Sandra Overend
Mid Ulster · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“My thoughts are with the Black family, who have been put into the public eye once again due to the failings of the judicial system, the very system in which David served so faithfully.”
“On this, the last day the Assembly will meet in this place, I thank my colleague Mr Doug Beattie for proposing this important motion. I express my deep concern and share the anger of many people from my constituency of Mid Ulster at the management of the bail conditions for the man who was charged with offences linked to the terrorist mur…”
“<BR /> <BR />There is an argument that suspects have an entitlement to bail due to the length of time that they spend on remand. However, the answer to that must be to speed up the process of administering justice and not to grant bail in such cases.”
“It emerged that, having failed to sign in with police on 18 November, it was not until 23 December when police called at his bail address that they found the flat had been cleared out, and, in fact, evidence suggested he had been gone a few weeks by that stage.”
“To allow this type of situation to occur once could be seen as being careless. For it to happen twice in the same year is clear evidence of a culture that needs to change and of a policy that needs to change. Bail is seemingly too easily given out and not stringently enough managed.”
“I thank the Minister for that. I wonder whether he is optimistic that he will deliver that programme in the days that remain, given the fact that clubs have been waiting since last March, when the consultation process ended. An announcement was promised before Christmas. How confident is he that there will be something for local clubs?”
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“Those are not my words; they are the words that the Minister of Education spoke in the House on Monday 9 February. On checking Hansard, I found that he said it twice. So, it is over to his colleagues the First Minister and deputy First Minister to act. <BR /> <BR />In my last half minute, I will emphasise that the Ulster Unionist Party will not wait any longer for progress on the issue. We will be seeking the first available opportunity to repeal the exemption in fair employment legislation for teachers and to legislate to end the requirement for primary-school teachers in the maintained sector to hold the Catholic certificate in religious education. <BR /> <BR />I commend the motion to the House, and I will accept the amendment.”
“The Member was clearly very much against getting rid of the Catholic certificate, but we know that the post-primary schools have already dropped it. So, I think that we can progress that. <BR /> <BR />Mr Hazzard from Sinn Féin again raised the single equality Bill. That Member's party has been in OFMDFM since 2007, but we have yet to see that Bill come before the House. We have not seen it. We want action on the issue sooner rather than later. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, the exemption to fair employment in teaching through the RE certificate should go.”
“Mr Rogers referred to the stool aspect — school, parish and home — of the Roman Catholic ethos in schools. I have to be honest: my children go to a school with a very similar ethos. We learn at school; we talk about what is going on in the area, in the world around us and at home. I find it difficult to understand how, if that is the Catholic ethos, so many schools that share it are not in the Catholic maintained sector. <BR /> <BR />As for the matter of the Catholic certificate in Scotland, it is not required. I understand that it does exist. We did not say that it did not exist, but it is not required in Scotland.”
“That is fair enough. I will call him Mr Sheehan from Sinn Féin. He referred to the single equality Bill and Sinn Féin's proposal, but this particular issue that we are raising today is something that can be addressed in the short term. If Sinn Féin is genuinely in support, progress can be made in the short term. Mr Sheehan talked about neglecting their ethos in not having the certificate, yet we are not asking those in CCMS to neglect their religion but to ensure equality of opportunity for all teachers. <BR /> <BR />Mr Rogers from the SDLP spoke against the motion, strongly supporting the Catholic ethos, as did Mr Ramsey. I really feel that this motion is not targeted against the Catholic education system. I want to reassure them of that.”
“She complimented the Churches' work of pushing shared education forward. She also said that joint faith schools should do their part in moving this forward as well. Her colleagues Jonathan Craig and David McIlveen also spoke this afternoon. Jonathan referred to the negative impact on the shared education future, and David — sorry, Mr McIlveen — referred to the laissez-faire attitude towards this issue. <BR /> <BR />I refer now to Mr Sheehan from Sinn Féin.”
