0:00:20 > 0:00:23Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. And while Oscar may have nodded in
0:00:23 > 0:00:25the direction of Northern Ireland with a short film nomination and
0:00:25 > 0:00:30yet another nod for Kenneth Branagh, which of our MLAs has been giving
0:00:30 > 0:00:33the best performance? Here's Mike Nesbitt doing
0:00:33 > 0:00:42bewilderment. Or would you prefer the angry young
0:00:42 > 0:00:48man type? What is the response? Let as Ram it
0:00:48 > 0:00:51through, not bother with due process. Get rid of the committee
0:00:51 > 0:00:58stage because we know best. And my leading man tonight,
0:00:59 > 0:01:08economist John Simpson. The economic reports remain pretty
0:01:08 > 0:01:11bleak. John Simpson can give us his analysis of the picture. I
0:01:11 > 0:01:18mentioned the Oscars and the creative industries and along with
0:01:18 > 0:01:24tourism, those are the green shoots? Tourism gets good muddles
0:01:24 > 0:01:29and Sammy Wilson does as well in terms of being in charge of finance.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34Tourism is followed by the food industry doing quite well. The
0:01:34 > 0:01:39construction industry is at the bottom and manufacturing. So the
0:01:39 > 0:01:43economy is worrying but it is not all worrying. A so the Programme
0:01:43 > 0:01:48for Government has been well digest it now, a week on the right track
0:01:48 > 0:01:55to some kind of recovery? Programme for Government on the
0:01:55 > 0:02:00economic side particularly is a big improvement. But it is still to
0:02:00 > 0:02:04aspirational. I think we will see many arguments about what they mean
0:02:04 > 0:02:08by the different state friends and what they are doing to make them
0:02:08 > 0:02:17come to life. Where are the jobs and the skilled people going to
0:02:17 > 0:02:21come from? All these things we are waiting for. But with the finance
0:02:21 > 0:02:27minister's economic background, he should be the man best placed for
0:02:27 > 0:02:32it? Sammy Wilson does have a background in economics and indeed
0:02:32 > 0:02:38teaching that he needs to be careful that he does not let his
0:02:38 > 0:02:44emotion carry him away from some logic. I think we might be thinking
0:02:44 > 0:02:46in different directions about the rates changes. A Taps and sinks are
0:02:46 > 0:02:49being replaced at the Royal's neo- natal unit after an inspection
0:02:49 > 0:02:52uncovered the source of the fatal pseudomonas outbreak. The new taps
0:02:52 > 0:02:54will have an ultra-violet light feature, which will kill bacteria.
0:02:54 > 0:03:01Here's the minister Edwin Poots making his second statement to
0:03:01 > 0:03:07members in as many days. Firstly there has been some
0:03:07 > 0:03:12concerns about the impact of this a brake on the ability to maintain
0:03:12 > 0:03:17neonatal provincial and in Northern Ireland. At present the neonatal
0:03:17 > 0:03:22network is managing well. However the number of babies requiring
0:03:22 > 0:03:28neonatal care can change from hour to hour. Well established
0:03:28 > 0:03:33arrangements are in place to make sure that when babies require it
0:03:33 > 0:03:38they can be translated to different units in Northern Ireland or
0:03:38 > 0:03:42another part of the UK or Republic of Ireland. I want to reassure
0:03:42 > 0:03:49women that delivery wards and all other services are operating as
0:03:49 > 0:03:55normal. Expectant mothers should attend appointments as scheduled. I
0:03:55 > 0:03:59wish to thank staff across the health sector for their continued
0:03:59 > 0:04:04dedication and commitment in caring for babies at this difficult time.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08I know all staff across the entire health sector work tirelessly to
0:04:08 > 0:04:12provide a safe and caring environment for patients and I
0:04:12 > 0:04:17would express my gratitude to the Mall. In addition I pay tribute to
0:04:17 > 0:04:22the work of the Public Health Agency in providing expert advice
