Stephen's Week

I'm writing this a little earlier than normal as I am heading back to London tomorrow (Saturday) morning. I will speaking at the London Europride event in Trafalfgar Square in the afternoon. On Sunday I will be on the BBC's Politics Show, talking about local government in Bristol.

Here's my account of the last five days.

MONDAY 26th JUNE

Up to London and into office for a few hours. Then back to Paddington to get the Heathrow Express. Education Select Committee are going on a short visit to Dublin. Our flight is delayed and we eventually arrive in Dublin at 6.30pm. Met by Keith the political attache from the British Embassy who will look after us for the next couple of days. Mini bus into Dublin centre, check into Buswells Hotel, just opposite the Dail, the Irish parliament. We go out for a late snack in a local pub and are regaled by some Spanish sing song. The committee chairman loved it. I was reminded of some Butlins cabaret when I was a child...

TUESDAY 27th JUNE

8am breakfast briefing with British Ambassador. Then to the Dept of Education and Science for an overview of the Irish education system. The Irish have much better post 16 participation rates than us. Mid morning to the central Dublin branch of "Youthreach". This is an organisation that deals with disaffected young people aged 14 - 21 who have dropped out of school. They learn vocational trades and life skills in an informal environment. Half way through the meeting some children bring in plate fulls of scones, apple tarts and lemon cakes that they have just baked. Even my sweet tooth isn't quite ready for this!

To a restaurant for lunch hosted by Sile de Valera, the Minister of Education. The historically minded of you will have spotted the name association, she is the grand daughter of Eamon de Valera, one of the early leaders of the Irish republic. Unlike her ancestor, Sile is a jovial and pleasant figure.

After lunch, back in the mini bus and out to Tallacht Institute of Technology just outside the city. There is a network of these institutes around Ireland. They are a cross between our Further Education Colleges and the old Polytechnics. They appear to have a good record of training people for the new jobs available in the fast changing Irish economy, in particular micro electronics and pharmaceuticals.

Back to the hotel by 6pm and I go for a quick wander round the city centre, though all the museums and galleries I would have liked to visit were shut. Another outing in the mini bus to the British Ambassador's residence, a mid Victorian pile in the countryside. A reception and dinner with leading figures from Irish education. I am sat between the director of Galway University and Jan O'Sullivan, a Labour TD (ie MP). The Irish are due for a general election next year. I have a long standing interest in Irish history and politics so enjoy the discussion. The philosophical differences between the main Irish parties are rather slight and personality is more important than in the UK.

WEDNESDAY 28th JUNE

Day starts with an official visit to the Dail. Today would have been my father's 68th birthday (he died in 1980) and every year I wonder what he would think about what I am doing. He used to run a savings club for Abercynon men to visit Dublin for Ireland v Wales rugby matches every

other year. I didn't get to see Lansdown Road rugby ground, but instead saw Leinster House. This was the home of the Earls of Kildare, converted to a home for the Free State Parliament in 1922. It also has a modern extension for committee meetings, just like Westminster. We start there, for a joint session with the Irish equivalent of the Education Select Cttee. We are treated to a 20 minute peroration by a Fianna Fail (main party in coalition govt) Senator, on the importance of education.

At 11.30am we go into the visitors' gallery of the Dail chamber to catch the end of Prime Minister's Question Time. This is rather different to my usual Wednesday PMQs in Westminster. The speaker is a rather elderly gentleman and he attempted to keep order by the occasional tapping of a bell on his desk. If you think of the end of a boxing round then you'll

get the idea. Bertie Ahern is rather deadpan but he gave longer and more meaningful answers than Blair.

Mid day to FAS, a mix of our job seekers plus service and connexions. They provide job advice and training for the unemployed. The Irish economy has been going through a long boom. There has been huge inward migration, particularly from Eastern Europe. Yet like the UK, there are

still some indigenous low skilled unemployed.

Back to the city centre by 1.30pm, leaving us half an hour of free time before leaving for the airport. I march off to Trinity College to take a picture of Edmund Burke's statue. Burke is one of Ireland's most famous sons and certainly my most illustrious predecessor as MP for the historic area of Bristol. To my annoyance his statue was surrounded by scaffolding, though at least he'll be spruced up when I next visit.

Sod's law, at the airport early only to find our plane is delayed. Arrive back in Heathrow at 5.30pm. Dump my stuff at my flat then head down to Bromley to do a few hours' by election delivery until 10pm. To bed by 1.15am, exhausted.

THURSDAY 29th JUNE

Education questions in the Chamber. Then caught up on paperwork in office before heading back to Bromley to knock up voters during the afternoon. Train back to Bristol.

FRIDAY 30th JUNE

We came close in Bromley - a bad result for the Tories in one of their safest seats.

To office in Bishopston for film recording for Channel Four. They are making a couple of programmes on homophobic bullying. By coincidence this is followed by a meeting with Avon Youth, who want to do more work with councils on bullying.

Down to Harbourside and the Spirit of Fairbridge sailing ship, moored by Arnolfini. I have supported Fairbridge before, they are a charity working with children who have dropped out of school, trying to give them life skills through team work and recreational activities. I present several participants with attendance certificates.

To Council House for regular surgery. Afterwards do a live interview outside with ITV West on some new education league tables. In this one Bristol is top, though it is for the number of suspensions from school. Interview was meant to be at 6.30pm but we have to wait for the Germany v Argentina match to finish! I say that we need to know more about what lies behind the figures but suspensions may not be a bad thing. Badly behaved children disrupt the learning of others and Bristol simply can't afford to let standards slip any further.

Good bye till next week!