Election Question Time

BBC's Jim Fitzpatrick posed the audience's questions which focused on bread and butter issues and set the tone for a positive discussion between the sector and politicians.

In answer to the query about the one thing they could do in government to really change things for the better, Brian Wilson, standing for the Green Party in North Down, argued for more cross party collaboration to tackle the problems of climate change and pollution; Paul Maskey, Sinn Fein candidate for West Belfast, emphasised the importance of tackling crime against older people; Stephen Nicholl, UUP candidate in South Antrim prioritised the need to transform the health service; Marietta Farrell, SDLP candidate in Lagan Valley, wanted to cut red tape; Sean Neeson, Alliance candidate in South Antrim emphasised sharing over separation and the need to tackle sectarianism and racism with Dawn Purvis, PUP candidate in East Belfast, focusing on the imperative of anti-poverty measures. Peter Weir, DUP candidate for North Down, highlighted the potential of a negotiated financial package to enable progress across all these fronts.

you can see video footage of the representatives on NICVA's soon to be officially launched Election 2007 website and blog.

Further questions ranged from the best way to deal with Northern Ireland's conflictual past, the feasibility of giving ministers responsibility for international development, the importance of balancing acute hospital services, community care and mental health to views on integrated and Irish medium schools in the light of the Bain report and resource constraints. A transport question about the panel's preference for the approach of Ken Livingstone or Jeremy Clarkson triggered the most heated discussion of the morning.

You can read and comment on other questions that delegates submitted on the Election 2007 blog