22/02/2016 Stormont Today

Two Bs dominated this afternoon's proceedings on the hill -

While the House of Commons debated the implications

of a possible British exit from the EU,

MLAs were keen to have their say on the issue too.

And members debated the significance of last week's job losses

at the Canadian aerospace company Bombardier.

With the date of the EU referendum firmly in the diary,

local parties begin to declare their positions.

We believe that in terms of the united Kingdom and Northern Ireland,

we are safer and better out, with more money and control.

1,000 jobs are to go at Bombardier, the Enterprise Minister says

the Executive must work together to move manufacturing forward.

Confidence in the industry drives jobs. Confidence drives

apprenticeships. Confidence is key. is our Political Correspondent,

Stephen Walker. The starting pistol's been fired

for the EU referendum debate and while it's an issue that'll

affect the UK as a whole, the parties here do have their own

very particular reasons for wanting

to keep things as they are, MPs packed the Commons chamber

to take part in today's debate there, and while there was

no formal debate on the issue in the Assembly, that didn't stop

local politicians wanting to give their various

positions an airing. We waited to hear what David Cameron

would deliver out of his negotiations. Everybody agrees it is

rather thin gruel, as one of his colleagues said, it does not deliver

the fundamental reform he promised, it does not give us control of our

borders or money or our laws. So we believe that in terms of the United

Kingdom and Northern Ireland, we are safer and better out with more money

and control. We are recommending that a party that people thought

leaves when it comes to the European round the end, but we understand it

is not an election, it is a referendum, and people will have

different views so are free to hold those views. -- when it comes to the

European referendum. But our party are recommending very strongly that

people bought Julie. Are DUP representatives allowed to take

another position publicly? The position of the party and elected

the presenter Des are preventative of the party and the party's

position are that people should vote to leave. It is now very strong view

that the overwhelming majority of people, plus the business community,

and we await with interest what the farming community and food industry

have to say about this in the time ahead, I certainly think our

universities also believe in staying in the Europe. And it is ludicrous,

a ludicrous situation that I will be travelling next month with Arlene to

the United States, Theresa Villiers will also be there, as she has been

for the last number of years, and it will be very interesting to see how

Theresa Villiers speaks to the potential for investment people who

are looking at our proposition. In the course of quite a number of

engagements that Peter Robinson and I were involved in over a 56 period,

where we had access to the State Department, economic investment

conferences, from the most powerful business people in the world, all of

them expressed concern about the prospect of the British government

having a referendum which could result in an exit from Europe full.

We have put in place what we need to do to make a decision, which is to

call a meeting of the party Executive that should happen next

week. In the meantime, we want to listen to people and I am a little

surprised we are going to be the only one of the big five year at

Stormont who are prepared to listen to the business community, the

voluntary and community sector and everybody else who will be impacted

by this decision. But that is what we are going to do over the next two

days, listen and reflect. The Ulster Unionists

are keeping their options open - but one former leader nailed his

colours to the mast today. That is right. David Trimble, of

course, former UDP leader, now with the Conservatives, he has come out

to say that he wants the UK to leave the EU. He gave an interview at

Westminster and is firmly in the league camp. The Ulster Unionist

Party his former party, want a bit more time to think about this. They

are going to consult with people and a third party Executive meeting and

will finally come to a decision after they have spoken to

organisations and businesses across Northern Ireland.

We know about the DUP and Sinn Fein. SDLP are a pro-European party. We

had the leader of that party thing that Northern Ireland Place's

Northern Ireland's place should be in Europe. And we had other leaders

advocating for that. Recently, the main parties have made their

decisions. -- basically. And the Secretary of State,

Theresa Villiers, found herself in

the firing line today. She is taking a different position

from David Cameron and that is what makes this very interesting post of

a number of key personalities are taking very different positions.

