Ministers welcome Alan Johnson to Northern Ireland
Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, and Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane today welcomed Alan Johnson MP, to Northern Ireland.
Sir Reg and Caitríona Ruane met with Mr Johnson, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, at Parliament Buildings today.
Welcoming the Mr Johnson, Sir Reg Empey, said: “I appreciate that the Minister has taken the time to visit us and it is my very great pleasure to welcome him here to Northern Ireland today.”
Speaking on their meeting, Sir Reg said: “Today’s meeting with Alan provides a wonderful opportunity to foster closer working relationships between the administrations, to hear first hand of recent developments in the UK, and to build on the already productive relationship that exists between officials from the Department for Employment and Skills and their Northern Ireland counterparts.”
Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, said: “With the return of the institutions, we are now able to focus on improving educational opportunities for all of our young people. To do this, we must learn and work with all the administrations on these islands, on both a north-south and east-west basis, for the good of our learners. I am looking forward to working with Sir Reg to ensure we give our young people the best education to prepare them for their future.
“I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Mr Johnson today and explore how we can identify best practice to help us improve the opportunities available to our children and young people.”
Sir Reg continued: “In the coming months I look forward to working alongside Alan and my other ministerial colleagues. The higher education sector in Northern Ireland is integral to the wider UK sector, and at this exciting time in Northern Ireland’s history, closer collaboration between the administrations has never been of greater importance.”
Commenting on Northern Ireland’s position and future within the UK Higher Education system, Sir Reg went on to say:
“Northern Ireland’s further and higher education systems enjoy a strong UK-wide reputation. In order to maintain that position we need to avail of every opportunity to work more closely with our counterparts outside of Northern Ireland, in order to learn from, and benchmark, what we are doing in relation to their experiences.
“We need to keep making the right connections between the education system and the world of work, to ensure that the skills needs of the economy are addressed both now and in the future.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Mr Johnson has been Secretary of State for Education and Skills since May 2006.
2. He has a trade union background, having been the Union of Communication Workers’ youngest ever General Secretary
3. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.