Accusations of education funding bias

Stormont education debate was heated

The assembly has backed a motion accusing the Sinn Fein education minister of discriminating against Protestant schools in allocating money for building projects.

The motion - tabled jointly by the Democratic Unionist Party's Sammy Wilson and Ulster Unionist member Danny Kennedy - was passed by 43 to 30 votes on Tuesday, in spite of opposition from Sinn Fein and the SDLP.

The unionist members said the Department of Education had shown bias in providing more funding for building at Catholic maintained schools than at mainly Protestant state schools.

Martin McGuinness denied the claims of funding bias

The motion called on Education Minister Martin McGuinness to take note of this when deciding on future funding.

However, Mr McGuinness rejected the claims and said his track record had proved he was fair.

He said the allegations from Ulster Unionist member Danny Kennedy contained "bile and vitriol" and were unjustified.

The DUP's Sammy Wilson had branded Mr McGuinness "the Jo Moore of Sinn Fein" and he claimed the minister was trying to bury bad news.

McCartney ejected

Earlier, UK Unionist Party leader Robert McCartney was ejected from the chamber after interrupting the deputy speaker, Donovan McClelland.

Robert McCartney: Branded "naughty schoolboy"

Mr McClelland asked Mr McCartney to leave after warning him to be quiet while SDLP member Tommy Gallagher was speaking during the education debate.

As Mr McCartney left the chamber, describing the deputy speaker's ruling as "pathetic nonsense", SDLP member John Dallat called after him that he was "a very naughty schoolboy".

Afterwards, Mr McCartney described his one-day expulsion as "complete overkill".

"It was a stage whisper, there were no big interruptions," he said.

"To be named for something like that is absolutely ridiculous."