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NI Assembly: Stormont departments 'should be allocated next week', says McGuinness | NI Assembly: Stormont departments 'should be allocated next week', says McGuinness |
(35 minutes later) | |
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said he expects the Stormont parties could allocate government departments at the start of next week. | Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said he expects the Stormont parties could allocate government departments at the start of next week. |
The DUP, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party are due to meet on Tuesday to discuss a draft document on Stormont's programme for government. | The DUP, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Alliance Party are due to meet on Tuesday to discuss a draft document on Stormont's programme for government. |
However, the SDLP and Alliance have yet to decide if they will form part of the Northern Ireland Executive. | However, the SDLP and Alliance have yet to decide if they will form part of the Northern Ireland Executive. |
The Ulster Unionists said last week they would not be taking a department. | The Ulster Unionists said last week they would not be taking a department. |
Instead, they will form Stormont's first ever official opposition. | Instead, they will form Stormont's first ever official opposition. |
Model | Model |
The draft document on the key points of the programme for government - a plan of priorities and action for the new Northern Ireland Executive - is "weak", according the the SDLP's Claire Hanna. | The draft document on the key points of the programme for government - a plan of priorities and action for the new Northern Ireland Executive - is "weak", according the the SDLP's Claire Hanna. |
She added that it contains "a lot of very aspirational language which wouldn't allow anybody to hold any future government to account". | She added that it contains "a lot of very aspirational language which wouldn't allow anybody to hold any future government to account". |
But Mr McGuinness of Sinn Féin said it is based on a model previously tried out in Scotland and Finland. | But Mr McGuinness of Sinn Féin said it is based on a model previously tried out in Scotland and Finland. |
He added that he wants all of the sectors of civil society to buy into the final programme for government. | He added that he wants all of the sectors of civil society to buy into the final programme for government. |
Direction | Direction |
The BBC has seen an early draft of a framework document prepared for the politicians by Stormont officials. | The BBC has seen an early draft of a framework document prepared for the politicians by Stormont officials. |
It contains 33 indicators of the direction the power-sharing executive wants Northern Ireland's society to move in. | It contains 33 indicators of the direction the power-sharing executive wants Northern Ireland's society to move in. |
On health matters, they include reducing health inequality; increasing healthy life expectancy; reducing preventable deaths, improving the quality of the healthcare experience; improving mental health; improving health in pregnancy; improving support for adults with care needs and to improving support for looked after children. | |
In terms of education, they document targets an improvement in improve educational outcomes; reducing educational inequality; improving the quality of education; improving the skills of the workforce in employment and improving child development. | |
Employment and economic aims are improving the number of people in work; reducing the number of people who are economically inactive; increasing the number of people working in good jobs; reducing poverty; increasing the size of the economy; increasing the competitiveness of the economy; increasing innovation in our economy; improving transport connections for people, goods and services; improving internet connectivity; increasing the use of public transport and active travel. | |
Other targets include improving the perception of public services; improving citizen safety from crime; improving the supply of suitable housing; to increase respect for each other; improving cultural participation; increasing the confidence and capability of people and communities; increasing environmental sustainability; improving our attractiveness as a destination; increasing the perception of society as shared; and increasing opportunity for our most deprived communities. | |
Outcomes | Outcomes |
An accompanying document makes some tentative suggestions about how progress towards achieving these goals could be measured. | An accompanying document makes some tentative suggestions about how progress towards achieving these goals could be measured. |
But at this point it does not contain any specific targets like the job creation, investment and visitor numbers pledges contained in the Programme for Government 2011-15. | But at this point it does not contain any specific targets like the job creation, investment and visitor numbers pledges contained in the Programme for Government 2011-15. |
The draft framework document also contains 13 proposed outcomes. | The draft framework document also contains 13 proposed outcomes. |
They are: | |
Consultation | Consultation |
According to last year's Fresh Start agreement, officials were due to have a framework for a future programme for government prepared by the end of last month. | According to last year's Fresh Start agreement, officials were due to have a framework for a future programme for government prepared by the end of last month. |
The current talks were then supposed to resolve a draft programme for government that could be put to the Northern Ireland Assembly for its approval. | The current talks were then supposed to resolve a draft programme for government that could be put to the Northern Ireland Assembly for its approval. |
Critics claim this timetable is already slipping as the politicians are currently considering a framework rather than a fuller draft programme. | Critics claim this timetable is already slipping as the politicians are currently considering a framework rather than a fuller draft programme. |
The document seen by the BBC is expected to be amended by the parties then put out to a three-month public consultation. | The document seen by the BBC is expected to be amended by the parties then put out to a three-month public consultation. |
A full programme for government will be published towards the end of the year, alongside a new budget, economic strategy, investment strategy and social policy plan. | A full programme for government will be published towards the end of the year, alongside a new budget, economic strategy, investment strategy and social policy plan. |