 million will be spent helping farmers, young people and older

people. I caught up with Michelle O'Neill and asked her to explain

what difference she hopes the money will make. Looking at areas of

people who live in rural communities who are left

disadvantaged as a result of that. People who are living in fuel

poverty. People who are isolated and aren't able to access maybe

transport or health checks and all that type of thing that, I suppose,

goes part and parcel of living in a rural community. Some of the

initiatives that I will be launching tomorrow include a rural

challenge fund. It's, basically, like a small grants programme, for

worthy projects out there in the rural communities that work with

the local people. They are new initiatives that people are very

keen and very interested in, particularly around a bore well

scheme. People who can't get access to mains water. There is a project

I will take forward with the Department of Regional Development,

they get access to a well for their own water which currently they

don't. People will find it strange that people don't have access to

mains water. Is there a sense that people in rural communities have

been harder hit by the recession than those in cities? People in

rural communities are isolated by geography, where they live. Yes, I

think, in terms of cutbacks, sometimes the rural services can be

the services that are impacted upon. Some of the other good examples

that I'd like to share with you are around working with young people.

Our rural communities have lots of young people going to Australia,

America, all different places for work. We find that the future of

those rural communities is, obviously, in jeopardy. We are

trying to work with young people. One of the project is a young

employability programmes. Helping them to develop core skills and

working with businesses that will help them build up confidence again.

Achieve their core skill recognition and hopefully, in turn,

help them to get into work if they are lucky enough to find work in

their local area. That has been in the headlines here and across the

water over the past couple of days, is that something different from

steps to work? Is it something that will give people a chance to get

experience, but still earn some money? The key to all of these

project is that it's working with other departments and other

agencies. In terms of the youth and employability it's working with

local industry and businesses. Maybe they are involved with

talking to young people saying, this is what we are looking for

when we are trying to recruit young people, and helping them in

conjunction junction with our department in developing core

skills that they need. It's a werty project and something that we hope

to attract a number of young people to get on board. Consultation on

prot gram for government ends tomorrow. Sinn Fein's Willie Clarke

announced today he is stepping down from his Assembly seat. It's not a

total surprise. He told the Politics Show last June that he

intended to give up one of those jobs. He indicated at the time it

would probably the council post. This morge morning, Sinn Fein did

confirm he would be stepping down around Easter. Some people would

say it's odd to want the council or the glamour of Stormont, there is

less money in councils. This is what he said. Anyone in Sinn Fein

is not involved in it with money. That is clear with our policy.

Being involved in community initiatives, that is why I got

involved in politics. That is why I want to remain in local government.

His successor could be in place by next month. Any idea who it might

be? Sinn Fein say they have to have a selection convention. There is

speculation that one possible would be Naomi Bailey. She is a Queen's

University graduate and she stood in the election alongside Willie

Clarke last year. She may be the ideal candidate. We will see who

else comes forward. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday but it's arn an important

day for the draft programme for government? It ends tomorrow at

5.00pm. If you have strong views on the promises made on that programme

for government you can e-mail or get your views in by tomorrow.

final thought from you, Jade. What is happening with Strangford Lough?

As far as Strangford Lough is going, that has been one ever our key

drives with the Ulster Wildlife Trust at the moment. We are

awaiting Europe's decision on what steps the department of agriculture

and the Department of Environment should take next to avoid a massive

fine. I'm hoping both departments will work together to sort this out

rather than it being a talking shop, that we get action to take this

forward and protect the jewel in our crown. There has been talk of a

lack of communication between the two departments? It's similar to

the Anglican complaint. Departments need to work together in order to

solve these big issues which are really important for Northern

Ireland's marine future. What about the Marine Bill then, when are you

hoping to see that come into force? Well, I have been told it can take

up to a year to come into force. I think before I rush to say that we

want it right now, I would like to see a copy of the Bill in order to

see this it is fit for purpose. That it will protect our