“I appreciate the participation of so many people in the Chamber this afternoon. <BR /> <BR />Mr Lunn and Ms Lo from the Alliance Party, I appreciate your support for this afternoon's motion. You support the exemption's being lifted. You talked about the time taken to implement legislation, and therefore see your amendment as a non-legislative stepping stone towards our aim. <BR /> <BR />Michelle McIlveen from the DUP talked about using:”
“These schools are allowed to reserve up to a fifth of their teaching posts for teachers selected on the basis of their competence to give religious instruction according to the tenets of that particular faith. <BR /> <BR />In the short term, I see no reason whatsoever why Stranmillis students should not be given the opportunity to study for and gain their certificate at that institution. It is available for PGCE students at the Ulster University, after all. The more fundamental question is this: do we actually want a shared society and a shared future? Members of this Assembly talk a lot about equality and a shared future, but we all must recognise that dropping the RE certificate obligation is a necessary precursor to effective shared education. <BR /> <BR />I will refer now to some contributions from other Members.”
“Increasingly, the make-up of the teachers in state controlled schools reflects the wider population, but Catholic schools are effectively kept for Catholic teachers. It is just wrong in this day and age of fair employment and equality legislation. On that score, it really is high time that the Equality Commission had a look at this again. I appreciate that religious instruction and the sacraments are important for many Catholic parents, but it can be done in the integrated sector. It can also be done elsewhere in the United Kingdom. In England and Wales, section 58 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 allows for what are known as reserved teachers in types of schools broadly described as faith schools.”
“Surely this is the way forward, at least in the short term. It would be a positive step forward if student teachers could study for and obtain the certificate at Stranmillis, just as they can at Ulster University. I really cannot understand why this has been blocked by certain interests. It sounds like restrictive practices. Let us face it: it sounds like looking after your own.”
“It is worth noting that, in contrast to the other providers, St Mary's does not use the UCAS system for entrance to its undergraduate teaching course. So, not only do you have another chance to get into St Mary's if you do not get accepted elsewhere, if you graduate from St Mary's armed with a certificate in RE you can apply for a position in any school in Northern Ireland. That opportunity is denied to graduates of Stran. <BR /> <BR />Stranmillis College has always been, and is increasingly, a mixed teacher-training college, which provides teachers for all sectors in our education system. I was quite concerned recently to learn that attempts made over recent years to enable its students to access the RE certificate offered at St Mary's have been rebuffed. I understand that they are trying again.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Education Minister indicates that he thinks that the requirement for the Catholic certificate should be removed, and that he has written to the First Minister and the deputy First Minister on several occasions. "I am awaiting a response", is what the Education Minister said. Has he had no response in nearly two years? <BR /> <BR />I want to add to the debate some remarks about the Catholic certificate requirement and its availability, or otherwise, to trainee teachers. As we know, to take up a teaching post in Catholic-maintained nursery and primary schools applicants must possess a recognised religious education certificate. The certificate is offered at St Mary's College; it is also an option for students on the postgraduate certificate in education courses at the Ulster University.”
“<BR /> <BR />On 22 April 2013, the Assembly passed an Ulster Unionist Party motion calling for an end to an exception to fair employment law allowing discrimination on the grounds of religious belief when appointing teachers. It was passed on an oral vote. It is fair to say that nationalists were lukewarm, not to say suspicious; but, at least, Sinn Féin did not oppose the motion. In the subsequent two years, we have seen little or no progress at Executive level. That is why we are debating the motion, which has the added issue of the requirement for a certificate in religious education to the teacher exemption from fair employment regulations.”
“I rise to wind on the motion, and I share the disappointment that there is no response from any Minister. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Danny Kinahan, who very rightly proposed the motion this afternoon, asked the following question: do we actually want a shared society and a shared future? That is something that everyone in the Assembly must ask themselves. If some want the perpetuation of inequality, segregation and a shared-out future, they should be honest and say so. Some recent debates in the House suggest that more than a few prefer the status quo; however, there can be no genuine shared education under the current circumstances. Without change, the shared education concept can never succeed. Unless schools have interchangeable staff, the whole project will not be balanced and, for practical reasons, will not work.”