0:04:22 > 0:04:25and to the Health and Social Care Board as they ensure that neonatal
0:04:25 > 0:04:27services remain available for babies.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30Now the source has been identified, questions are being asked about how
0:04:30 > 0:04:33the contaminated water reached the babies. There's also the further
0:04:33 > 0:04:35matter of the death of a baby in Altnagelvin before Christmas. The
0:04:35 > 0:04:43Chief Medical Officer, Michael McBride, told me what the
0:04:43 > 0:04:48Department of Health did after the death. When the identified the
0:04:48 > 0:04:54incident at Altnagelvin and became aware that it was apparently
0:04:54 > 0:04:57related to a tap within the unit, week issued the guidance again to
0:04:57 > 0:05:01all the Trusts across Northern Ireland reminding them again of the
0:05:01 > 0:05:07information that we have previously issued. But there was no sense at
0:05:07 > 0:05:12that stage that the taps should have been checked? I think it was
0:05:12 > 0:05:22fair to say we had high standards of infection control across all
0:05:22 > 0:05:22
0:05:22 > 0:05:30intensive care units. So there is no suggestion that we had a problem
0:05:30 > 0:05:34and indeed prior to these outbreaks, every indication was that all of
0:05:34 > 0:05:39the arrangements currently in place were working well. Clearly once we
0:05:39 > 0:05:42get the a brick under control there will be the opportunity to ask
0:05:42 > 0:05:48questions around, are the things that we could or should have done
0:05:48 > 0:05:52differently? Those are questions for another time. But it is
0:05:52 > 0:05:59important that we look back on this experience and particularly the
0:05:59 > 0:06:04tragic consequences, and ask those questions. What are the lesson that
0:06:04 > 0:06:08we can learn? What are the steps we can take to ensure that this does
0:06:08 > 0:06:13not happen again, to the best of our ability. Do you drink it could
0:06:13 > 0:06:19have been prevented? I would be speculating, we need to investigate
0:06:19 > 0:06:23in some detail the causes, the possible contributory factors. We
0:06:23 > 0:06:30do need to provide those answers in due course because the last thing
0:06:30 > 0:06:35we want is for this to occur again. Could more have been done between
0:06:35 > 0:06:40the baby dying in Altnagelvin to the three babies dying in the
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Royal? I suspect the answer to that question would be yes. Will the
0:06:43 > 0:06:48committee now be asking for further details or will you wait for the
0:06:48 > 0:06:53outcome of the inquiry? I think it would be prudent to wait for the
0:06:53 > 0:06:58outcome of the inquiry but we will be keeping a close eye on this. One
0:06:58 > 0:07:02of my committee colleague asked if taps would be replaced in other
0:07:02 > 0:07:06neonatal unit snout as a result of finding the second source and I
0:07:06 > 0:07:11think the answer to that question should be yes, it should be carried
0:07:11 > 0:07:15out as quickly as possible. Is a hospital fit for purpose? Does this
0:07:15 > 0:07:20raised questions about the new children's hospital that was
0:07:20 > 0:07:22planned some time ago? Question time can often be a bad
0:07:22 > 0:07:26tempered hour, but not today, with the regional development minister
0:07:26 > 0:07:27in fine form. Also up this afternoon was the social
0:07:27 > 0:07:32development minister, Nelson McCausland, who managed to upset
0:07:32 > 0:07:42one member. But let's start with Danny Kennedy taking a question
0:07:42 > 0:07:43
0:07:44 > 0:07:48from a party colleague. The minister will be aware in his
0:07:48 > 0:07:51own network Transport report that average journey times through
0:07:51 > 0:07:56Ballynahinch where as low as just under eight miles an hour. Would
0:07:56 > 0:08:02the minister agreed that this has a serious adverse effect on
0:08:02 > 0:08:06businesses, tourism, commuters across the South Down area?
