0:00:22 > 0:00:26Hello and welcome to Stormont Today. Day one of the Queen's Jubilee
0:00:26 > 0:00:29visit and she's been praised for helping Anglo-Irish relations. Up
0:00:29 > 0:00:31here, the stage is set for the Stormont party but inside the
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Chamber things were a bit less jolly. Politicians were debating
0:00:35 > 0:00:45cutting the number of MLAs - there was even a chance to lament those
0:00:45 > 0:00:47
0:00:47 > 0:00:52they had loved and lost. Women's Coalition are no longer
0:00:52 > 0:00:55here, the Progressive Unionist Party is no longer hear... If you
0:00:55 > 0:00:59really want to have an inclusive place that would include the
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Monster Raving Loony Party, you need to have a lot more than 100 or
0:01:02 > 0:01:04was! And an end of term prize giving for
0:01:04 > 0:01:11children campaigning against attacks on the emergency services.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15And my guest tonight is Economist Last night the Department of
0:01:15 > 0:01:25Justice got our end of session report. Tonight it's the turn of
0:01:25 > 0:01:27
0:01:27 > 0:01:32Finance. How have they functioned? The Department of Finance has run
0:01:32 > 0:01:36its budget as a pretty tight ship. What we have had today is the
0:01:36 > 0:01:40different departments that wanted to claim an extra 180 million and
0:01:40 > 0:01:46they were only able to allocate just over 90 million. It is early
0:01:46 > 0:01:48in the financial year so you could say that if they have 90 million
0:01:48 > 0:01:53left they are doing well considering there is only three
0:01:53 > 0:01:55months on, but there is some of that left over from last year. The
0:01:55 > 0:02:01his claims have been rejected. Their health service has been asked
0:02:01 > 0:02:04for twice as much as it has been allocated. Transient has asked for
0:02:04 > 0:02:07a significant sum of money and it has only been around half that.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11They should be going home saying that they were talking about being
0:02:11 > 0:02:16a bit short but they will probably settle for what they have got, even
0:02:16 > 0:02:20though it is less than what the bed for. It is all pretty confusing for
0:02:20 > 0:02:24most people. It does seem sometimes as though they get money from down
0:02:24 > 0:02:29the back of the so far. We keep coming up with millions of pounds
0:02:29 > 0:02:33from the we are. The Minister of finance is one of alter that
0:02:33 > 0:02:37accusation. We are told that up expecting is getting tighter and
0:02:37 > 0:02:41then as we go through a year there is always something that can be
0:02:41 > 0:02:45released from somewhere. It is it that the nature of a very large
0:02:45 > 0:02:50budget. If we start talking about 100 billion, that is only one %
0:02:50 > 0:02:54that they are playing with. Nevertheless, I think the fire was
0:02:54 > 0:02:58a finance their I would be willing to say that the department's one
0:02:58 > 0:03:03way to improve is that you should plan to live on what you have got.
