Alliance: Northern Ireland's cross community party

Astounding McCann comments mean Sinn Fein might be flexible on transfer issue

1.18.08pm GMT Thu 3rd Dec 2009

Portrait-yellow: LUNN Trevor (photography: Allan Leonard)

Alliance Education Spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA

Alliance Education Spokesperson Trevor Lunn MLA has said he hopes Sinn Fein MLA Jennifer McCann's statement that her party got it wrong on the 11-plus means they will be open to suggestions on how to solve the transfer crisis. Jennifer McCann MLA made the comments at a debate at St Dominic's Grammar School in West Belfast yesterday and they were reported on the front page of the Belfast Telegraph today.

Trevor Lunn MLA, who has played a leading role in the post-primary transfer talks at Stormont, said: "This is a very interesting admission from a leading player in Sinn Fein. I hope that this volte-face from Jennifer McCann means Sinn Fein is willing to engage with the other parties to consider interim arrangements on transfer and the other issues surrounding education.

"They've had an open invitation to the all-party talks but they have failed to turn up. I hope that this mea culpa from Sinn Fein means that they are open to new ideas to alleviate the post-primary transfer chaos. I only wish that the Minister Caitríona Ruane had been as frank as Jennifer McCann because had she been, we would not be in this current mess. "

ENDS

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