0:08:06 > 0:08:12grateful to the member for his supplementary question and his
0:08:12 > 0:08:19interest in this particular scheme. I have had many occasions to travel
0:08:19 > 0:08:26through Ballynahinch and also enjoy the facilities offered by
0:08:26 > 0:08:30Ballynahinch in terms of shopping and other facilities. And I want to
0:08:30 > 0:08:36stress that it would be my hope and intention that we could proceed
0:08:36 > 0:08:40with a Ballynahinch bypass as quickly as possible. I'm interested
0:08:40 > 0:08:44as roads minister in upgrading the network of roads throughout
0:08:44 > 0:08:48Northern Ireland. Ian am listening closely and have taken the
0:08:48 > 0:08:53opportunity to meet with local representatives from that area,
0:08:53 > 0:08:58advocating that scheme. Also with business people. I am aware of the
0:08:58 > 0:09:04arguments and it is a matter of moving this scheme forward as
0:09:04 > 0:09:07quickly as we can. I thank the Minister for his response. I
0:09:07 > 0:09:16noticed the minister was indeed in my constituency last Wednesday
0:09:16 > 0:09:18morning. And he had a number of representatives around him. I was
0:09:18 > 0:09:25in the office dealing with constituents but he never thought
0:09:25 > 0:09:30of coming and saying, come out and talked to us. Things were just as
0:09:30 > 0:09:34highly charged as the next topic came up - electric cars. I am
0:09:34 > 0:09:39impressed by the minister's illuminating answer. But could I
0:09:39 > 0:09:45ask him to throw some more light on how people could actually be
0:09:45 > 0:09:51encouraged to take that first tentative step to requiring
0:09:51 > 0:10:01electric powered vehicles? I thank the member and as usual he is not
0:10:01 > 0:10:01
0:10:01 > 0:10:05plugged in, he is sometimes wired up! There are specific charge.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10Locations which have been identified throughout Northern
0:10:10 > 0:10:20Ireland. Each of these will have two dedicated car park spaces which
0:10:20 > 0:10:20
0:10:20 > 0:10:26will be located in priority car park locations. And of course home
0:10:26 > 0:10:30and workplace charging will be charged under existing home and
0:10:30 > 0:10:36workplace pictures the bills. We are putting in place the mechanism
0:10:36 > 0:10:41to allow people to take up this scheme and perhaps a bale of it.
0:10:41 > 0:10:47Electric vehicles are now just coming onto the market and the plug
0:10:47 > 0:10:56in car Grant allows buyers to receive a grant of 25% towards the
0:10:56 > 0:10:59cost. Up to a maximum of �5,000. social development it was
0:10:59 > 0:11:03homelessness and increased levels of repossession that had the
0:11:03 > 0:11:07interest of members. Here is the minister responding to Paul Maskey.
0:11:07 > 0:11:13We are not yet clear are the implications of welfare reform so
0:11:13 > 0:11:18it is impossible to predict precisely where we will be. But I
0:11:18 > 0:11:28think the proposals we're bringing forward will adopt a comprehensive
0:11:28 > 0:11:35approach to deliver what we need in the next period.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40I thank the Minister for his reply. In relation to giving his answer to
0:11:40 > 0:11:44the members already, he made reference to a wider ranging
0:11:44 > 0:11:49definition of homelessness. Especially those people who
0:11:49 > 0:11:53unfortunately find themselves on the street. What is the Minister
0:11:53 > 0:11:57and the Department looking at in the chick here in relation to that
0:11:57 > 0:12:06issue and straw and the distinction between that type of definition and
0:12:06 > 0:12:10people who have their property repossessed? The first question
0:12:10 > 0:12:15their around how many are actually homeless and the meaning of
0:12:15 > 0:12:19homelessness, under the Housing Law in 1988 a prisoners' home as if
0:12:19 > 0:12:22they have no accommodation. Furthermore a person can be treated
0:12:22 > 0:12:27as homeless even if they have accommodation that may not be fit
0:12:27 > 0:12:30for their needs or have a double. Last year more than 10,000 people
0:12:30 > 0:12:34on the waiting list were assessed in this manner but I stress this
0:12:34 > 0:12:37does not mean they're actually homeless. People assessed as
0:12:37 > 0:12:42homeless may be living in temporary accommodation, staying with friends
0:12:42 > 0:12:46or even in many cases, living in their own home. The Housing
0:12:46 > 0:12:50Executive estimate approximately 10 people sleep rough on streets of
0:12:50 > 0:12:54Belfast on any given night but members must realise that this is
0:12:54 > 0:12:58by their own choice if they can describe it like that. Often their
0:12:58 > 0:13:02folk who are living with circumstances and situations. No
0:13:02 > 0:13:07one needs to be sleeping on the streets and there is enough
0:13:07 > 0:13:09accommodation across Northern Ireland for anyone who needs it.