0:03:03 > 0:03:09Live within your means. What about the bad news today on corporation
0:03:09 > 0:03:14tax? That I think is the worst news today in terms of the political
0:03:14 > 0:03:18process. We were built up to believe that yesterday's meeting
0:03:18 > 0:03:22would be a very definitive moment and we would get something of a
0:03:22 > 0:03:26proposal that might be adopted by the Treasury. Now we're being told
0:03:26 > 0:03:31that is not ready. That there are significant differences between the
0:03:31 > 0:03:35two party, mean that the Treasury and the ministers, and that there
0:03:35 > 0:03:40is our best to avoid extra burden on business and extra burden on the
0:03:40 > 0:03:44Revenue and Customs department. Code language for saying that it
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Northern Ireland wants to play with his ovation on this, the customs
0:03:47 > 0:03:50revenue department is going to charge in and that is going to put
0:03:50 > 0:03:53the bill up. There is a major debate going on about the bill.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57There is probably a major debate going on about the way in which we
0:03:57 > 0:04:00do it. I would say to her ministers, for goodness sake tell us what the
0:04:00 > 0:04:04proposals are that you have on the table, tell us what the
0:04:04 > 0:04:07difficulties are in more detail, because at the moment we are left
0:04:07 > 0:04:10wondering what you were arguing about.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13The property maintenance company Red Sky found itself at the centre
0:04:13 > 0:04:15of a storm last year when its contract with the Housing Executive
0:04:15 > 0:04:19was terminated. There were allegations of substandard work and
0:04:19 > 0:04:22financial mismanagement. But it seems now that Red Sky wasn't the
0:04:22 > 0:04:32only company which wasn't up to scratch, as the Social development
0:04:32 > 0:04:32
0:04:32 > 0:04:37minister revealed during questions. Last year, I became increasingly
0:04:37 > 0:04:42concerned that the issues which led to the termination of the Red Sky
0:04:42 > 0:04:45contract by the housing Executive in July 2011 may be present in
0:04:45 > 0:04:50other contracts which had not been the subject of any full
0:04:50 > 0:04:54investigation. I ask that a forensic investigation was carried
0:04:54 > 0:04:58out of a sample of Housing Executive maintenance contracts,
0:04:58 > 0:05:04including those of the contractors to whom that the Red Sky contract
0:05:04 > 0:05:09was reassigned on its termination on 14th July 2011. This is to
0:05:09 > 0:05:13provide me with insurance is in relation just -- in relation to
0:05:13 > 0:05:17insuring the circumstances of the relation -- termination of the Red
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Sky contract are not present in other contracts. The provision for
0:05:22 > 0:05:27the best possible Mac -- value-for- money service and thirdly the
0:05:27 > 0:05:34appropriate use of public funds. This has been carried out and
0:05:34 > 0:05:39considered. Given the importance of these contracts, I am sure the
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Minister will agree that there proper management is critical. He
0:05:43 > 0:05:51has outlined some improvements required, which will need a
0:05:51 > 0:05:55fundamental change on behalf of the prison Executive. Does he ever --
0:05:55 > 0:06:03Housing Executive. Does he have confidence in the Executive to make
0:06:03 > 0:06:09those changes? He raises a fundamental issue. I have to say I
0:06:09 > 0:06:14have concerns. In relationship -- in relation to the effective and
0:06:14 > 0:06:17timely employment could -- implementation of the Executive of
0:06:17 > 0:06:21the recommendations made in this review. On my secretary has met
0:06:21 > 0:06:24with both the chief Executive and the chairman of the housing
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Executive to discuss his concerns in relationship to contact
0:06:28 > 0:06:31management and what the Housing Executive is doing to ensure the
0:06:31 > 0:06:36effect of a timely and not -- implantation of those
0:06:36 > 0:06:42recommendations. I intend to raise VAT at a forthcoming performance
0:06:42 > 0:06:46review meeting. I recall that almost 12 months ago, and met with
0:06:46 > 0:06:51the chairman and the acting chief Executive of the Housing Executive.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56This was in the context of red sky. I asked for assurances and I was
0:06:56 > 0:07:00given assurances about other contractors. The evidence that is
0:07:00 > 0:07:04now emerging raises serious questions about the assurances that
0:07:04 > 0:07:08I was given by the chairman and by the acting chief Executive and I
0:07:08 > 0:07:14take that pretty seriously because they both sat in my office with May
0:07:14 > 0:07:20and even the issuance has personally. Her I wonder if the
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Minister would agree with me, with regards to organisations like Red
0:07:23 > 0:07:27Sky, it sometimes seems like the tail wagging the dog and they seem
0:07:27 > 0:07:33to have something of a senior members of staff in the housing
0:07:34 > 0:07:40Executive. We're trying to put a halt to some bad practice, they
0:07:40 > 0:07:46would then move that on. I think the Member for his question. It
0:07:46 > 0:07:50raises a fundamental issue that I touched on. It is becoming
0:07:50 > 0:07:58increasingly clear, it was clear last year to some extent, but his
0:07:58 > 0:08:04is now clear her, that the issues in regard to red sky were actually
0:08:04 > 0:08:09present in quite a number of contractors and the point being
0:08:09 > 0:08:14that not only are their shortcomings there, in terms of the
0:08:14 > 0:08:20service provided to tenants, but also in terms of the monitoring and
0:08:20 > 0:08:24management and the inspection of work. Somebody signs of some work
0:08:24 > 0:08:30that has not even happened in a place that did not even exist, I do
0:08:30 > 0:08:34not know how they managed that. to agriculture and the Minister was
0:08:34 > 0:08:39asked to what she was doing on cross-border flood protection. He
0:08:39 > 0:08:43had forgotten one thing. department is a competent a
0:08:43 > 0:08:52authority for the implication of the -- implementation of the
0:08:52 > 0:08:58directive. The risk assessment was completed in 2011. We are currently
0:08:58 > 0:09:03producing eight flood hazard maps, which are on target for 2013.