“I thank the Minister for the update. Given that the peace-building centre at the Maze is, as I understand it, dead in the water, what is the attitude of the EU to locating a peace-building centre at a location other than the Maze, and will the deputy First Minister actively lobby to locate it elsewhere?”
“The most recent figures show generally promising economic figures. However, 27·8% of working-age people in Northern Ireland are defined as economically inactive. This is the highest of all UK regions. That has been the case for a long time and, worryingly, there is no downward trend. <BR /> <BR />It is obvious that gender imbalance will not be served overnight. We all need to work together towards the same goal despite differences we may have on how we get there. An Executive strategy and action plan that addresses specifically gender imbalance in the STEM sectors should go a long way in setting out the road ahead.”
“<BR /> <BR />In Dr Farry's statement of 3 June 2013, he mentioned a joint economic inactivity strategy with DETI. In responding to the debate, I hope that the Minister can provide the House with an update.”
“To date, 28 STEM organisations, including several other major IT companies, have signed up to the charter to demonstrate their commitment to equality for women in STEM posts. The charter is about assisting businesses to make their workplaces more welcoming and supportive for women, and thus improve the gender balance. <BR /> <BR />In 2013, when the Employment and Learning Minister made the statement to which we refer today, he highlighted a review of the cross-departmental gender equality strategy as well as the drafting of a Northern Ireland childcare strategy that should address childcare as a barrier for women returners. Where are we now on those two strategies? It is notable that the proposer avoided mentioning OFMDFM at all, yet it is the lead Department on gender equality.”
“SEMTA and the Engineering Training Council's Women into STEM programme, of which I am patron, set out to support 20 SMEs and four large companies to develop 50 females in a successful STEM career, to promote STEM to 1,000 schoolgirls and to establish a women's network to mentor and develop women and girls in those industries. Initiatives like the SEMTA Women into STEM programme are vital in addressing the issue. <BR /> <BR />I commend steps taken by one of Northern Ireland's major employers to encourage more women to take up scientific and technical jobs in its workforce. SQS, which is a local company in the digital ICT sector, has signed up to a STEM equality charter. The STEM charter was launched by the STEM business group with the Equality Commission in June 2014.”
“Women in Northern Ireland are more likely to attend university than men: 58% of those in university are women. However, when it comes to women in STEM subjects, the figures are shocking. Only 30% of those who study STEM subjects at university — outside medicine — are women. Careers advice is one tool that must play a part in addressing that disparity, and l look forward, as the proposer mentioned, to seeing how that is done well at the South West College's Get Engineering careers fair this weekend. <BR /> <BR />Such a strategy, as proposed in the motion, would bring a much-needed focus on achieving targets in that area. A number of worthy initiatives are playing a part in tackling the imbalance, and I have the great privilege of being involved in one of those: the Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance (SEMTA).”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said during the debate on STEM in schools a couple of weeks ago, the importance of matching the skills set of our young people coming up through school and into the world of work to the demands of the workplace is a central issue that we should focus on and is another example of how a proper joined-up Government would be successful. We need to give all our young people the right advice about their future career, so that the focus should be not simply on the further and higher education sector but on our schools. Indeed, we need to take that skills focus right back to primary schools. The responsibility is not just with the Employment and Learning Minister but with the Education Minister.”
“I am very pleased to participate in this afternoon's debate on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, although everyone seems to be leaving the Chamber. Thank you for your support, Leslie. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that, whilst the working environment for women has improved markedly over the years, there remains a prominent gender imbalance in the STEM sectors. We often hear about job opportunities that are brought about by successful local companies as well as the foreign direct investments that come into Northern Ireland and the importance of having the correct skills base to fill those jobs. However, if more than 50% of the population do not see a career in STEM sectors as a viable option, we will fall a long way short of achieving our economic potential.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. The only reason I raised that issue was because it was a point in your terms of reference that you did not meet.”
