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O’Dowd school trips in spotlight ONE in every our o Education Minister John O’Dowd’s ofcial school visits have been to just one constituency – his own. The Sinn Fein minister has visited schools in his own Upper Bann constituency 10 times since taking ofce last May – almost a quarter o his total visits to schools. And last night concerns were raised about how Mr O’Dowd decides whether to visit a school ater it emerged that in all but one o the constituencies where Sinn Fein has no MLAs the minister did not visit a single school. Green Party leader Steven Agnew, who uncovered the fgures, questioned whether schools in his North Down constituency had been rejected or ministerial visits because “there are no votes or his party here”. A spokesman or the education minister last night denied that the minister considered the electoral implications o his ofcial visits. The departmental spokesman said: “The minister takes his responsibility under the Ministerial Code to serve all the people very seriously and does not take electoral consideration into account when planning his diary.” Mr O’Dowd has turned down 64 schools hoping or a ministerial visit, including fve in his own constituency. Out o a total 42 school visits the minister has not visited schools in fve constituencies — North Down, Strangord, East Antrim, South Antrim and East Belast. Strangord, North Down and East Belast are three o the our constituencies where Sinn Fein does not have an MLA. The ourth, Lagan Valley, had a Sinn Fein MLA until last May and Mr O’Dowd visited it three times. BY Sam mcBride Poltcl Cosponnt s.cb@nwsltt.co.uk INSIDE: Fitness, fashion and beauty INSIDE: Up-to-date sport as it happens The pride of Northern Ireland Price: 75p (ir 1.05 eUrO) mony, Fbuy 20, 2012 NEW Northern Ireland manager Martin O’Neill last night landed a huge coup when ormer captain Aaron Hughes confrmed that he has reversed his decision to retire rom representing his country. Mr O’Neill, who will today visit the News Letter’s Belast ofce or an online webchat about his frst squad, has persuaded the Fulham deender to reconsider. Five months ago Cookstown deensive ace Hughes, 32, announced his decision to end his international career. But Nigel Worthington’s departure as manager and O’Neill’s arrival have persuaded Hughes, who has represented Northern Ireland 79 times, to return and last night Hughes said: “I am proud to represent my country.” O’Nll lns Hughs fo Ni Since 1737 www.newsletter.co.uk 2 7 5 t h A n n iver s a r y Y e a r S pg 8 S Spot N L W o m a n P18&47 Fitness cra ze that’s swung into town Springcleanyour make-upbag P49 It’sablingthing P51 Teal inthe spotlight P52 dfn aon Hughs clbtng hs gol fo Nothn iln gnst th Fo islns lst august Ulster property prices show sharpest decline in UK PAGE 5 SportsEditor:RichardMul liganEmail:nlsport@jpress.co.uk Phone: 02838395578/5574 Monday,February20,2012 TOTALHOCKEY Allthe weekendaction reviewedinour dedicated sectiontothe localgame BOXING: Magee successul in deendinghistitle in Denmarkona weekend overshadowedby brawls outside the ring TRACKCY CLING: WhydidWendy Houvenaghel miss outonthe fnalothe teampursuit? Irvineclosertoachieving Olympicambition f AnS bEhind McoiS t te Modayfeaure: AsAarohuges does U-ur or er emew e alk oeew niback r oomsa Sport s Ul s t er

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O’Dowd

schooltrips in

spotlightONE in every our o EducationMinister John O’Dowd’s ofcialschool visits have been to just oneconstituency – his own.

The Sinn Fein minister has visited schools in his own UpperBann constituency 10 times sincetaking ofce last May – almosta quarter o his total visits toschools.

And last night concerns wereraised about how Mr O’Dowddecides whether to visit a schoolater it emerged that in all but oneo the constituencies where SinnFein has no MLAs the minister did

not visit a single school.Green Party leader Steven

Agnew, who uncovered the fgures,questioned whether schools in hisNorth Down constituency hadbeen rejected or ministerial visitsbecause “there are no votes or hisparty here”.

A spokesman or the educationminister last night denied that theminister considered the electoralimplications o his ofcial visits.

The departmental spokesman

said: “The minister takeshis responsibility under theMinisterial Code to serve all thepeople very seriously and doesnot take electoral considerationinto account when planning hisdiary.”

Mr O’Dowd has turned down 64schools hoping or a ministerial

visit, including fve in his ownconstituency.

Out o a total 42 school visits theminister has not visited schools infve constituencies — North Down,Strangord, East Antrim, South

Antrim and East Belast.Strangord, North Down andEast Belast are three o the ourconstituencies where Sinn Feindoes not have an MLA. The ourth,Lagan Valley, had a Sinn Fein MLA until last May and Mr O’Dowd

visited it three times.

BY Sam mcBridePoltcl Cosponnt

[email protected]

INSIDE:

Fitness,fashion andbeauty

INSIDE:

Up-to-date sportas it happens

The pride of Northern IrelandPrice: 75p (ir 1.05 eUrO) mony, Fbuy 20, 2012

NEW Northern Ireland managerMartin O’Neill last night landeda huge coup when ormer captain Aaron Hughes confrmed that hehas reversed his decision to retirerom representing his country.

Mr O’Neill, who will today visitthe News Letter’s Belast ofce or

an online webchat about his frstsquad, has persuaded the Fulhamdeender to reconsider.

Five months ago Cookstowndeensive ace Hughes, 32,announced his decision to end hisinternational career.

But Nigel Worthington’s

departure as manager and O’Neill’s

arrival have persuaded Hughes,

who has represented Northern

Ireland 79 times, to return and last

night Hughes said: “I am proud to

represent my country.”

O’Nll lns Hughs fo Ni

Since 1737www.newsletter.co.uk