Jennifer McCann: My question has been answered.
Jennifer McCann: I have listened to the answers that you have given. What steps will you and your Department take to address the issue? As you mentioned, quite a percentage of schools are failing to meet the entitlement framework requirements. What actual steps will your Department take?
Jennifer McCann: I begin by echoing what my two colleagues said: we will oppose the motion and support the DUP amendment. I welcome the general direction of travel of the draft area plan. It puts the needs of children and young people at the heart of the planning process. It states that it wants a broad and balanced curriculum for all our children. Given the number of debates that we have had on...
Jennifer McCann: I want to say that we will be supporting the DUP amendment but not the motion.
Jennifer McCann: 5. Ms J McCann asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on discussions in relation to leaving the European Union at the recent Joint Ministerial Committee and North/South Ministerial Council meetings. (AQO 690/16-21)
Jennifer McCann: I thank the Minister for his answer. I know that you have already mentioned the different engagements, but can you elaborate on what engagement has taken place with the Irish Government, particularly to identify issues of mutual interest and to exert joint influence on the British Government and the EU?
Jennifer McCann: — are the ones who will benefit quite a lot from these nurture provisions. I support the motion.
Jennifer McCann: I welcome the opportunity to take part in this important debate. It is the second education debate today, and it is very good to see, given the contributions so far, that the motions seem to be almost knitting together. We support the motion, and we have no difficulty with either amendment. Nurture units are of great benefit to young children when they are going through a difficult period,...
Jennifer McCann: I thank my colleague Barry McElduff for proposing the motion. We are trying to add to what is happening at Middletown. We are not saying that its direction is wrong or anything else but are just trying to add the residential part of it. The passing of the Autism Act 2011 was the result of a long campaign. Like me, many other Members were here at the time when individuals, parents and...
Jennifer McCann: I hope that people see that that is the way the motion is meant to be. It is about the added value of Middletown, and is certainly not a criticism of what is happening there at the moment.
Jennifer McCann: I have heard no one argue against the thrust of what has been said. Most Members are calling for an end to paramilitary activity, criminality and organised crime throughout the North, which is what the Executive's action plan also aims to do. As with all action plans, there needs to be an implementation plan for how it will be done. More importantly, this needs to be structured around the...
Jennifer McCann: No, I will not. I would not get to finish. Philip McGuigan spoke about promoting lawfulness, support for transition, tackling criminality and addressing systemic issues. He mentioned a cross-departmental programme board that will allow for coordination across Departments. He also said that any initiatives have to tackle economic deprivation, unemployment and educational underachievement....
Jennifer McCann: — all 43 recommendations, it is clear that any implementation plan must have buy-in from the community. Community initiatives need to be adequately resourced, and there needs to be meaningful input to any co-design approach, as I said.
Jennifer McCann: Like my party colleague said, I think that our amendment adds something to the motion, so we will support the motion but oppose the amendment from the DUP. As people have already said, victims of the conflict have a right to the truth about the past. We, as a party, have consistently said that we do not have any desire to score points on the issue, particularly in debates like today's. I am...
Jennifer McCann: Let me finish first, and I will see how far I get. There is a need for the establishment of a comprehensive process that seeks to investigate the nature, the causes and the consequences of our recent conflict, and there are many families across society, in all of our communities, that suffered immense loss and harm. There are also many competing narratives and views and experiences of that...
Jennifer McCann: Just to conclude, I think that there is an emphasis and an onus on us, which is why our amendment was tabled. Before we go to public consultation, we need to agree the mechanisms. We cannot let people down again. We cannot raise people's hopes and go out there again for something that is unacceptable to families.
Jennifer McCann: Will the Minister give us an update on her proposed visit to China in December?
Jennifer McCann: I beg to move That this Assembly recognises the value of partnership working between schools and community services, including the role that this can play in increasing educational achievement for pupils; and calls on the Minister of Education to ensure that adequate resources are invested in developing and expanding such services. It almost feels as though we have been here before. We had...
Jennifer McCann: At the outset, I want to say that the Ulster Unionist Party motion beggars belief. The proposer was quite exercised about his support for the Fresh Start Agreement, but the fact that his party does not even support the Fresh Start Agreement makes it a bit ridiculous that he was quoting pieces of it and picking and choosing pieces that he wanted to support. We heard from a lot of Members....
Jennifer McCann: Sorry. Very quickly, our focus should be on making Maghaberry a stable, stress-free and safe environment for all staff, prisoners and those who visit, as my colleague Declan Kearney said. I support the amendment.