“Yes. <BR /> <BR />I think that there is a bit of a contradiction, in that we are looking at it overall, yet funding for individual projects as well. <BR /> <BR />Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I will leave it at that.”
“However, the recommendation at paragraph 40 states:”
“Perhaps I need more time to read the report, but I am not sure that that term of reference has been met. It may be something that the Chair will address later, or perhaps I need to analyse the report again. <BR /> <BR />Although there are many points that I agree with, I want to raise a particular issue. The recommendation at paragraph 27 states:”
“Generally, the report is very positive and shares the Minister's vision for the future of cycling. It has gone somewhat further than simply being a critique of the Minister's bicycle strategy. I was keen to read the five articles in the terms of reference. The fifth one is:”
“In other more urban areas, cycling has the ability to become a real and meaningful method of transport, and the work that can be done to encourage an increase in that is the mixed responsibility of the Department for Regional Development and the Department of Health. <BR /> <BR />I understand that over £100 million is saved in health care owing to the high level of cycling in Copenhagen. Therefore, the Department of Health can work to promote cycling as part of healthy living and the Department for Regional Development can work to provide a better infrastructure for cyclists to cycle on. <BR /> <BR />The timing has been right for the Regional Development Committee to take an interest in cycling and, in particular, to analyse the benefits of cycling to the economy.”
“<BR /> <BR />As someone who lives in a very rural part of Northern Ireland, a bicycle, unfortunately, is not a method of transport that I can use to get to work or that my children can use to get to school. However, it is very important that we combine cycling as something that we can do for transport and enjoyment in our vision for its future in Northern Ireland. Cycling can be used for even part of a trip, and that is a mindset that we need to encourage. <BR /> <BR />As regular cyclists, I and my husband and children cycle for enjoyment, and it is important that we do so for our health and well-being. Cycling is something that we do together as a family, and we use our cycling time to teach the children about road safety and how to treat others.”
“<BR /> <BR />It has been a prime time for the Minister for Regional Development to attune his desire for a cycling revolution, and I commend him for the time that he has spent researching what is successful in other cities and countries in Europe and further afield, for developing a bicycle strategy and for opening a consultation to listen to the views of the people of Northern Ireland. I am certain that there has been an uptake in cycling in the past year or so, with an increase in numbers joining cycling clubs and making regular visits to mountain trails in various parts of Northern Ireland. Of course, we look forward to the Gran Fondo later this year, and I hear that a few MLAs may be taking part in that.”
“<BR /> <BR />Of course, we have our very own home-grown successful cyclists, such as Wendy Houvenaghel from Upperlands in County Londonderry, who all work to highlight the increase in Northern Ireland's interest in all things cycling. Speaking of mid-Ulster, I cannot go on without mentioning the very challenging mountain-bike trails in Davagh forest, which the Chair of the Committee mentioned. It is in the heart of my constituency and is a place for people of all ages to trek the mountains on their bicycles.”
“As a member of the all-party group on cycling, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. I read with interest the Regional Development Committee's report. I, along with the Committee Chair and other members of the all-party group, made representations to the Regional Development Committee, and I thank it for giving us the time to do so. <BR /> <BR />Many people at home listening to the debate will not have been able to miss the huge excitement generated last May by the Giro d'Italia and the great success of the pink celebrations across Northern Ireland. Everyone embraced Giro d'Italia fever and turned out in their masses to watch and cheer on the cyclists who came from all over the world to our wee country. There was also great community involvement, with the spread of pink in town and country.”
“Can the commissioner detail how the Assembly proactively reaches out to schools and groups that are furthest away from Parliament Buildings in the far west?”