That is what makes the debate interesting for voters and

journalists, because we have key personalities in the same parties

taking very different positions. Theresa Villiers has made it clear

that she would like to see the UK leave the European Union. She is a

former MEP. She is learning about other people in the cabinet, for

example Iain Duncan Smith and Chris Grayling. But there makes this whole

debate very interesting. The Conservatives are certainly

divided on this but there are different views within the Labour

Party as well. Indeed. We have got the Ulster born MP who is taking the

approach that she would like Northern Ireland and the rest of the

UK to leave the European Union. Then you have Jeremy Corbyn, and the

leader of the Labour Party, who thinks the UK should stay in the

European Union. And then somebody like the former Home Secretary Alan

Johnson, who believes that the UK should stay in the European Union. A

lot of the parties do have this split down the middle.

And the language used by Arlene Foster yesterday

Yes, I think there is a line that is worth looking at. We heard Nigel

Dodds a few minutes ago talking about the DUP position, and the

DUP's official position is that they are a Eurosceptic party and want the

United Kingdom and to leave the European Union. But if you look

closely at this statement, and a desperate looking at it, and I will

quote, "We fully expect DUP members and voters will hold a range of

differing personal views as to what is in the best interest of the

United Kingdom. Osgood she is basically saying that this is the

DUP position but we understand if there are DUP members and falters

and take a slightly different approach. -- falters.

But would we expect leading members of the DUP speaking in an official

capacity to campaign on the party line? There are certainly are not

people coming forward and Nigel Dodds made it clear that that is the

position of the DUP, but they will be putting forward this public

position, but it is as in the best interests of Northern Ireland if the

UK leaves the European Union. It is certainly shaping up to be a

fascinating few months on that score. Stephen, thank you very much

indeed, we will talk to you later in the programme.

that Bombardier is to cut around 1,000 jobs in Belfast

the Enterprise Minister briefed the Assembly

on what the Executive can do to mitigate the impact.

Jonathan Bell said his thoughts are with the workers

and their families as they continue to absorb the news.

Well, the news was deeply disappointing to stop Bombardier has

made it clear that the decision has been taken to safeguard the

company's long-term future, globally, and here in Northern

Ireland. I want to take this opportunity also to assure this

house that I am already working with my colleague, the Minister for

implement and learning, to do all that is possible to limit the impact

of the redundancies that will take place during the coming weeks and

months. While Bombardier has said there is nothing they can do to

reverse last week's decision, we will continue to work closely with

the company and to support other ways to support its drive for

greater efficiencies. I believe it is important also to recognise the

cyclical nature of the aerospace sector. There are peaks and troughs

experienced by all major companies that operate in this sector, so

Bombardier is not unique. He, as in the department, will continue to

work closely with the company and to explore other ways to support its

drive for greater efficiencies. Perhaps the Minister would care to

explain what he means by that, those greater efficiencies, because

normally for the rest of us who have listened to this bad news emanating

from it, efficiency usually equals further cutbacks and I would not

like to think that was indeed the case. Michael Ryan and I spent a

very positive and constructive meeting this morning with many of

the trade unions. And what we are agreed on is the critical nature of

manufacturing in Belfast and how we take that forward at cost

competitiveness into the future world economy that will be key for

Northern Ireland to ensure that we have the jobs in Belfast and I am

determined to see those jobs in Belfast. Could I ask you also look

at the apprentice schemes. I am particularly concerned about the

plant that Newtownabbey and others, but could some of the other

engineering companies to cut some of the flak from Bombardier because

they are very highly prized and values apprentice schemes You can

keep up to date with the latest news and weather throughout the day via

our Twitter feed anybody that knows either Stephen and myself knows how

deeply we value apprenticeships and how we see future. What I understand

with the company if they are suspending the scheme, not ending

it, and it is a suspension of new apprentices, all of him within the

current scheme will have their fill mentorship programmes honoured and I

look forward into the future, where we can see that suspension lifted. I

am not minded to blame him for the global losses at Bombardier. But

does he not accept that taking, for example, his hearty conference

speech just three months ago when he said not to let anybody tell you

that manufacturing in Northern Ireland is in a difficult position,

that that spoke to complacency and a lack of alertness to what was coming

down the tracks. But could I ask him, is there a contingency plan for

Bombardier is the C series does not achieve its hoped-for level of

sales? I would ask him to work with me. The manufacturing industry in

Northern Ireland has asked me, who has the privileged position to be

their enterprise minister, to project confidence in the sector.