0:13:09 > 0:13:16pilot pay-as-you-go scheme for people using home heating oil has
0:13:16 > 0:13:19started recently but Mike Nesbitt had a query. I thank the Minister.
0:13:19 > 0:13:24Returning to the Pay As You Go pilot scheme, could the Minister of
0:13:24 > 0:13:30for clarity on the ownership of the heating oil in domestic tanks using
0:13:30 > 0:13:40this technology and in the event of theft, who would bear the risk, the
0:13:40 > 0:13:41
0:13:41 > 0:13:51During the pilot scheme the tank will be fitted with an antique
0:13:51 > 0:13:56
0:13:56 > 0:14:03Tampa device. -- Antique tampering device. Mike Nesbitt said he was
0:14:03 > 0:14:10appalled at the number of times ministers ignored questions. He
0:14:10 > 0:14:18said it was an abuse of democracy. Obviously welfare reform is going
0:14:18 > 0:14:25to be a huge issue for all of us in the coming weeks and months.
0:14:25 > 0:14:30have seen what happened in the House of Lords with regard to the
0:14:30 > 0:14:39debate on maximum benefits. Northern Ireland was left out of
0:14:39 > 0:14:43the discussion, but we all know what that means. Parity will have
0:14:43 > 0:14:49to be kept with what is happening across the water otherwise the
0:14:49 > 0:14:57Budget will be in difficulty. We will be hearing much more
0:14:57 > 0:15:06discussion about the impact of the cut in off their benefits. It is
0:15:06 > 0:15:09the situation where Hobson's Choice will have to do. Is Stormont the
0:15:09 > 0:15:11visitor attraction it could be? Are nationalists put off coming to
0:15:11 > 0:15:14parliament buildings because of Lord Carson's statue? Well, it
0:15:14 > 0:15:24seems there is evidence that it's not as cross-community as it could
0:15:24 > 0:15:25
0:15:25 > 0:15:32be. Here's Martina to explain. According to the latest minutes of
0:15:32 > 0:15:39the Assembly committee, they have commissioned an audit to see
0:15:39 > 0:15:46whether Stormont is welcoming enough. It has been suggested in
0:15:46 > 0:15:54the minutes that people are not coming to Stormont because their
0:15:54 > 0:16:02culture is not been reflected. Previous reports have indicated
0:16:02 > 0:16:11that Unionists are more likely to visit Stormont. This audit has been
0:16:11 > 0:16:20going on and efforts had been made to make sure of symbols and
0:16:20 > 0:16:30language are more reflective of nationalists.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32
0:16:32 > 0:16:42Money is tight. You have heard about some changes that could be
0:16:42 > 0:16:45
0:16:46 > 0:16:51made. Yes. There are issues around the childcare scheme here. It is
0:16:51 > 0:16:55thought it is to generous and people who use it should move to
0:16:55 > 0:17:03the voucher scheme. With me now is Sinn Fein's Barry
0:17:03 > 0:17:08McElduff. How do you know there are more Protestants than couplets that
0:17:08 > 0:17:16visit Parliament Buildings? A survey was carried out in 2009
0:17:16 > 0:17:20and it demonstrated that in the West, 10 % of the people surveyed
0:17:20 > 0:17:30said they had been to Stormont. In the greater Belfast area the figure
0:17:30 > 0:17:35is 39 %. Unionists tend to identify greater with the building the brand
0:17:35 > 0:17:45do nationalists of historical reasons. But things are changing.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49This evening, Belfast Community Gospel Choir are in the long haul.
0:17:49 > 0:17:55Progress is being made. As a commission member, I am duty-bound
0:17:55 > 0:18:00to push this agenda a little bit more and tried to have more out
0:18:00 > 0:18:06reach to places like Tyrone and Fermanagh, so people feel
0:18:06 > 0:18:16comfortable about coming to Stormont. Is there not an issue of
0:18:16 > 0:18:20distance? Yes, but Stormont is not Irish language friendly. If he were
0:18:20 > 0:18:26to go to the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish parliament, you will see
0:18:26 > 0:18:30institutional reflection of languages. You do not see that here
0:18:30 > 0:18:37at Stormont parliament buildings, and you are talking about where
0:18:37 > 0:18:43there is a burgeoning Ivey school movement. People coming here would
0:18:43 > 0:18:47like tours in at the Irish medium. I am not saying I am facing a brick
0:18:47 > 0:18:52wall, but this is typically the stuff of debate at the Commission.
