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03/12/2013

Joining Noel Thompson to debate all the week's big talking points, with a studio audience, are: MLAs Arlene Foster, DUP, and John O'Dowd, Sinn Fein; Alliance MP Naomi Long, PUP leader Billy Hutchinson and artist Rita Duffy.

1 hour

Last on

Tue 3 Dec 2013 22:35

SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL PANEL, TUESDAY DECEMBER 3rd 2013

ARLENE FOSTER DUP MLA

ARLENE FOSTER DUP MLA
Arlene Foster is Minister of Enterprise, Trade & Investment and DUP MLA for Fermanagh & South Tyrone. She has been an Assembly member since 2003 and was acting First Minister for six weeks in 2010.听 A lawyer by profession, she previously practised as a solicitor. As a teenager Arlene survived a bomb attack on her school bus. In October of this year, the Minister welcomed David Cameron to a major听 investment conference at Belfast's Titanic Building.

JOHN O鈥橠OWD SINN F脡IN MLA

JOHN O鈥橠OWD SINN F脡IN MLA
听John O鈥橠owd is Minister of Education and has been a member of Sinn Fein for over 25 years.

The Minister has served as an elected representative for 15 years and is currently in his third term as an MLA for Upper Bann.

He is hoping to push through the creation of a single Education and Skills Authority (ESA) which will help the management of the education system. With more than 14,000 responses, the education reform has generated greater public interest than any other consultation on education since devolved government was restored.

He had pursued a career as a chef prior to his time in public office and is a father of three.

NAOMI LONG ALLIANCE MP

NAOMI LONG ALLIANCE MP
Naomi Long is the deputy leader of the Alliance Party and the party鈥檚 first MP to sit in Westminster. She defeated the DUP鈥檚 Peter Robinson to win the East Belfast seat he had held for 31 years. She was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly as MLA for East Belfast in 2003, and served as Lord Mayor of Belfast from 2009 to 2010. Before entering politics she had a career in the engineering industry. Recently, Naomi said she believed that no amount of protest outside the City Hall would change the flag issue, but says that there needs to be honest discourse with members of the loyalist community who are angry with the decision. A year ago she was one of several politicians who received a death threat over the flag protests.

BILLY HUTCHINSON

BILLY HUTCHINSON
Billy Hutchinson grew up on the Shankill Road and is a supporter of Linfield FC.He was elected leader of the Progressive Unionist Party at the party鈥檚 annual conference on in October 2011. He was a MLA for North Belfast from 1998 until 2003. He was a councillor in Belfast City Council seat from 1997 until 2005. A former member of the UVF, he served 15 years for a double murder in 1974.听 At last year鈥檚 centenary celebrations to mark the signing of the Ulster Covenant, he played the role of Sir Edward Carson.

RITA DUFFY

RITA DUFFY
Belfast-born Rita Duffy is one of Northern Ireland鈥檚 leading artists. Her father was from the Falls Road, one of the few Catholics working in the shipyard and her mother was from County Offaly. Her art is often autobiographical, including themes and images of Irish identity, history and politics with titles such as 鈥楳other Ulster鈥, 鈥楰neecapping鈥 and 鈥極utposts鈥. Her most recent project, as part of Derry~Londonderry City of Culture, was 鈥楾he Shirt Factory鈥 which concentrated on the legacy of shirt-making and the industry鈥檚 place in the city鈥檚 history. There was also a tongue-in-cheek selection of food goods in the gift shop including tins of Red Ham of Ulster, Border Butter Beans, and Billy鈥檚 Baby Carrots.

A SELECTION OF YOUR COMMENTS

With Judge Smithwick rejecting IRA evidence, what confidence can we have in a truth process?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

There's a reason they don't have discussions like this now in South Africa. Why? Because they had a Truth Commission. Simple. 鈥廆liamocoinn 听

Unionists shouldn't gloat over the findings of Smithwick. Think about RUC, British Intelligence and loyalist paramilitaries. 鈥廆academic_anon

There was no evidence to back this up. The judge offered no proof that the IRA men were lying. There are no clear facts in this report. Vincent, Rosslea

If we had a Truth Commission, would we get the truth from the British or would it be covered by 鈥榮ecurity issues鈥? Matt, Wiltshire

Why were all parties so quick to dismiss John Larkin鈥檚 comments on the past?