Again, with the unions this morning, I talked about the damage that will

be done if we talk to now manufacturing industry, talk about

disasters if we are stupid enough to talk about tsunamis and if we are

silly enough to talk about manufacturing having no future. It

is the industry that has asked me, because they say that confidence

drives the order book, confidence in their industry drives jobs,

confidence drives apprenticeships, confidence is key.

Jonathan Bell talking up manufacturing here.

The Justice Minister today urged the Ministry of Defence

to provide information to the legacy inquests

being conducted by the Coroners' Court.

David Ford said 'much more work is required'

in the tracing of military witnesses to these historic cases.

But before that, the Justice Minister was asked

if the closure of several local courthouses

in Northern Ireland will affect how the media reports on crime.

All laid eyes on you and leave them on and on. A system could either you

are not affected by them. The site. It advises visitors and is on you.

If, in addition to the zoo with has reduced the need for reporters to...

Given these excess of the introduction of televising some

court proceedings in the mainland, is this not something he could

encourage the Lord Chief Justice to facilitate with the Court of Appeal

in Northern Ireland so that the public were able to see exactly what

is happening in the courts rather than having a filter of journalists

having to do it from outside the buildings or print media, and this

would be a good way to open up the courts for greater access? It is an

interesting point when we talk about the Court of Appeal giving

judgments, but I am not sure, giving the length of time a judge had taken

the Court of Appeal we have the public seeing everything, we might

have the public seeing something filtered through television editors

rather than reporters selectively reporting from the street outside.

It is an issue that merits consideration but it is not my first

priority in terms of management of the course at this stage. I wrote to

the Secretary of State asking you to raise the issue of placing retired

military witnesses directly with the Secretary of State for defence.

