As we continue to push forward, we urge all parents to write letters to (or to email) the Office of First and Deputy First Minister requesting that the entire matter of the proposed withdrawal of preparatory school funding be placed on the Agenda before the Executive.
The reason for this is that Sinn Fein still exercises a veto and unless the matter is put on the Agenda by the joint Office then decision making power remains with the Minister for Education.
To be clear, the Motion passed on 15th March, does not defeat the proposal.
WE MUST KEEP THE PRESSURE UP!
Here is the postal address/email addresses you will need -
First Minister Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP MLA
Deputy First Minister Mr Martin McGuinness MP MLA
Office of the First and Deputy First Minister
Parliament Buildings
Belfast BT4 3XX
ps.ministers@ofmdfmni.gov.uk
or
Peter.Robinson@niassembly.gov.uk
or
Martin.McGuinness@niassembly.gov.uk
Please see sample letter, kindly donated by one the parent's group. Anyone should feel free to use this as a basis for their own letters and preferably tailor them to suit their own views, issues, etc. Remember personalising your own letter is best.
ANOTHER IDEA?
Please send a similar letter to Robin Newton (and Gerry Kelly), the two Junior Ministers who are on the Executive Sub Committee for Children and Young Persons.
Robin Newton MLA
Junior Minister
GD36 Stormont Castle
Stormont Estate
Belfast
BT4 3TT
mail@robinnewton.co.uk
ps.ministers@ofmdfmni.gov.uk
MORE IDEAS?
Perhaps we should be writing to the newspapers, keeping the Prep funding issue in the spotlight and keeping pressure on Ms Ruane to make a decision in our favour.
Please see link to Newsletter readers' letters re Prep funding here.
Please note the address to write to in the bottom left-hand corner.
Communication From John Ross and Son, Newtownards to the other controlled schools.
ReplyDeleteWe refer to the motion as passed on the Assembly website and would urge representatives from all three controlled schools to contact parents to urge them to write separate letters to the Office of First and Deputy first Minister requesting that the entire matter of the proposed withdrawal of preparatory school funding be placed on the Agenda before the Executive.
The reason for this is that Sinn Fein still exercices a veto and unless the matter is put on the Agenda by the joint Office then decision making power remains with the Minister for Education.
To be clear, the Motion passed on the 15th March, does not defeat the proposal.
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteWould Sinn Fein still exercise a veto in the sense that this requires the joint approval of the First and Deputy First Minister? If that were not forthcoming then a 'Plan B' might seem to be the power of 30 MLAs to petition the Assembly on the basis that a decision concerns an issue of public importance that should be referred to the Executive (section 28B of the Northern Ireland Act)? The speaker has power to refer the decision in these circumstances. In case this step proves necessary, should we not also be writing to the Speaker to ensure that he is in no doubt that this is a matter of public importance?
Best,
Brian Jack
Brian, I will pass this information on to Michelle directly and will post her response. I recommended writing to as many relevant people as possible.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Julie
Could we be writing to the newspapers? Why not?
ReplyDeleteSee some reader's letter to the Newsletter on this post to get us started.
20.03.10
ReplyDeletePlease see updated information on this post on blog re writing to /emailing Office of First Minister/Deputy First Minister. URGENT ACTION REQUIRED!