0:09:03 > 0:09:08Starting the drafting of the flood mismanagement palms, to be
0:09:08 > 0:09:14completed by 2015. The role of Comberton a authority is undertaken
0:09:14 > 0:09:18by the Office of Public Works. When carrying out the assessment, there
0:09:18 > 0:09:23was full co-operation and sharing of information between officials
0:09:23 > 0:09:29and Red Cross and Ireland. We have identified there are no significant
0:09:29 > 0:09:39flood risk areas. There are three rare rubies and catchments witty to
0:09:39 > 0:09:45
0:09:45 > 0:09:52For the other two did at -- -- we are drafting that flood risk
0:09:52 > 0:09:56management plans. We have agreed a joint approach, which will insure
0:09:56 > 0:10:06the flood risk is managed on the whole catchment basis and we will
0:10:06 > 0:10:09
0:10:09 > 0:10:15work closely across the silent. -- this island. Remember do not
0:10:15 > 0:10:17translate his question. Question seven.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Well, we heard earlier from John how the finance minister shuffled
0:10:20 > 0:10:23his deck of financial cards and handed out millions of pounds as
0:10:23 > 0:10:26part of the June monitoring round. The Department of Regional
0:10:26 > 0:10:35development was the big winner getting almost 34 million for road
0:10:35 > 0:10:41maintenance and new buses.Here's how Sammy Wilson dealt out the dosh.
0:10:41 > 0:10:48The net impact including Maj reservation, the because of acacias,
0:10:48 > 0:10:54is that the Executive had available �76.6 million and its -- in respect
0:10:54 > 0:10:58to none ring first resource with further capital investments.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Against this significant level of resources available, the
0:11:03 > 0:11:08department's beds for additional resources of �108.2 million, in
0:11:08 > 0:11:13terms of non ring-fenced resource, and �88.2 million in respect of
0:11:13 > 0:11:22capital investment. The individual bits by departments are detailed in
0:11:22 > 0:11:32the tables which are attached to the statement. I found the Mercer
0:11:32 > 0:11:34
0:11:34 > 0:11:37for its co-operation. -- minister. In relation to the statement, it is
0:11:37 > 0:11:42obviously it more significant level of reduced requirements, almost
0:11:42 > 0:11:46twice as much as last year in terms of resource. Last year the capital
0:11:46 > 0:11:50was only not 0.3 million and this year it is almost �30 million of
0:11:50 > 0:11:54capital. Does the Minister believe that what he has set out today
0:11:54 > 0:11:58indicates that the departments have fully declared their requirements
0:11:58 > 0:12:07at this time and how confident is he that they will not declared
0:12:07 > 0:12:12reduced requirements end of the January round? I thank him for his
0:12:12 > 0:12:22comments and wish him all the best as he leaves this place. I do not
0:12:22 > 0:12:22
0:12:22 > 0:12:27know where he is going. He is going to have a life of leisure! He has
0:12:27 > 0:12:32highlighted the issue of reduced requirements and of course be want
0:12:32 > 0:12:35departments, if they can identify those, we wanted departments to
0:12:35 > 0:12:39declare it reduced requirements as soon as possible because as has
0:12:39 > 0:12:44been seen by the statement today, it actually means that we can plan
0:12:44 > 0:12:47ahead, we can look at what schemes art of the greatest priority for
0:12:48 > 0:12:56the Assembly, what are the most pressing needs, and spend money on
0:12:56 > 0:13:01It's a difficult job because so many departments are looking for
0:13:01 > 0:13:04their share of the cake. Many departments have been disappointed
0:13:04 > 0:13:09and they cannot make a strong case that they need more money. They
0:13:09 > 0:13:14were told at the beginning of the year how much money there was and
0:13:14 > 0:13:17he is right, there has to be discipline now. There were one or