He will stop it with, that they would like you giving the full

participation of the full participation of white range of uses

that the MoD would do everything it can to facilitate bearing age. I've

usually this response. However it is clear that much more work is

required. I also note the involvement of the MoD in the

preliminary hearing recently. Those 43 inquests with an MoD involvement

represent a significant proportion of the legacy inquests which remain

outstanding. I trust the MoD will respond fully in the course of those

hearings. Truth about what happened to our

loved ones in the past? I click, which are currently

awaiting The state of our roads

was to the fore in many MLAs' minds to the Regional

Development Minister. The Independent Unionist

John McCallister asked Michelle McIlveen

for an update on her department's budget

for road maintenance. The budget for the Depertment

for Infrastructure, as agreed by the Executive in January,

provided a capital allocation of ?46 million for road

structural maintenance, This will allow for the increased

expenditure on maintaining the condition of the existing

network and reduce the cost However, capital structural

maintenance is only one element There are a number of roads

maintenance activities that are funded through

the resource budget. These include street lighting

inspection and maintenance, pothole repairs, grass cutting,

gully emptying and weed spraying. These are important aspects

of road maintenance A resource allocation of ?20 million

was provided for roads maintenance However, a 5.7% reduction on DFIs

over all budgets presents a challenging position in terms

of delivering services To follow on on the theme

of potholes, I came cross one yesterday that a car

was completely wrecked in. However, I have been given

an undertaking that will be But the QPA state that there

is a ?15 million shortfall I don't think we need QPA to tell us

there has been a shortfall. I think we are all acutely

aware of the challenges I have had regular conversations

with QPA and they are aware since coming into office I have bid

for additional money and I have tried to do the best I can

within the very short I know this adds additional

pressure on to the industry. It adds pressure onto families

where workers have got to go across the water to find work and,

again, that impacts It is my job and the job of others

in this Assembly to make sure we do prioritise money in the right

direction and road maintenance Will she give a commitment to this

House that the money for the '16-17 budget year is prioritised

for the maintenance of rural roads? In a previous answer,

the Minister talked about doing the roads that carry the most volume

of traffic but rural roads have been Will she give a commitment

to prioritiseing that money As someone who also represents

a rural consituency, I am very aware of the needs

for rural roads and that will certainly be reiterated by many

in this chamber so while I can give a commitment that I will seek to get

as much money as possible into the roads budget,

it is very much dependent on local divisions as well as how

they allocate their money. Obviously, those areas

of highest priority. It is about making a case

for those particular areas. The Further Consideration Stage

of the Employment Bill and amid much debate over gender pay

equality and the living wage, it was talk of abolishing

zero hours contracts Sinn Fein tabled amendments calling

for the end of the employment practice, but other parties believe

it merits greater scrutiny. I want to acknowledge the role zero

hours workers play in the workplace, especially for businesses that

require that extra workforce for a length of time over

busy periods they have. I know that over the past few

months, there has been some concerns raised about abuse in connection

with the use of zero hours contracts and noncontractual zero

hour arrangements. As a result, we have a real raft

of amendments that has been brought through in the bill today

at the very late stage and I think it is far too late to bring a raft

forward on such an important in the event that shift is still

without notice, they would be entitled to compensation. Even goes

some way... It was the address the problem facing a small number of

workers who are having their rights and five at four years. I can't

stress enough that this House the numbers of people in all. Rules and

responsibilities that are being exploited and zero hours contracts

stop I don't think we can afford to be as it was the that use influence

of it. As I said at the consideration stage, these contracts

are often used by lawyers. In many cases to avoid the Lloyds properly

and to avoid giving the other is boy must rights that one can expect. And

we think about this, is a that are limiting vehicle's lives. It is

limiting their ability to be able to plan for the future.

I do think this House has a responsibility to tackle zero hours

because they are being abused out there. Mr Flanagan, at one stage,

will point out that he refers to a small number of boys but others talk

about a large number of boys -- in Floyd 's. How many people out there

are Floyd on zero hours? Lenders may well have their views on

that. The second aspect and this is probably more pertinent around

Sydney and it flies in the issue of, will the amendments achieve the

outcomes, the objectives? There is no guarantee of that because we have

not stress tested the physical wording of amendments. They may well

the means which employers can circumvent what is the town of

favour. And finally tonight

to health matters. Smoking in cars with young

people took centre stage during the consideration

stage of the Health Bill. Those exposed to second-hand vassals

for long periods of time are more likely to develop died from heart

disease, left the fifth of lung cancer. There was no safe level of

exposure to second-hand vassals. In written and oral evidence to the

committee, the VMA as well as the van, motion

and penalty. A carrot and stick approach. But it was effective. It

is my hope that criminalising smoking in cars with children would

prevent people from doing it in the first place. I am extremely

disappointed, like others, that there has not been Executive

agreement to permit a formal amendments of them from the

Department. Perhaps the Minister can give us a reason why it is on this

occasion. It was my intention to table an amendment on this issue. It

was shaved and supported by the health committee on this film. My

amendment would have interviews a clause to provide my with

regulation. The latest report published by

Public Health England in August of last year would have been that the

cigarettes believes negligible amounts of nicotine. However, the

evolution of the power to ban these address in cars...

And Stephen's joined me again for a final word.

Bombardier dominated part of the proceedings today

and the Enterprise Minster was once again in the spotlight.

Is not the first time you want I have chatted for Jonathan fell his

performance at school and, to be fair, it was a very difficult and

defensive the dispatch box, physically after the news last week,

and I think what people wanted to see from Jonathan Bell's is a was a

plan of action. No one is holding him responsible for the economic

downturn but he was facing the decision of being complacent. The

other thing you want it to you was on use houses and because they see

that... And we'll Northern Ireland be a part of the national you

campaign? We might see David Cameron, maybe you like Nigel

Farage, so I think it will see national figures over here in the

coming weeks and Northern Ireland with the national campaign.

Join me again at the same time tomorrow night -