Pictured at the start of his series of mentoring sessions is the winner of the Craigavon Business Award’s “Sir Allen McClay Young Entrepreneur of the Year”, Garth Cairns from Craigavon based SlurryKat. The award includes mentoring sessions with a wide range of senior business figures in Northern Ireland including (pictured), Brendan Mulgrew, Managing Director, Stakeholder Communications, Philip Diamond Vice-President, Almac, Jim Fitzpatrick, Below the Radar Productions, and Michael McDonnell, Partner, BDO. Garth will attend monthly sessions between now and January 2011. Other mentors include Prof. Peter Gregson, Vice Chancellor Queen’s University Belfast, & Robert Garrett, Head of Corporate lending, Northern Bank.

The special sitting to cover extra business will see the Environment Minister read through the second stage of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill, the Social Development Minister do likewise with the Housing (Amendment) (No.2) Bill before taking the Welfare Reform Bill  to its conclusion.  

In Private Members’ Business North Down MLA Peter Weir will attempt to narrow the definition of a victim relating to compensation with the first stage of Victims and Survivors (Disqualification) Bill.

Matters are concluded with a debate tabled by SDLP Newry & Armagh MLA Dominic Bradley on the murder of the Reavey Family in Whitecross, Co. Armagh on 4 January 1976.

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Question time sees DCAL’s Nelson McCausland at the dispatch box before the Assembly does a spot of end of term spring cleaning to spruce up its procedures.

Matters are concluded with a Public Accounts Committee motion for the Assembly to take note of its Fourth Composite Report and First Thematic Report.

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DETI Minister Arlene Foster opens up some procedural jiggery-pokery before the Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy takes the Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill through its final stage and OFMDFM ask the Assembly to take note of the Programme for Govt. recent delivery reports.

Question time for Justice & Agriculture precedes some Committee reshuffling with Peter Weir (DUP) filling a vacancy on the Assembly Commission and the DUP new boys, Jonathan Bell, Paul Frew & Paul Givan taking up positions on the Employment, Enterprise & Justice Committees respectively.

Matters are concluded by the first stage of David McNarry’s private members bill on financial support for the armed forces, a DUP motion examining the work of the Regional Autistic Spectrum Disorders Network Group, and a UUP motion on school attendance.

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Fearless is the new youth brand that introduces young people to the service provided by Crimestoppers. It consists of the website, www.fearless.org, where young people can get information about crimes that affect them and also gives them the opportunity to pass on information about crime anonymously.

Local celebrities have been getting behind the campaign by confessing to their innermost fears. Apprentice Star Ben Clarke is petrified of needles, Sports Anchorman Graham Little can’t stand mice, while Model Katie Larmour has no problem scuba diving apart from her fear of boats.

Crimestoppers Northern Ireland Regional Manager Susan Brew said: “Young people are one of the most important audiences for Crimestoppers to communicate with, but they haven’t always understood or been willing to interact with the charity. The new brand will empower young people to be ‘fearless’ in passing on information about crime anonymously, safe in the knowledge that their identity will never be revealed and they will never have to speak to the police.

The event, held at Belfast’s re-opened Ulster Museum, was attended by over 50 young people. There were interactive presentations on the new website and brand before a Q & A session for the young people with Olympic Medal Winner and newly-crowned European Champion Boxer Paddy Barnes on a theme of the importance of having courage to conquer fears and achieve success.

Paddy Barnes said; “When I step into the ring I have to conquer any fear and stay focussed. Fearless is a great website for young people to encourage them to do the right thing, and give them the confidence that no-one will ever know they contacted Crimestoppers.”

A number of stakeholder organisations who work with young people also came along for a more detailed look at how the brand will operate in Northern Ireland. 

Susan Brew concluded: “We want to reassure young people that information they give us about crimes is taken seriously; everyday 20 people are arrested and charged as a result of information given to Crimestoppers which proves our service is effective in fighting crime. It’s vital that everyone realises that they can play an important role in helping make their communities better places to live.”

His Executive colleague at Enterprise Arlene Foster follows with the same process for the Energy Bill before Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy moves the Roads (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill for its further consideration stage.

Employment Minister Sir Reg Empey shepherds the Employment Bill through its final stage before Health Minister Michael McGimpsey provides a rousing finale with oral questions.

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Finance Minister Sammy Wilson may stick close to the chamber as Question Time sees him back at the dispatch box straight after Environment Minister Edwin Poots fields his oral questions.

It’s a dog ate my homework day on the hill as the Social Development Committee apply for an extension on their scrutiny over the Caravans Bill and the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill before the Agriculture Committee follows suit on the Dogs (Amendment) Bill.

Matters are brought to a close with a rather tame OFMDFM committee motion taking note of the Written Ministerial Statement, ‘The Executive’s Priority Measures to Deal with the Economic Downturn.

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Next Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy goes in at the deep end as he seeks affirmation for both the River Bann Navigation Order (Northern Ireland) 2010 and the Donaghadee Harbour Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.

He is followed at the dispatch box by DETI Minister Arlene Foster for oral questions before Sir Reg returns to the chamber as the assembly debates a motion calling on him to examine and expand the Programme-Led Apprenticeships (PLA) Scheme.

Matters are concluded by an adjournment debate tabled by East Antrim Alliance MLA Sean Neeson on the upgrade of A2 from Jordanstown to Trooperslane.

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Next OFMDFM will open matters at the dispatch box before Sir Reg returns for oral questions.  

The SDLP continue their purge of outspoken North Antrim MLA Declan O’Loan by replacing him on the largely defunct Assembly & Executive Review Committee.

The penultimate item of business is the Environment Committee chair asking for an extension for the Consideration stage of the High Hedges Bill before matters are brought to a conclusion by a SF motion on the cost of fuel in NI.

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Next up its oral questions for the Justice Minister David Ford before an SDLP motion on the disparity between demand and provision for funded pre-school places.

Matters are brought to a close by an adjournment debate on the Urban Renewal Area Status of the Upper Long Streets in the New Lodge and the Parkside and Glen Areas tabled by Sinn Féin’s Caral Ní Chuilín.

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