Negative Resolutions
What does the future of our children have in common with the Spreadable Fats (Marketing Standards) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 or the Folly Lane, Downpatrick (Stopping- Up Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 or even the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (Circuses and Avian Quarantine) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007?
Well these are all examples of matters that have been dealt with by our Assembly under its rules subject to negative resolution. Generally these things go through on the nod.
It's thought that if the Education Minister uses "regulation" rather than "legislation" to push through a new system of transfer to post-primary schools it could come the way of a "negative resolution". But if it does the DUP is waiting in order to insist that it must be forced to a cross community vote.
Sinn Fein sources acknowledge that such a vote will have to occur. But they add that the eleven plus is dead and buried so all parties must work together to create an alternative. If unionists try to re-introduce academic selection, Sinn Fein sources insist, they will find that nationalists use cross community voting to stop such a move in its tracks.
So if things work out this way the Assembly Examiner of Statutory Rules, Mr W. G. Nabney, may find himself dealing with more contentious matters than is the norm.
That's the Assembly route for the education changes. Of course the matter could also come to the Executive, should 3 ministers invoke the St Andrews procedures deeming it significant and controversial.
The Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey has vowed that he will bring Ms Ruane's announcement to the next Executive meeting. But it's not clear whether this discussion will be limited to his objections to the short notice he got of her announcement, or whether any Executive debate will deal with the wider educational issues at stake.
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°ä´Ç³¾³¾±ð²Ô³Ù²õÌýÌý Post your comment
Mark I'm afriad the Beeb have been guilty of falling for Caitriona's spin. You have all talked endlessly about the implications of Ruane's proposals but only given passed mention to the fact that her ideas will not pass the Education Committee let alone the Committee.
Even if in this blog you have talked about this possibility in 'round about' terms.
The unionist MLAs will prevent the pass of any Statutory Rule that seeks to end academic selection so Ruane will have to come up with an acceptable alternative.
Finally you are wrong to suggest that unionists will have to RE introduce selction. Selection remains an option until an SR replacing it is passed.
It is SF who will have to compromise
sloppy post- no need to re-introduce selection as it is already in place via statute. The only debate is how academic selection is managed without an 11+ exam.
NOT SO MUCH A GOLD STAR AS ‘RED STAR’ ONE-PARTY SOCIALISM
By threatening to withhold finance from those Grammar Schools who refuse to accept her new educational proposals to expel all academic selection, the Minister of Education is in fact declaring that she will not pay the salaries for: teaching staff; school meals and children’s school travelling grants etc.
Socialism in action – Sinn Fein style - which reminds me of another ‘Winter of Discontent’!
NOT SO MUCH A GOLD STAR AS 'RED STAR' ONE PARTY SOCIALISM
By threatening to withhold finance from those Grammar Schools who refuse to accept her new educational proposals to expel all academic selection, the Minister of Education is in fact declaring that she will not pay for: the salaries of teaching staff; school meals and children's school travelling grants etc.
Socialism in action - Sinn Fein style (reminds me of another 'Winter of Discontent'!
Maybe the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will eventually realise that the 11+ is not the only form of academic selection.
No-one wants to see the 11+ retained - but its frankly negligent of the Minister to bring forward 'proposals' which she knows will not be supported by the Assembly.
Clearly she's hoping that the threat of even more confusion than she has already created will force people to accept her so-called plans.
Its about time she started putting in place plans as to how she will work academic selection which is on the statue book and isn't coming off. Sinn Fein need to wake up to the new reality and stop endangering the education of children as they blindly attempt to force changes which cant be forced through.