Results 1-20 of 948 for speaker:Basil McCrea

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Rural Schools (17 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: I share Lord Morrow’s concern. When the motion was originally put to us, we were prepared to accept it. However, we had difficulty with the Alliance Party’s amendment, and we still do, given the fact that the SDLP is considering adopting it. My party’s concern with the amendment is largely down to its language and the way in which it has been put forward. There may indeed be...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Rural Schools (17 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: I thank Lord Morrow for his helpful intervention. The Minister claimed that she has a co-ordinated strategy. However, even this week, when making her statement about the report ‘Together Towards Entitlement’ and when talking about other policies and the ESA, she gave out mixed messages about choice and flexibility. We need to give local schools the tools to come up with their own...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Social Development: Shared Future: Public Meetings (17 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: Does the Minister agree that the money that has been spent so far in developing a shared future strategy has been wasted, as we have not had the benefit of such a strategy? Will the Minister inform the House of what discussions have taken place in the Executive regarding the costs of developing the strategy? Is she in a position to inform the House of what those costs are?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Together Towards Entitlement (16 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will speak to the Speaker, but I want this point on the record. It is extremely difficult to cross-examine the Minister of Education on what has been said, given that she talks at considerable length, but not on the question that she was asked. Members have to ask short questions, but the Minister has considerable latitude, and that seems to be unfair.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Together Towards Entitlement (16 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: Before I begin, Mr Speaker, is it in order to raise a point of order during a statement?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Together Towards Entitlement (16 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: I give notice to speak to you about the matter afterwards. Will the Minister say when she changed her mind? She stated that she wishes to see an educational landscape characterised by a range of school options, where diversity and choice are the norm. That seems to be in contradiction to her statement that children should go to their closest school.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Together Towards Entitlement (16 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: Will the Minister tell us how she can reconcile the apparent inconsistency between that statement and her statement about open enrolment?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Together Towards Entitlement (16 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. As I understand it, under Standing Orders, copies of a ministerial statement should be made available 30 minutes before the sitting commences. However, I had difficulty getting hold of the Minister’s statement. I checked with the Business Office and in my pigeonhole, but the statement was not available beforehand. It is therefore difficult for Members to...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: In making the winding-up speech on the motion, I declare an interest as a member of the Policing Board for Northern Ireland, and specifically as chairman of its human rights and professional standards committee. I do not speak in that capacity today, but I can inform the House that my membership of the Policing Board has brought certain issues to my attention. Many Members talk in woolly...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: I am sorry, but Members have had their chance to speak. The issue is about having a public consultation on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission’s advice when it is clear that at least two of the major parties in the Assembly do not support the commission’s recommendations. It would, therefore, be a complete and utter waste of public money to go any further with that....

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: When the issue comes —

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: Mr Attwood mentioned three things for which he thought that we were world-renowned. Those were our human rights position; our not being able to have it both ways; and our not being able to rewrite the Belfast Agreement, about which he challenged us. Although I listened to the arguments put forward by my colleague Miss McIlveen, I make no secret of the fact that I voted “yes”. I...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: Just one minute, Mr Shannon. Do Members accept Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which relates to freedom of assembly and association?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: If that needs to be refined, so be it, but do not be duplicitous in how that is done. I will now give way to Mr Shannon.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: I thank the Member for his intervention; I took it because I know that he has not had the chance to speak, unlike others who have had their chance to make their case. In one way, I can answer the charge levelled at me by Ms Purvis, which was that I am confused; Dr Farry’s argument confused me. He stated that he is sympathetic to our point of view; he talked about political reality not...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: I am sorry, but I have already made it clear that I will not give way. The terrorist activity was perpetrated by people who believed that violence was the way forward. However, ladies and gentlemen, that is not the way forward. Mr Attwood mentioned moving forward without consensus. However, if we have learnt anything, surely it is that without agreement there cannot be progress. There is no...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: No one here talks about democracy, and, on that basis, those who support the creation of a bill of rights have failed as elected representatives and as democrats. If those people cannot convince us of their views and win the argument, they cannot win the peace.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: Will the Member give way?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (3 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: We are so disappointed.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Employment And Learning: Further Education: Engineering (2 Nov 2009)

Basil McCrea: I am a chemical engineer, and I am delighted that there are career opportunities outside politics. Will the Minister outline what happened to the numbers of students taking priority skills courses?