UUP gets Ruane to step back from the brink
Ulster Unionist Education Spokesman Basil McCrea today created a rare moment of consensus in the Assembly when all political parties declared their support for clarity and a detailed road map from the Education Minister on her proposals.
To date there has been precious little detail on her ‘vision’ which has left education professionals, commentators and MLAs perplexed and, in addition, the manner in which she made her announcement without proper Executive consultation may well have broken the Ministerial code.
Mr McCrea, in a bid to avoid confrontation on such an important issue, sought and gained unanimous Assembly support for his amendment which called on the Minister to provide greater clarity on the processes outlined within her proposal.
In a statement Mr McCrea,
“While we still have major reservations about the Minister’s proposals this important debate was being bogged down in political rhetoric. The Assembly, on such a vitally important subject – our children’s education – saw the value of a measured and rational approach and one which the Minister cannot hide behind.
We want the Minister to clear up the confusion she has created. We need to get to the bottom of her ‘vision’ and have a proper debate on the issues and processes. There is little point in the Minister asking the Assembly to share her vision when we can’t get a clear view of what that vision is.
The support given by the Assembly to our amendment should clear up some of the fog. I think the Minister herself realises that she has overstepped the mark and was treating the Assembly and her Executive colleagues with disdain.”