0:18:52 > 0:18:57Is it just about language, or would you prefer to see other symbols
0:18:57 > 0:19:07around the building, something along the lines of the flak?
0:19:07 > 0:19:09
0:19:09 > 0:19:19would like to see neutrality or equality. Perhaps along with the
0:19:19 > 0:19:22
0:19:22 > 0:19:29Lord Carson statue they could be because of other prominent Irish
0:19:29 > 0:19:35men or women. These are the things which I think the commission should
0:19:36 > 0:19:38have a serious discussion around. Thank you for joining us.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42The Rates Bill is passing though the House using accelerated passage.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45This means a Bill can pass through all stages in as little as ten days
0:19:45 > 0:19:47instead of the usual months as it skips the committee stage. Jim
0:19:47 > 0:19:54Allister questioned the Finance's Ministers motives for using this
0:19:54 > 0:19:59process, but Sammy Wilson was adamant it was the right way.
0:19:59 > 0:20:04The key measures contained within the Bell Rock arm important on a
0:20:04 > 0:20:09number of levels, not at least due to the fact that the funding will
0:20:09 > 0:20:13allow a number of businesses receiving help to be roughly
0:20:14 > 0:20:23doubled and the level of support increased by around 50 %. Given
0:20:24 > 0:20:25
0:20:25 > 0:20:30that help is needed now, the funding raised through the levy, it
0:20:30 > 0:20:34would be pure show if we did not implement the measures until 2013
0:20:34 > 0:20:42what we hope the recovery will be on the way. For that reason, it is
0:20:42 > 0:20:47important the motion go through by accelerated passage rather than
0:20:47 > 0:20:53take the normal route. The use of accelerated passage is not
0:20:53 > 0:20:57something that I take lightly and having been on the other side of
0:20:57 > 0:21:04the process as the chairman of a committee and as a backbench member,
0:21:04 > 0:21:09I fully understand why people and members would wish to have the
0:21:09 > 0:21:15opportunity to properly deal with legislation to the scrutiny, which
0:21:16 > 0:21:21normally takes place line by line and the committee. And I also
0:21:21 > 0:21:31recognise that it is a means of ensuring that legislation is fit
0:21:31 > 0:21:39for purpose and when we finish, we have the best piece of legislation
0:21:39 > 0:21:44possible. How were there, it is important we balance again that --
0:21:44 > 0:21:48against that these packages are focussing on taking the strain from
0:21:48 > 0:21:53businesses during the economic downturn and insuring a further
0:21:53 > 0:21:59decline in the high streets is halted. For that reason, I believe
0:21:59 > 0:22:06it is important that we get the measure through the assembly
0:22:06 > 0:22:14quickly so that it can be in place for the start of the rate year in
0:22:14 > 0:22:192012. If there had been the urgency, if there had been the anxiety, it
0:22:19 > 0:22:27could have manifested itself a lot sooner than now. It is not that we
0:22:27 > 0:22:34have had time because since this committee and assembly came into
0:22:34 > 0:22:38existence, we have been wasting time. This is the first legislation
0:22:38 > 0:22:44apart from the hang of the budget that has come before this House and
0:22:44 > 0:22:54what is the response of the Special Operations Executive? Let us push
0:22:54 > 0:22:56
0:22:56 > 0:23:00it through. Let us not bother with due process. There are other
0:23:00 > 0:23:05private members' motions that we could bear to spend our time on. I
0:23:05 > 0:23:15do pick it sends out a very wrong and disappointing, but to me not
0:23:15 > 0:23:16
0:23:16 > 0:23:25surprising message, from this House. We can't wait to avoid it due
0:23:25 > 0:23:29process, we can't avoid to rush it and accelerate its, whether it is
0:23:29 > 0:23:32exceptional or not. Well, despite Mr Allister's
0:23:32 > 0:23:34protests the Bill did move to it's second stage. The Finance Minister
0:23:35 > 0:23:38explained to the House that the legislation will allow him to
0:23:38 > 0:23:41introduce a 15% levy on the largest shops, which will help fund a small
