uuptoday.org

Sam Gardiner MLA, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Upper Bann, said today that if the new seven council model was established in 2008/9 as is currently planned, it would be vitally important for local towns like Lurgan to develop ways of expressing their own local and historic identity.

“I do not agree with the seven council model because it will be very damaging to local identities. The new councils are far too big for a place the size of Northern Ireland which is predominantly a province of small towns. If the Government are pushing ahead with these super councils, despite the fact that all the political parties with the exception of some of Sinn Fein are opposed to them, then we have got to get ourselves ready as a community to ensure the survival of a local Lurgan identity. It is wise and prudent to prepare for this eventuality.”

“There are a lot of issues which cut across all political parties and which we can all identify with which are for the benefit of Lurgan as a town and community. These include infrastructural matters affecting roads, road systems and the rail link. They include issues connected with developing the town centre and making sure that it is not damaged disproportionately by out of town shopping.”

“We need to get a united, cross-party focus for all these issues. In the original local government reform proposals there was a suggestion that something like local town forums should be established, but this did not find favour with a wide group of respondents to the Reform of Public Administration. However, we will probably need some kind of local body, crucially including elected representatives, to focus the specific interests of Lurgan.”

“It is important that we think about this now because the deadline date for the new councils is only 2 to 3 years away. The problem with issues like this is that people sometimes do not realise what they have until they lose it. At present, Craigavon Council gives a reasonable though not perfect degree of local focus but this new proposed super council will, by its very nature, be remote and have too wide a remit geographically to be able to fulfil this role.”

“I would be glad to hear from anyone if they have any ideas or proposals. People should call in to my High Street Office or write to me there.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Mid-Ulster Billy Armstrong is shocked at the murder of a Scottish man near Tobermore in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Billy said, “The killing of a Scottish man near Tobermore in the early hours of Saturday morning is shocking and the perpetrators must be brought to justice.  I would appeal to anyone with any information, no matter how small, to forward it to the Police without hesitation.

“The tolerance of young people at present time seems to be very low. As parents we must encourage our children to be more tolerant of other people’s attitudes and feelings.

“Whatever the circumstances of this situation a young man has lost his life and our heart goes out to his family at this sad time.”

East Belfast UUP MLA Michael Copeland said today he was alarmed at reports in a Scottish Newspaper that decommissioned IRA guns are trading hands amongst Glasgow’s crooks for £500 a piece.

The machine pistols have apparently been made un-usable by filling the barrels with hot lead which is then allowed to cool.

Mr Copeland said that the reports, if true, raised questions on the integrity of the decommissioning process and added that all the crooks needed to do was reheat the lead and clean the barrels and the pistols could conceivably be re-used.

In a statement today Mr Copeland, who is returning to Northern Ireland from Scotland, said,

“These reports, if true, are alarming. It is understood that at least 30 old IRA machine pistols are changing hands amongst Glasgow’s crooks for £500 a piece. It seems that even with lead in the barrels they can still be used to intimidate people. However, it would relatively easy to reheat the lead and clean the barrels making the pistols usable again.

In Northern Ireland we were led to believe that the decommissioning process meant that weapons such of these had been properly disposed of and destroyed. To find that some weapons have gone from the hands of IRA thugs into the hands of Scottish thugs casts a large shadow over the integrity of the decommissioning process.

I would call on the IICD to either rule out these newspaper reports or explain how 30 supposedly decommissioned machine pistols can end up for sale on the streets of Glasgow.”

East Belfast MLA Michael Copeland has criticised Sinn Fein’s Catriona Ruane for her comments regarding B&Q’s decision to put an Olympic emblem, which includes a Union Jack, on its uniforms.

The DIY chain, which is sponsoring the Great Britain Olympic team, said individual workers could decide whether to wear the new work clothes or not.

Mr Copeland said:

“Ms Ruane has made a mountain out of a mole hill and her comments that those who choose not to wear the uniform will be subject to ‘sectarian intimidation’ is absolutely ludicrous.

“Whilst on holiday in Europe we see the flags of the European Union flying happily side by side. As soon as you step of the plane we’re greeted with the spiteful comments from Ms Ruane who takes any opportunity to espouse her hatred of anything British.

“As a sponsor of the Great Britain Olympic team, B&Q will want to show their support and have every right in doing so. Staff members have also been given a choice whether or not they want to wear it, so I cannot see what the problem is. The only divisiveness here is being caused by Ms Ruane’s comments. This is a classic case of ‘silly season’ madness. It also goes to show that B&Q isn’t the only place you find nuts in handy sized packets”.

UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey said today that work on resolving Drumcree must begin soon and not be left to the last minute next year. The UUP Leader said that real dialogue between the relevant parties is needed as Drumcree remains one of the last real outstanding contentious parades.

In a statement the UUP Leader said,

“Drumcree remains an unresolved issue. While I welcome the peaceful nature of this year’s twelfth celebrations and that progress has been made on other contentious parades, this matter is still outstanding. It remains one of the last few remaining contentious parades where every year an accommodation is elusive.

In order to bed down this relative peace and stability on parades Drumcree needs to be addressed. I am calling on relevant parties to begin work immediately on the issue and seek a way forward. It cannot be left until the last minute next year. I am quite prepared to facilitate this dialogue if needs be.”