0:13:17 > 0:13:26two points in the decision-making process today that do not relate to
0:13:26 > 0:13:31the money. One that is that he has virtually changed the proposal of
0:13:32 > 0:13:40the New Deal. A small amount of money was set up -- set aside to
0:13:40 > 0:13:44put -- set the scheme up. He has scrapped that idea and he has now
0:13:44 > 0:13:49shifted �4 million a year to providing replacement boilers. This
0:13:49 > 0:13:52is a simpler but a much less extensive programme and I know the
0:13:52 > 0:13:56advocates of the green New Deal will be extremely disappointed
0:13:56 > 0:14:03because they thought they had a real winner here in terms of jobs
0:14:03 > 0:14:05and people being motivated to improve their houses. The Minister
0:14:05 > 0:14:07other department of social development has prism will walk
0:14:07 > 0:14:10away from it. It's like turkeys voting for
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Christmas asking MLAs to reduce their number here at Stormont. But
0:14:13 > 0:14:22that's what one committee was tasked with doing. No surprise then
0:14:22 > 0:14:26that they couldn't reach agreement. We remain to be convinced about
0:14:26 > 0:14:30whatever size of the Assembly. Convincing as if we are ever going
0:14:30 > 0:14:37to change the numbers, we have to be convinced that there are
0:14:37 > 0:14:44safeguard mechanisms that for me was part of the underpinning of the
0:14:44 > 0:14:49Good Friday Agreement. Too often in the past, constituencies have been
0:14:49 > 0:14:55left not properly representative. People were represented in a
0:14:55 > 0:14:59section away. I think the good examples we have provided,
0:14:59 > 0:15:04particularly here in the Assembly, ensure that inclusiveness is one of
0:15:04 > 0:15:07her guiding principles. McCartney made the point that
0:15:07 > 0:15:14already the objective of the agreement to have as many voices
0:15:14 > 0:15:19are represented in this place has been in some ways diluted because
0:15:19 > 0:15:22the Progressive Unionist Party is no longer here, and quite clearly,
0:15:22 > 0:15:27the larger parties have been able to make sure that the electoral
0:15:27 > 0:15:32system works to her advantage and squeezes out those smaller voices.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36If you really want to have an inclusive place, that would include
0:15:36 > 0:15:46the Monster Raving Loony Party, you would have to have a lot more or
0:15:46 > 0:15:49
0:15:49 > 0:15:55people here. LAUGHTER. Hopefully some of those other comments will
0:15:55 > 0:16:00be picked up. I will not step into the gutter like that! We need to be
0:16:00 > 0:16:05careful of what we mean by terms like inclusive pity which would
0:16:05 > 0:16:15ultimately take you to how many people this place would have to
0:16:15 > 0:16:15
0:16:15 > 0:16:22have full stop -- have to have. may be right that it should be the
0:16:22 > 0:16:29same as the district councils. Maybe it should be a living and two
0:16:29 > 0:16:35in Belfast which would make 72. Or five or four. That is the truth. We
0:16:35 > 0:16:42don't need 180, or 96, or 80. Many people would tell you you don't
0:16:42 > 0:16:46need any. The SDLP's Conall McDevitt is here now. When it comes
0:16:46 > 0:16:53down to the figures and shrinking the size of Stormont, how many
0:16:53 > 0:16:57seats would the SDLP news that she went down to 96? We don't intend to
0:16:57 > 0:17:03lose any in the area and practice. We intend to grow our
0:17:03 > 0:17:08representation irrespective of how many seats there. It is not
0:17:08 > 0:17:11necessarily a particular number but how this place can work. How we can
0:17:11 > 0:17:15better scrutinise the executive and how it can deliver more for the
0:17:15 > 0:17:19people who liked it. We are not spending enough time having that
0:17:19 > 0:17:24debate and maybe a little bit too much time about random numbers.