Once again all the parties are going around and around. 听We have to move on, are we are going to stay in the past? Ed, Warrenpoint

Over 3000 unsolved murders, It's not an amnesty that's required, it's a competent investigative police force! 鈥廆PaulMac_11 听

John Larkin has spoken some truth, in so far as keeping looking back is like picking at a sore that will never heal. Anon.

So much hurt and hate in name of religion.听 We are all under the same sky! Geoff, Ayr.

Sinn Fein - tell the truth now, stop waiting on your 鈥榞et out of jail free鈥 card.听 鈥廆jock_nelson

I have no confidence that people who murdered in cold blood would tell the truth in a Truth Commission. Easy to kill, easier to lie. 听@Pacman4370

A convicted murderer can become a politician, but they can鈥檛 join the police. It鈥檚 not right. David, Belfast

There will never be truth, or peace - the way it鈥檚 going, it鈥檚 tit for tat. Gerard, Newry

Victim鈥檚 families deserve the truth and hopefully, justice one day. 鈥廆颁补谤濒冲惭67

If we all don't deal with the past, then it will always be a part of our future. Sean, North Belfast.

Should we follow the example of Canada in 1965 with a new iconic flag for Northern Ireland?听

I agree we should have a new flag. The sooner the better. Margaret, Carrickfergus

We can have a Northern Ireland flag, like Scotland, England and Wales and fly the Union Flag over our government buildings, like Scotland England and Wales. Peter, Lisburn

My granddaughter says there should be only be one flag flying on City Hall: a white flag for peace. Mary, Belfast

What constitutional resemblance does the Irish Tricolour bear to this country? Northern Ireland is a British state! 鈥廆bear_rfc_1872

Will we have a flag for all the minorities who live here? John, Belfast

The Cross of St Patrick couldn't be divisive. Some unionists don't have the confidence to break the symbolic umbilical cord of the Union Flag and they need to be more courageous. Chris.听

Ask Dr Haass what would happen in USA if the people were told to take their flag down. Rob, Antrim

Why not fly the European flag in the middle and the Union Jack and Tricolour either side at City Hall? Dinky, Carryduff

People are missing the point. Haass is suggesting a starting point of neutrality and equality for this country 听Rab, Belfast

So despite all the flags I see every day, there isn't actually a Northern Ireland flag. How ironic! 鈥廆mgvsmith

There is a border between the south and north of Ireland and if they want to change that, then we are one of the provinces of Ulster, so let鈥檚 have the Ulster flag - it鈥檚 good enough for the Rugby team. Richard, Whitehead

All nationalists and republicans are proud of the Red Hand - 听it's our history, loyalists don't understand this. 鈥廆sharkattack686 听

Is the UVF ceasefire still intact?

Paramilitaries are an affront to democracy, actions to tackle them should have full cross party support. 鈥廆rowangibney

If the UVF has disbanded, who are the thugs that paint the UVF murals in East Belfast? 听Michael

Republicans are involved in shootings and bombings day and daily, yet as always the media focus on one organisation. It's a case of, if in doubt, blame the UVF. 听Jimmy, Belfast听

The dogs in the street know the UVF ceasefire is over, how can Billy not?? Shane, Lurgan

Is Gerry Adams now a liability to Sinn Fein and Republicanism, both north and south?

Adams is a disgrace, he should go. Crawford, Falls Road 听听

Without Gerry Adams there would be no peace here. So many lives saved. John, Fermanagh

As someone who voted Sinn Fein for 28 years, I never would again. Condolences to the families of the Disappeared. Mairtin, Belfast.

Can we scrutinise all our politicians in the same way we are scrutinising Gerry? They wouldn鈥榯 stand up to it. Gavin, Belfast

Sinn Fein is a cult! Look how they operate.听John, Doagh.

Gerry Adams, a great man and a great leader; he has done so much for Ireland. Joe, Kilwilkie听

If Scotland is an independent nation in 2016, where does this leave Unionism?

Why would Scotland want to distance itself from the English Conservatives and this shower we have here?? @connal99听

Scotland - the actual catalyst for constitutional change. This is when unionism is going to have a seriously tough time. @kukondo

Give Scotland, Ireland and Wales independence - leave the English on their own, see how they fare. Anon

I believe Scotland can achieve independence and it could bring Unionism to a new understanding, that the Union isn't everything. 鈥廆AislinnBunting

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Noel Thompson
Participant Arlene Foster
Participant John O'Dowd
Participant Naomi Long
Participant Billy Hutchinson
Participant Rita Duffy
Producer Elaine Forrester
Editor Jeremy Adams

Broadcast