Ulster Unionist Spokesperson on Cross Border Issues Esmond Birnie has said that even if all North South bodies were axed post-November 24, the governments’ Plan B would still amount to a major route map for the aspirations of republicans.

In a statement, the South Belfast MLA said: “On April 6, Tony Blair said that ‘there can be no way forward that does not recognise the legitimate aspiration of nationalists and republicans for a united Ireland; and give expression to it, through partnership, North and South’.

“Yet it seems that North South Bodies will escape the kind of extreme measures that are being threatened against the Assembly and MLAs.

“I want Northern Ireland to work through devolved government. But an absolute deadline has been put on this. This deadline time-limits the aspirations of Unionist representatives toward making Northern Ireland governable through a devolved administration.

“Why are similar limitations not placed on the aspirations of republicans?

“The Prime Ministers’ Work Plan which was revealed last month states that Plan B will see closer ‘British Irish partnership arrangements’. Mr Blair knows that closer North South arrangements gives expression to republican goals – yet the only way forward post-November 24 will further these goals.

“Opportunities for me to pursue my aspirations are finite. Opportunities for republicans to pursue their aspirations are open-ended.”

He added: “Souped up North South arrangements are not necessary toward creating a more prosperous Northern Ireland economy.

“The NAFTA free trade arrangements between the US and Canada do not require the two North American economies to adopt a single currency or, indeed, cross-border bodies.

“EU countries like France, Germany and Italy manage their border regions without the kind of institutional apparatus which already exists in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

“But closer North South partnership is happening now. Tuesday’s communiqué from the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference focused on various aspects of an all-island economy – including pooling resources, and new all-island approaches to labour market skills forecasting and business development.

“There was little or nothing on East/West. It’s all going one direction.

“Unionists will also be discomfited by Lord Rooker’s contribution during the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill debate.

“Jeff Rooker said: ‘If the noble Lord [Kilclooney] is concerned about discussions between the United Kingdom Government and the Government of the Republic over this matter, he will be more worried after 24 November if the Assembly does not return, because discussions will deepen.’

“The dangers are there – and government is more than willing to spell them out. Unionists must look at all available options so that Unionist aspirations are not swamped by the tide of undemocratic and unbalanced joint management.”

Ulster Unionist Leader Sir Reg Empey has welcomed the government’s decision to postpone changes to industrial derating and establish a working group involving the Northern Ireland Manufacturers Focus Group (NIMFG) and Amicus representatives.

In a statement, the East Belfast MLA said: “It is important to recognise that this move does represent progress. This is clearly a response to pressure that political parties and lobby groups have brought to bear on government.

“To simply view this opportunity as blackmail is defeatist and misses the point. There is a genuine issue being debated here.

“Change is still possible - though it would be much better to determine things for ourselves with devolution.

“However we should seize the merits of the argument of the NIMFG and continue to press government as we move into the autumn.

“We must seize every opportunity to make the case for change and to freeze any further moves toward industrial derating.”

North Antrim MLA Rev Dr Robert Coulter has welcomed the news that deaths from substance abuse in Northern Ireland have declined but has warned that ‘we must not become complacent’.

His comments follow a report from entitled ‘Trends in Death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances 1971-2004’ compiled at St George’s, University of London which shows that the death rates from substance abuse is the lowest recorded since 1983.

Rev Coulter said:

“This is certainly welcome news and it shows that more and more people have become aware of the dangers of substance abuse. Thankfully the message is getting through, but just because numbers are down we must not cease putting this message out.

“Schools, health agencies and government bodies should be congratulated on their efforts and I hope that this issue remains a priority. Parents should also be vigilant and watch for the tell tale signs of substance abuse – especially during the holiday period when teenagers get bored”.

UUP Parades spokesman Michael Copeland MLA today said that the planned dissident republican parade in Ballymena on August 9th should be cancelled altogether given cross-party opposition to it and the stringent conditions placed upon it by the Parades Commission.

In a statement today Mr Copeland said,

“There is no popular support for this parade whatsoever and the punitive restrictions placed upon the planned parade by the Parades Commission are an indication of this lack of support.

Given the recent tensions in Ballymena a parade of this nature is insensitive to say the least.

There are also widespread concerns that the PSNI will not be able to police the parade properly.

Given these factors and the cross-party views expressed against the parade taking place the organisers should cancel it altogether.”

UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey today expressed his good wishes to those servicemen and women of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, and their families, as they prepare to be deployed in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

In a statement Sir Reg said,

“The servicemen and women of 1st Royal Irish will be playing an essential role in combating terrorism and supporting Afghanistan’s democratic government.  Our nation’s forces - alongside the other members of the multi-national force - are seeking to build a better future for the Afghan people, a future free from tyranny and terror.  The people of Northern Ireland can take pride in the men and women of 1st Royal Irish as they make a vital contribution to this task.  Their professionalism and commitment will make Afghanistan a safer place.

We realise, of course, the dangers involved in a deployment to Afghanistan.  The losses borne by British, US and Canadian forces over recent months are a stark reminder that securing freedom for the people of Afghanistan - and ensuring that their country will never again become a base from which terrorist attacks such as 9/11 are launched - has been costly.  Our thoughts are with the now 100 personnel from 1st Royal Irish in Afghanistan.  We trust that they will return safely to their families.”