0:17:24 > 0:17:32it not about the Good Friday Agreement? Guesses about the way
0:17:32 > 0:17:35the Assembly works and the way the committee's work. We still bring
0:17:35 > 0:17:38some narrow partisan politics and to this chamber rather than
0:17:38 > 0:17:42thinking about the way the committee structure is meant to act
0:17:42 > 0:17:45as an opposition. If we gave ourselves a bit more space to allow
0:17:45 > 0:17:49the system to work a bit better we would deliver much better results,
0:17:49 > 0:17:56much better government and much better scrutiny for everyone in
0:17:56 > 0:18:03this region. Are we not ultimately tied to the cross-community vote?
0:18:03 > 0:18:07The vast majority of issues we vote on day and be out do not break a
0:18:07 > 0:18:12long commuter lines. It is a tiny majority of issues that trigger
0:18:13 > 0:18:15that mechanism. We need a political culture that understands we do not
0:18:15 > 0:18:19have a traditional government and opposition and it is the committees
0:18:20 > 0:18:25which are meant to be the opposition. We need to allow those
0:18:25 > 0:18:30sitting on committees to behave in a challenging function irrespective
0:18:30 > 0:18:35of who holds the ministry. We saw an example of that this evening,
0:18:35 > 0:18:39the committee's tried to overturn the decision. Not everyone dead and
0:18:39 > 0:18:45that was my point. The parties were whipped into supporting their
0:18:45 > 0:18:52respective ministers. Things are working half the way it should. We
0:18:52 > 0:18:58need more freedom. If a committee makes a decision, we should be more
0:18:58 > 0:19:02attentive to the fact the committee has done it in an informed way. We
0:19:02 > 0:19:11should many think again about how we were per parties. That is as
0:19:11 > 0:19:17much of a debate we need to have as about the number of representatives.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20What about getting away from the man that on a collision? It is an
0:19:20 > 0:19:24option but there will always be a Coalition government. We are
0:19:24 > 0:19:28divided society and you could not envisage a government that is not
0:19:28 > 0:19:33cross community. The question is not whether we have a slightly
0:19:33 > 0:19:37unique form of government but whether we can make our system, the
0:19:37 > 0:19:42government Park and the opposition Park, and whether that comes in the
0:19:42 > 0:19:51form of a traditional opposition or that group of committeds. We have
0:19:51 > 0:19:54at the moment about of a dichotomy. We have new institutions but old-
0:19:54 > 0:19:56style politics. Business this morning started with the health
0:19:56 > 0:19:59minister Edwin Poots delivering an updated suicide prevention strategy.
