Debating Matters
I spent this morning away from Stormont at the University of Ulster judging an Institute of Ideas Pfizer "Debating Matters" event. It involved teams from local schools crossing swords over motions like "We should have an open borders policy for migrants" and "Scientific research on embryonic stem cells is a good thing".
In comparison to the often leaden and predictable exchanges at Stormont, it is refreshing to listen to young speakers who may still have lot to learn but come across as articulate, intellectually curious and able to comprehend and respond to counter arguments. So maybe there is hope that we will see the Stormont bar raised in the future.
That said, the debate I am listening to at the moment is quite good by Assembly standards. It concerns whether the age of consent here should be lowered to 16 in line with the rest of the UK (that is the thrust of a new NI Justice Order) or kept at 17.
In contrast to the votes we often get along party lines, the age of consent debate saw some MLAs (most notably Kieran McCarthy) disagreeing with their party colleagues (the committee chair Stephen Farry). The DUP's Jim Wells claimed Sinn Fein's Mickey Brady had experienced a "Damascus style conversion" from 17 to 16. Mr Brady denied he'd been got to by any "thought police".
A majority of the assembly committee which considered the matter backed the status quo. But given that justice matters are not devolved the NIO does not have to take any notice. So to that extent maybe this afternoon's debate did not have any more import than the school competition I judged earlier.
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I often find young people have more have more energy than the old boys in the assembly. As well Mark you will find young people think for themselves rather than read of a script in which a civil servant has prepared for them.
I also followed this debate and it was marginally better than some other stuff. Most of the younger Assembly members are much easier to listen to and can debate fairly well - the DUP have two or three younger MLA's who are particularly impressive. Overall Sammy Wilson, Niomi Long and Basil MccRea are the most impressive backbenchers (in terms of speaking ability)