One of his first tasks was overseeing the publication and delivery of the Saville Report on the events of Bloody Sunday in January 1972 , which led to an apology by the Prime Minister David Cameron . He worked with the Treasury to deliver his promise of a consultation on the devolution of the power to reduce the rate of Corporation Tax to Stormont . Paterson stated that " Rebalancing and rebuilding the economy is critical to the future prosperity of Northern Ireland and it is one of the Government 's key priorities for Northern Ireland . " He has been outspoken on the issue of integrated education in Northern Ireland . Currently 95 % of Northern Ireland pupils attend a segregated school . Paterson believes segregated education is not working ; in October 2010 he said : “ there 's a school in Belfast with no pupils and there 's a school in Belfast with more staff than pupils . That 's just a criminal waste of public money . We can not go on bearing the cost of segregation and I do n't see why the British taxpayer should continue to subsidise segregation . " Paterson was the first cabinet member to publicly oppose the Coalition Government 's Marriage ( Same Sex Couples ) Bill , defying David Cameron and ministerial convention
Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday (1972)
Owen Paterson