0:19:59 > 0:20:08It's been six years since the original Protect Life report.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13Here's the minister outlining the scale of the problem here.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17The bottom line is that almost 300 people every year are buying by
0:20:17 > 0:20:22suicide, almost six times the rate of death due to road traffic
0:20:22 > 0:20:27accidents forced up tragically, some families have lost more than
0:20:27 > 0:20:32one close relation to suicide and the burden of suicide impacts more
0:20:32 > 0:20:37or among certain areas and certain groups. The rate is twice as high
0:20:37 > 0:20:42in deprived areas and males are three times as likely as females.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Young people in deprived areas are particularly vulnerable as are
0:20:46 > 0:20:48marginalised groups such as people with mental illness. Young people
0:20:48 > 0:20:52often get bad press, especially after attacks on buses and the
0:20:52 > 0:20:55emergency services. But a group of children from West Belfast came to
0:20:55 > 0:21:05Stormont today with a very different message, as Kevin Sharkey
0:21:05 > 0:21:08
0:21:08 > 0:21:14has been finding out. The message is simple. It is from
0:21:14 > 0:21:17children from the Good Shepherd School Full Stop This is an area
0:21:18 > 0:21:22where services have been attacked creating a negative view of the
0:21:22 > 0:21:26area and its young people. These young people on packages to change
0:21:26 > 0:21:32and are using art to communicate that. What these children are
0:21:32 > 0:21:35involved in is important. We often hear of buses are being attacked by
0:21:35 > 0:21:40young children and often these attacks are condemned by adults and
0:21:40 > 0:21:45community groups. What is happening here is that people -- children are
0:21:46 > 0:21:52trying to get people of their own age to stop the attacks. There has
0:21:52 > 0:21:57been loads of stuff about stabbings and things like that on the news.
0:21:57 > 0:22:02You have to try to get people to stop. Today, a recognition for
0:22:02 > 0:22:05their efforts here at the Assembly. It is a positive story and these
0:22:05 > 0:22:09young people here represent the bigger majority of young people in
0:22:09 > 0:22:13this region than the small group who actually took part in those
0:22:13 > 0:22:19attacks. Appreciation from one of the services that tends to bear the
0:22:19 > 0:22:22brunt of the attacks. Children are our passengers. Children are our
0:22:22 > 0:22:26core business and we need to be able to get her children to be safe
0:22:26 > 0:22:31on buses at all times. Initiatives like this encourager young people
0:22:32 > 0:22:34to be safe on our buses and reflect -- respect drivers and the buses
0:22:34 > 0:22:39themselves. We heard the SDLP view on shrinking
0:22:39 > 0:22:44MLA numbers here. What do the UUP think? John McCallister is here.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Thank you for coming in. It is surely not a bit numbers but about
0:22:48 > 0:22:54Stormont working effectively which surveys suggest the general public
0:22:54 > 0:22:59do not think it is full stop I agree with that. It is about how
0:22:59 > 0:23:05you get effective government and we want to see that evolve. The debate
0:23:05 > 0:23:10has been too simplistic about numbers. Numbers of Representatives
0:23:10 > 0:23:14and government departments. You have to look at efficiency in
0:23:14 > 0:23:18government departments and the overall headcount in the Civil
0:23:18 > 0:23:27Service but all of that is whether we moved to a government -
0:23:27 > 0:23:37opposition structure. Looking at the numbers of Emily is an
0:23:37 > 0:23:39
0:23:39 > 0:23:49isolation would be a mistake. -- MLAs. Within the parameters, are
0:23:49 > 0:23:50
0:23:50 > 0:23:54you with the DUP around 80 or are you thinking 96? To if for a 25%
0:23:54 > 0:23:59reduction in one election would be difficult even just to acclimatise.