“I may need to declare an interest, being the wife of a pig farmer. Can the Minister provide an update on the inspection visit of the Chinese veterinary officials with regard to the possible exportation of pork from Northern Ireland? I understand that that visit has been delayed twice. Does the Minister accept that time is of the essence with regard to the value of such export markets? Does she accept that the Republic has been better than Northern Ireland in tapping into that market?”
“As part of the master plan that was commissioned in 2011, a strategic target was that vacant units would be occupied and the town centre would have further established itself as a lively leisure hub with a thriving evening economy. Will the Minister advise how the DSD regeneration function will work in partnership with the new local council that will shortly have responsibility for planning?”
“Perhaps that could counteract the presumption of favour in PPS 18. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, wind turbines draw contention in every art and part of Northern Ireland. Their positioning is key to their success, yet that same point can strike fear and cause annoyance and even have implications for health. The Committee inquiry drew many positive conclusions and recommendations, and I commend them to the Minister.”
“That leads to an array of problems, including sleep disturbance and deprivation. It is because of that disturbance that the Committee believes that the Department needs to improve the procedures for measuring that and, eventually, come to its own conclusion as to what an acceptable level of noise pollution is. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the new cautious approach recommended in the SPPS to the siting of turbines in areas of outstanding natural beauty. In fact, at this stage, I thank the Minister and the Department for working with the Committee on the issue, particularly on the drafting of the SPPS. <BR /> <BR />An important issue in the report is the call for economic considerations for assessing applications to be better defined, as it is very important not to be ambiguous in this matter.”
“The noise factor raised an interesting discussion in Committee, with research and evidence, and I am sure that the Minister will seek to take those on board. <BR /> <BR />Along with noise pollution, one of the regular bones of contention with wind turbines is their proximity to residential properties. The Committee report makes a sensible suggestion, and we should look to extend the distance from the current 90 metres status. The recent fall of a wind turbine in County Tyrone highlighted that need. <BR /> <BR />As the Committee learned during its evidence sessions, it is not just the noise that you hear standing nearby; often, it is more inconspicuous than that. So, whilst the fleeting observer may hear little, residents, backed up by evidence, talk of invasive noise.”
“<BR /> <BR />Many people, not least applicants, have criticised the system for taking too long, but it is essential that all factors be taken into consideration before decisions are made. Anything else would expose the Department to undue risk. We trust that the new councils will show the same caution when they take on many of the decisions after 1 April but not necessarily the extended delays that can come with it. <BR /> <BR />There were problems with planning policy statement (PPS) 18, so the strategic planning policy statement (SPPS) at least presents a useful opportunity to put some of those to bed. That includes more obligations on developers to abide by noise limits and to ensure that all the relevant information is produced in the application process.”
“<BR /> <BR />Turbines are a relatively recent phenomenon. Until relatively recent times, consent for electricity generation was not a particular problem. The Executive set the targets to achieve 40% of electricity from renewable sources. Interestingly, the Member to my left, the Member for East Antrim, claimed that that target was unachievable, even though I understand that, for a year, he was the Minister of the Environment, which was the Department that championed it. <BR /> <BR />With the development of technology and the increased drive for renewables, it was inevitable that planning consents would become an issue. Instead of Northern Ireland being overloaded with wind turbines, there needs to be an overarching strategic view on the siting of turbines, and planning consent is key to that.”
“I am not sure how safe it is to start, but start I will. I too welcome the report and thank the Committee Clerk and the staff for compiling it. It was a massive job. The inquiry started long before I was a member of the Environment Committee. In fact, I think that it started almost a year before I joined it. It is an issue that every MLA can relate to. There is no doubt that every elected represented has been lobbied in support of or against a wind turbine in their constituency or maybe on both sides of the argument, if you are lucky. Unfortunately, in many cases, it has pitted neighbour against neighbour. I therefore welcome the publication of the inquiry's report, as it seeks to bring some clarity to an issue that is becoming increasingly divisive in communities across Northern Ireland.”
