Sinn Fein unaware of how devolution works in the UK

Responding to comments made by Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd, UUP Education Committee Member John McCallister MLA, has said that Sinn Fein seems entirely unaware of how devolution works in the United Kingdom.

Mr. McCallister said, "It is no surprise that John O'Dowd and Sinn Fein have no understanding of how devolution in the United Kingdom works. What is a surprise is that, having brought chaos to Northern Ireland's education system, John O'Dowd and Sinn Fein are spending time looking at education policy in parts of England rather than solving the utter mess they have created in our own education system. Parents, children and teachers across Northern Ireland have no idea how next year's transfer procedure will operate - that is what Caitriona Ruane's has 'achieved' during her time as Education Minister.

"The Ulster Unionists and Conservatives, by contrast, know how devolution works within the United Kingdom. We know that different regions within the UK should have the freedom to operate different education systems, suitable to their circumstances, experience and priorities. We also know that Northern Ireland tops the UK league table for GCSE and A Level results. Devolution allows us to shape education policy to suit the needs of Northern Ireland. And, in case Mr. O'Dowd slept through the Belfast Agreement process, this is what it was all about: restoring devolution to Northern Ireland, as an integral part of the United Kingdom, so that locally elected representatives could shape policy to suit the needs and aspirations of Northern Ireland.

"Of course, Ms. Ruane does not have the confidence of the Northern Ireland Assembly. She has no support for her comprehensive proposals in the Assembly, no support for her Guidelines, no support her Hard Left agenda. She has lost vote after vote in the Assembly. She has blatantly disregarded the majority in the Assembly which voted for an Ulster Unionist motion calling for the 11+ to stay in place under a more appropriate replacement test was designed. Mr. O'Dowd is correct on one thing - we need clarity. We need the Sinn Fein Education Minister to clarify whether she is prepared to listen to the majority in the Assembly and the majority of parents who back keeping academic criteria in the transfer process - or if she intends to persist with her divisive, Hard Left agenda.

"However, it is reassuring that Mr. O'Dowd realises that the political landscape will change with a future Conservative government. Ulster Unionism's relationship with the Conservatives is about strengthening, broadening and widening the Union. We are glad that Mr. O'Dowd is feeling uncomfortable at this prospect".