0:23:59 > 0:24:06You may go one that direction or seven elections. The next point
0:24:06 > 0:24:10would be new boundaries. You can then look at what government
0:24:10 > 0:24:15departments with the number of ministers and junior ministers need
0:24:15 > 0:24:18to be. If you moved to a government and opposition you could argue for
0:24:18 > 0:24:23a slip a larger Assembly in that case to have a proper scrutiny
0:24:23 > 0:24:28function. There does not seem to be an appetite for that. You
0:24:28 > 0:24:33campaigned for that inure Ulster Unionist leadership campaign.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37Survey after survey is telling us that people want to see this place
0:24:37 > 0:24:47with much more robust scrutiny and deliberate. There does not seem to
0:24:47 > 0:24:48
0:24:48 > 0:24:51be de well within the politicians? -- the will. There is not an
0:24:51 > 0:24:57appetite for making changes and there is a nervousness. That is the
0:24:57 > 0:25:02argument I was making during the leadership elections. As a party,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06my party leader certainly made that point. We have made it consistently
0:25:06 > 0:25:10and the Assembly Executive Review, that you need to look at all of
0:25:10 > 0:25:15these issues. There is a willingness among all parties to
0:25:15 > 0:25:22look at her range of issues. There is no consensus on this so what
0:25:22 > 0:25:27happens now? The committee report is done but realistically, most of
0:25:27 > 0:25:32the work will be done at party leader level. I am a member of that
0:25:32 > 0:25:39committee now. People continue to report and have her own findings
0:25:39 > 0:25:46and take evidence but realistically, it will be decided by the party
0:25:46 > 0:25:50leaders as to what we changed. There seems to be a willingness
0:25:50 > 0:25:54that there could be agreement by the end of the year that we could
0:25:54 > 0:25:56see quite quick movements are on that. Tonight the Queen is at
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Hillsborough castle ahead of tomorrow's meeting with Martin
0:25:59 > 0:26:02McGuinness at an arts event in Belfast. She spent much of the day
0:26:02 > 0:26:05in Enniskillen but is now at her official residence where she can
0:26:05 > 0:26:13look at her portrait that Jim Allister wants to see back at
0:26:13 > 0:26:17Stormont. Mark Devenport has joined the crowds.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21The Queen is spending the night here at Hills brat at her official
0:26:21 > 0:26:26residence at Hillsborough Castle. There are some Crecy are looking to
0:26:26 > 0:26:33greet her but the fault is this evening will be on her private
0:26:33 > 0:26:36business, recharging her batteries but a big political their head. The
0:26:36 > 0:26:41focus tomorrow will be on the arts event where she will have this
0:26:41 > 0:26:45handshake with the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. We are
0:26:45 > 0:26:53yet to get the precise choreography but some figures from the arts will
0:26:53 > 0:26:58be there including Barry Douglas and Adrian Dunbar. Politically, she
0:26:58 > 0:27:03will have Martin McGuinness their and the First Minister Peter
0:27:03 > 0:27:08Robinson. We later in the day, she and the Duke of Edinburgh will move
0:27:08 > 0:27:12on to the Stormont estate where up to 20,000 people are expected for
0:27:12 > 0:27:16this Jubilee party. That will be a big event for her by areas well.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20She has a busy schedule and was delayed today so it must have been
0:27:20 > 0:27:24a lot of hard work for her to catch up on her timetable. Tonight will
0:27:24 > 0:27:29be rest and relaxation while she prepares.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32A final word for you. Sammy Wilson was critical of the Public Accounts
0:27:32 > 0:27:37Committee but members of the committee were saying they do not
0:27:37 > 0:27:41go far enough? This was a beautiful illustration of why the multi-party
0:27:41 > 0:27:45Coalition we have is not the same as a government with opposition.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Sammy Wilson was saying that by the rules of the Public Accounts
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Committee at Westminster, the committee does not start asking
0:27:52 > 0:27:57accounting officers for details. They have to come back and listen
0:27:57 > 0:28:00to what the Minister says and take that answer. The Public Accounts
0:28:00 > 0:28:05Committee has been trying to do a bit more detailed work by talking
0:28:05 > 0:28:11to accounting officer so they can establish their position. It is not
0:28:11 > 0:28:16a bad idea that they have that right. Sammy Wilson is going from
0:28:16 > 0:28:22parliamentary tradition by saying, they should not. He is an economics
0:28:22 > 0:28:25teacher by trade. Head as he shaped up as a Finance Minister? I work
0:28:25 > 0:28:29together with Sammy Wilson and I used to think he was a superb
0:28:29 > 0:28:33examiner in economics. As a minister, I will take him down a