“I might have missed the answer to the last question, although I have been listening to all the rest. I appreciate what the Minister said about cutting the wait from 26 weeks to 20 weeks, although I recognise that that has not always been met in the past. Will he guarantee that the upcoming Bill will end the current postcode lottery?”
“Is the junior Minister aware that applicants in my area did not even know that there was such a thing as a steering group or know how to contact it? What key things have you learned about the roll-out of the social investment fund?”
“— an obsession with getting rid of academic selection and a blatantly partisan promotion of Irish-medium education. Mr Deputy Speaker, I will leave it there; I support the motion.”
“That is a fairly underwhelming increase, might I say, and I hope that the Education Minister can reassure the House that recent figures show more positive trends. <BR /> <BR />Is there political leadership in the Assembly? Mr Deputy Speaker, judging by what I have witnessed in the Education Committee, I have my doubts. I do not hear the Education Minister promoting the STEM agenda as our priority for the curriculum. Far too often, I hear at Question Time after Question Time —”
“Mrs Stuart highlighted in the one-year progress report published in 2012 the skills mismatch, which, she argued, could hold back the growth of the Northern Ireland economy. That remains the acid test. Has there been the growth in the numbers of young people taking up these subjects at school and then in higher or further education to provide the skills reservoir to fill the high-tech jobs that we expect to be created here in the next few years? Are young people being encouraged to study STEM subjects and to choose careers in those important sectors of the economy? There has been a slow upward trend in the number of A-level STEM entries, with 10,702 STEM entries in 2004-05 rising to 12,659 in 2010-11.”
“We could add the 2008 MATRIX report from the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel and the STEM review a year later, which produced a report that was jointly published by the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department of Education. Out of the same review came the STEM strategy, which was developed and endorsed in March 2011 by the Executive and taken forward by a cross-cutting implementation group, of which Joanne Stuart OBE was the chairperson.”
“We have heard that in years gone by about the teaching of languages being started at primary school, and it is also the case with STEM subjects, including computer coding, which we are hearing so much more about. <BR /> <BR />To me, this debate is a no-brainer. If our business economy is demanding workers with skills in science, technology, engineering and maths, we must find better ways of providing the workforce to meet those demands. This debate is timely given the recent series of events associated with the Northern Ireland Science Festival and the fact that the recent half-term break would have seen lots of schoolchildren travel to W5 at the Odyssey to get a taste of the wonder of science. <BR /> <BR />The Committee motion refers to several recent reports on STEM.”
“That analysis in the Employment and Learning Committee led to an inquiry into the careers advisory service, primarily on how our young people find out about careers, what we should be promoting and what subjects are necessary to supply the workers that are needed. <BR /> <BR />That focus goes further. Not only do we need to give our young people the right advice about their future career, but we need to take the skills focus right back to the beginning; not just to post-primary education but right down to primary education. It is very often the case that the earlier our young people learn about a subject, the better their understanding will be and an interest will be sparked to learn more.”
“<BR /> <BR />In the first nine months of my job in this place, I was a member of the Employment and Learning Committee, and it heard from various employer organisations and representatives groups that emphasised that there were not enough people with the right skills available to meet the demands of the Northern Ireland workplace. We often hear of the fantastic job opportunities that are brought about by successful companies in Northern Ireland as well as by foreign direct investment companies that come to Northern Ireland, but it is really important that we keep on top of the supply of those skills to enable our economy to improve and to build Northern Ireland.”
“The importance of matching the skills set of our young people coming through school into the world of work to the demands of the workplace is a central issue that we must focus on and is yet another example where proper, working, joined-up government would be successful. As a mother of three children, aged 14, 12 and nine, I am acutely aware of how I try to influence how my children choose their subjects and think about their future careers, but, ultimately, the school has the responsibility to nurture every child's skills and talents and open up their education to what is out there in the world.”