Alex White (Labour)

There is clearly a very serious issue in the North in the context of the ongoing talks which, it is hoped, will continue this afternoon and this evening. It is perplexing for people to realise that on the substantive devolution of policing powers to the North, there seems to be a roadblock. We do not want to say anything here that will in any way interfere with or make life even for a moment more difficult for the people engaging in negotiations in the North at the moment but it seems strange that if there is a strong basis for the devolution of policing powers to the North - which there is - it should be made contingent on a specific issue, albeit important for the DUP. That is the question of the Parades Commission.

Many people find it perplexing that there is a constant trade-off. None of us is naive and we understand that negotiations often involve trade-offs. This is an issue of historical substance regarding the devolution of policing powers. If there is an argument and case, which many people seem to have come around to supporting, the issue should proceed and not be made contingent on the issue of the Parades Commission. Having said that, I join Senator Fitzgerald in wishing all the parties in the North, including our Government, well in an attempt to resolve the issue.

I also second Senator Fitzgerald's comments and second the amendment to the Order of Business which she has proposed on special needs. Will the Leader arrange, as a matter of urgency, for the Minister to come in and explain why it appears that within the next few days, the system is to lose 1,200 special needs assistants? This has not been denied or confirmed but can we have an indication that the report is wrong? Will Senator Boyle tell us if it is wrong as his colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, was on radio no more recently than at the weekend again emphasising the importance of education to the Green Party?

Will the issue be clarified to this House if it cannot be clarified on radio or to anybody else? Special needs assistance is one of the small number of things we have achieved in the past ten or 15 years of prosperity. It is a genuinely progressive step that has occurred in our schools. It would be a most serious backward step for people who are genuinely needed in the system, special needs assistants, to be made redundant at the end of this week or anytime soon. That appears to be what is contemplated by the Department.

The Department's evaluation paper on these matters, submitted to the Department of Finance, stated in a rather prescient manner that there is a redundancy scheme in place. The document states:

However, removal of SNAs, even on a moderate scale, is likely to result in significant rearguard action by schools. It may result in schools refusing to continue to retain pupils with special needs and will undoubtedly attract significant adverse public and media reaction. Previous experience in the special needs area indicates that even where criteria are not met, removal of resources can be very contentious.

This is a genuinely contentious issue and it should be dealt with in this House. I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister to come in at an early opportunity so the issue can be debated.