0:23:41 > 0:23:44business rate relief scheme. There was general agreement for the plan,
0:23:44 > 0:23:51but members reminded the Minister they would hold him to his promise
0:23:51 > 0:23:56of a full non domestic rate revaluation in 2015. It is
0:23:56 > 0:24:03important to look at these changes in proportion. The levy, first of
0:24:03 > 0:24:12all, is a temporary change and it will only last for three years. On
0:24:12 > 0:24:22average, the levy will cost about �66,000 per year, Per store. That
0:24:22 > 0:24:25
0:24:25 > 0:24:33represents again on average 0.19 % of the individual store's turnover.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37That put it into context. Businesses who form part of a
0:24:37 > 0:24:47larger chain should not benefit from the skins. Mortarboard
0:24:47 > 0:24:56business premises will be excluded. It is necessary to have a fair and
0:24:56 > 0:25:00transparent process for the long- term. The revaluation in 2015
0:25:00 > 0:25:08should rebalance the rating system. There should be no delay in
0:25:08 > 0:25:14implementing this. The necessary preparatory work should be carried
0:25:14 > 0:25:20out well in advance. There may be better ways of bringing believed to
0:25:20 > 0:25:27small retailers in the longer term, but these would take some time to
0:25:27 > 0:25:32bring forward under the existing rating system. A rating review is
0:25:32 > 0:25:35planned and perhaps that will afford the opportunity to hone a
0:25:35 > 0:25:38more accurate instrument in the future. I appreciate the
0:25:38 > 0:25:43difficulties of the small businesses. I hear what the large
0:25:43 > 0:25:53retailers are saying, but I must say there is not the same level of
0:25:53 > 0:25:54
0:25:54 > 0:26:04large retailers going to the war as are small businesses. -- to the
0:26:04 > 0:26:06
0:26:06 > 0:26:11wall. The big stores like Tesco are not happy about this. Is it a good
0:26:11 > 0:26:15idea? I have said on record I thought it was a poor idea and it
0:26:15 > 0:26:21is not one I would like to support. I think it has damaged. First of
0:26:21 > 0:26:25all, it will not make a difference to the troubles of small businesses.
0:26:25 > 0:26:32If you look around the streets, particularly Belfast, there are so
0:26:32 > 0:26:38many empty shops. We need the economy took stop brewing again. I
0:26:38 > 0:26:47did not like this because it has offended the large stores. They are
0:26:47 > 0:26:57saying they are been giving -- being given an extra charge. If it
0:26:57 > 0:27:05was a fair system, it would not need this adaptation. We need the
0:27:05 > 0:27:10new revaluation and the minister is pain the pros -- paying the price
0:27:10 > 0:27:14for delaying it. We do need to revitalise the economy, but the
0:27:14 > 0:27:19short answer is the programme for government is tackling this slowly.
0:27:19 > 0:27:26There is not a sense of urgency and when the Finance Minister is
0:27:26 > 0:27:30shifting five or six or �8 million, getting at first publicity, it
0:27:30 > 0:27:35seems to me it is the wrong price to pay for the problems we are
0:27:35 > 0:27:38tackling. They say every picture tells a
0:27:38 > 0:27:40story and that was certainly true in Stormont today. People
0:27:40 > 0:27:43recovering from addiction to drugs and alcohol displayed artwork they
0:27:43 > 0:27:46had produced as part of a programme at the Dunlewy Substance Abuse
0:27:46 > 0:27:56Centre based in north Belfast. They help former addicts, including 14-
0:27:56 > 0:27:56
0:27:56 > 0:28:06year-old Demi Kelly. I was on drugs and I got into
0:28:06 > 0:28:06
0:28:06 > 0:28:13Dunlewy. They asked me to do a photo shoot and I agreed. What sort
0:28:13 > 0:28:17of hell did you get? That I could do better and I had made mistakes.
0:28:17 > 0:28:22Tell me about a picture. What were you thinking of when you put it
0:28:23 > 0:28:28together? I was thinking I could have fun without being in bother
0:28:28 > 0:28:32and that I just thought I would do a picture of being happy. I took a
0:28:32 > 0:28:37picture of me being happy and edited it. They said it would be up
0:28:37 > 0:28:41at Stormont so I came today and I was relieved it was up.