MLA 'not afraid' to tackle Ruane

Raymond McCartney said he would not be afraid to challenge Ms Ruane

A Sinn F�in assembly member has said he would not be afraid to challenge ministers in his party if he felt they were not doing their job.

He was responding to a call from Derry diocesan priest Father Michael Canny for MLAs to question the education minister on cuts to schools' funding.

Father Canny said the cuts would affect the poorest of the poor.

Sinn F�in's Caitr�ona Ruane announced last week that she was reducing funding for breakfast and after school clubs.

Father Canny said the measure would affect the most vulnerable in society.

"There won't be the same rumpus about this as about the 11-plus because we are attacking the people who are the weakest and the least able to speak for themsevles.

"I'd like to see assembly members take a good firm position and say they're about to stand outside the party or do something drastic.

"That'll get the headlines and they might rein in their minister," he said.

But Raymond McCartney said the issue had to be tackled on a much wider basis.

"If we are spending money unnecessarily on other aspects of education then I think its incumbent on us, whether we're on message or off message, then we have to point that out to people," he said.

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