Nesbitt stands by UUP record on Rights & Equality
Dermot Nesbitt has responded to the criticism by Arlene Foster (DUP) of the UUP’s position after the Preparation for Government Committee meeting on Friday.
Dermot Nesbitt, who also attended the Committee meeting last Friday, said: “The DUP is completely wrong when it criticised the UUP for ignoring the issues of rights and equality. I am happy to stand by the record of the party’s contribution to these issues both during the talks in 1996-98 and since. Of course there is always room for improvement but it is unacceptable for the DUP to criticise our efforts when the DUP at the time left the field of debate at the height of the negotiations leading up to the Belfast Agreement.”
He continued: “It is starkly ironic for the DUP not to have participated then in the talks because of the presence of the Sinn Fein yet at the meeting on Friday concerning the future governance of Northern Ireland not only was Sinn Fein present but it also chaired the meeting.”
Dermot Nesbitt concluded: “Arlene Foster would make a greater contribution to the future stability of Northern Ireland were she to stop making cheap inaccurate political points against my party and concentrate her efforts on exposing the false arguments of those who are opposed to unionism. For example, Peter Hain said last week that nothing will be done outside the terms of the Belfast Agreement. That is absolutely untrue and needs to be exposed. I state categorically that if the UK Government was to act in accordance with the Belfast Agreement Northern Ireland’s position within the UK would be secure, in comparison with the present position adopted by Government. Equality and human rights are vitally important to the future governance of Northern Ireland and Arlene Foster should act accordingly.”