“The minister should have shown transparency from the start.”

This year’s 11-plus results may be arriving in the post today.. but the row about ‘What’s happening in the Education system?’ rumbles on. Following that Education Committee meeting on Thursday, when the Education Minister, Sinn Féin’s Caitríona Ruane, finally handed over answers to the Committee’s questions, the minister complained that – “To date, the education committee have failed to give me any written information on my proposals”. The Committee meanwhile have written to the Assembly Speaker, the DUP’s Willie Hay, complaining about the minister’s behaviour – both Sinn Féin members of the Committee recorded their opposition to the complaint.. natch.. But, with the Alliance Party’s Trevor Lunn, MLA, suggesting “It would’ve been better to have [that meeting] in private”, I’m in agreement with Committee Chair Sammy Wilson – “Let’s not hide the minister from this. The minister should have shown transparency from the start.” And let’s not hide the Committee either.. On the answers the minister handed to the Committee ahead of Thursday’s meeting, there’s a telling piece of information from the UUP’s Basil McCrea in the report

And during yesterday’s meeting, the UUP’s Basil McCrea questioned the minister’s conduct in relation to the body. “This committee is adjunct. There is no point in us meeting, almost,” he said. Referring to the document that members received minutes before the meeting – but which had been given to the media 24 hours earlier – he said: “If you’re given it five minutes in advance it does show a lot of attitude.”

Pete Baker