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Official Report (Hansard) Official Report (Hansard) Tuesday 11 October 2011 Volume 67, No 4 Session 2011-2012 Contents Ministerial Statement North/South Ministerial Council: Institutional Format ....................................................................179 Private Members’ Business Home-to-school Transport ...........................................................................................................183 Oral Answers to Questions Health, Social Services and Public Safety .....................................................................................199 Justice ......................................................................................................................................204 Private Members’ Business United Assembly Against Terrorism ..............................................................................................212 Adjournment Flags and Emblems: East Belfast ................................................................................................226 Suggested amendments or corrections will be considered by the Editor. They should be sent to: The Editor of Debates, Room 248, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX. Tel: 028 9052 1135 · e-mail: [email protected] to arrive not later than two weeks after publication of this report. Assembly Members Agnew, Steven (North Down) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Anderson, Ms Martina (Foyle) McCallister, John (South Down) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McClarty, David (East Londonderry) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McDevitt, Conall (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McDonnell, Dr Alasdair (South Belfast) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Clarke, Willie (South Down) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McNarry, David (Strangford) Doherty, Pat (West Tyrone) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Durkan, Mark H (Foyle) Maskey, Paul (West Belfast) Easton, Alex (North Down) Molloy, Francie (Mid Ulster) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Farry, Dr Stephen (North Down) Murphy, Conor (Newry and Armagh) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Ford, David (South Antrim) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) O’Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Gildernew, Ms Michelle (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) O’Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Hay, William (Speaker) Ritchie, Ms Margaret (South Down) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lewis, Ms Pam (South Antrim) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Northern Ireland Assembly Tuesday 11 October 2011 The Assembly met at 10.30 am (Mr Speaker in the Chair). Members observed two minutes’ silence. Ministerial Statement plenary meeting in November 2011. Revised reduced remuneration rates for board members North/South Ministerial Council: that will take effect from December 2011 were also agreed. Institutional Format The Council discussed progress on EU-related Mr Speaker: The Acting deputy First Minister, Mr John O’Dowd, wishes to make a statement to matters that were raised at NSMC meetings. the Assembly this morning. That included discussions on collaboration to maximise drawdown of EU funds from the Mr O’Dowd (The Acting deputy First Minister): FP7 research and development programme. Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Ministers also discussed progress on current In compliance with section 52C(2) of the NI EU programmes and the potential for co- Act 1998, we wish to make a statement on operation on future EU programmes. the sixth North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) institutional meeting, which was held With regard to cross-border mobility issues, in Stormont Castle on Monday 3 October Ministers were informed that systems have 2011. Minister Kennedy, who also attended been put in place to resolve delays in the the meeting, has approved the report, and we processing of certain Department of Social make it on his behalf as well. The First Minister Protection welfare benefit claims with a Peter Robinson MLA, Minister Kennedy MLA and cross-border element. The Council noted the I represented the Executive. The First Minister continuing popularity of the Border People and I chaired the meeting. The Tánaiste and website — www.borderpeople.info — and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon that the Centre for Cross Border Studies, Gilmore, represented the Irish Government. in partnership with other organisations, will apply for EU funding for the website, which will Ministers had a broad discussion on practical incorporate specialist training for the provision mutually beneficial co-operation in the context of of advice on cross-border matters. the current economic and budgetary challenges that face each jurisdiction. Among the areas Work taken forward to facilitate the comparison discussed were shared economic challenges, of vocational qualifications obtained in other the context of North/South co-operation and jurisdictions was discussed. That included co-operation to save money in service delivery. the publication of a leaflet ‘Qualifications can The Council discussed matters relating to cross boundaries: a rough guide to comparing the North/South bodies and noted progress qualifications in the UK and Ireland’. on their corporate and business plans and the implementation of cumulative efficiency Ministers noted the progress made with regard savings. It noted that a review of the financial to the north-west gateway initiative. memoranda of the North/South bodies is under way, and a report on progress will be provided to The Council agreed that the next institutional the next NSMC institutional meeting. meeting will be held in spring 2012. The Council also noted that the boards of Mr Humphrey: I thank the Acting deputy First the North/South bodies are due for renewal Minister for his statement to the House. What in December 2011 and that nominations will progress has been made as regards saving be brought forward for approval at the NSMC money in delivery service to North/South bodies? 179 Ministerial Statement: Tuesday 11 October 2011 North/South Ministerial Council: Institutional Format Mr O’Dowd: There has been a constant review and be appointed to those bodies, and that is of the financing of the North/South ministerial something that the Office of the First Minister bodies. The Member is aware of the ongoing and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) and, no review under the St Andrews Agreement, doubt, the Irish Government will continue to which is looking at the number of bodies and apply when selecting and appointing candidates the implementation costs. Both jurisdictions to those bodies. As with all circumstances, are conscious of the need for savings to be there are instances when a phone call will do delivered in those matters. We are conscious and business can be conducted in that way. It of the economic pressures bearing down on is good that Ministers feel comfortable enough both jurisdictions, and we want to ensure that to phone each other regularly and to conduct whatever work we carry out is effective and business over the phone. However, longer-term efficient in delivering services for people on the programmes of work need to be carried out, and ground. detailed work has to be carried out to complete those tasks. In those circumstances, you need Ms J McCann: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann well-equipped boards with the right calibre of Comhairle. Given that the Minister
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