Archive for March, 2007
UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey today said the corporation tax debate was descending into farce with the Chancellor on one hand saying it was under review in Northern Ireland while Peter Hain was pouring cold water on it saying it would contravene EU law.
In a statement Sir Reg said,
“Government appears to be in disarray on the issue and the whole debate is descending into farce.
On the one hand we have the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposing a review into corporation tax in Northern Ireland only last week as part of his overall economic package while on the other hand Peter Hain tells us in Westminster that any cut for Northern Ireland would be against current EU law.
Given the importance of this issue to the business community in Northern Ireland and that a cut would significantly enhance Northern Ireland’s position as a place to invest in, the matter should be cleared up as soon as possible. What is the real position? Is there to be a meaningful review or has Peter Hain called it correctly?”
Continue Reading E-mail March 31st, 2007
Sir Reg Empey MLA
East Belfast UUP spokesman Michael Copeland said new legislation that will limit private landlords and rack-renters from extorting tenants who dwell in sub-standard accommodation should also be applied to the Housing Executive.
In a statement Mr Copeland said,
“Government recently introduced legislation designed to protect tenants from landlords renting sub-standard accommodation from hiking their prices up. This is a welcome move but it will do little unless it is applied to the government’s own housing agencies, some of whom are the biggest culprits in the supply of sub-standard accommodation.
In Northern Ireland the Housing Executive is struggling from a lack of funding and a decreasing quality in the standard of its properties which is exacerbated by an increasing level of demand.
If government are to apply new rules to private landlords then they should lead by example and get their own housing agencies in check too. With a large number of people looking for that most basic human right – a decent place to live – it is vital that the government provides not only affordable housing for those that need it most, but also ensures that the standard of that housing is up to scratch. I have to say in my experience to date of dealing with a great many housing cases, this is not the way things currently stand.”
Continue Reading E-mail March 30th, 2007
Michael Copeland
Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has expressed his concern that out of this recent political process there has been no resolution to the long standing problem of the parading issue.
“It is my belief that many parts of society here are moving towards a more mature and sensitive attitude to cultural issues than was the case in the past. In recent times we have seen important steps forward. I was greatly struck by the respect afforded to “God Save the Queen” at the recent Ireland-England Rugby match at Croke Park. Equally I welcome the important steps taken by the Loyal Orders in recent years to reach out and promote understanding of their parading activities across the community through many community initiatives.
“The way of many Orangemen has been blocked because of the intolerance displayed by republicans and because of the threat of violence posed against parades. Members of the Loyal Institutions in areas like Portadown, Dunloy, Lurgan and Newtownbutler to name but a few have been treated disgracefully over recent years by the joint destructive management of republicans and the Parades Commission.
“Society here seems at last to be moving forward on a basis of tolerance and mutual respect. The tens of thousands of members of the Loyal Orders who will be parading our streets this summer ask nothing more than to be allowed to bear witness to their tradition and faith in an atmosphere of peace and respect - just as we respect the right of members of the nationalist tradition to express their culture and identity.
“It is long overdue for republicans and government to provide a more positive attitude towards the Loyal Orders and their culture. A positive resolution to this matter should have been secured prior to any acceptance of sharing First and Deputy First Ministers Office with Sinn Fein/IRA at Stormont.
“The Loyal Orders are an equal and important strand in the great diversity of culture we enjoy here in Northern Ireland”, concluded Tom. “If Northern Ireland is to move forward it can afford to leave no section of its community behind. It is important that we all feel we are stakeholders in the shared future. My hope therefore is for a positive long-term resolution to the parading situation in the province, which will show tolerance and mutual respect on all sides”.
Continue Reading E-mail March 30th, 2007
Tom Elliott MLA
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has welcomed the news that the inspection and hormone residue testing of on farm emergency slaughter (OFES) male cattle is to revert to the previous arrangements employed for such animals. The Fermanagh and South Tyrone assemblyman also urged that compensation be made available to the many farm businesses caught up in the “heavy-handed” enforcement techniques of officials.
In a statement the UUP Agriculture and Rural Development spokesman said: “This issue has been a long running saga and it has yet to be resolved to the satisfaction of the farmers involved, many of whom were treated like criminals and yet have since been totally vindicated.
“Speaking with farmers when this matter originally came to my attention last year I was disgusted to learn of their plight, with their homes ransacked and heavy restrictions placed on their herds. I can understand that the presence of alpha-nortestosterone in the cattle was of concern with regards human health, but to treat farmers as being guilty of administering the hormone illegally, without the presence of concrete evidence, caused many families great distress.
“Those farmers who have now proven to be innocent of any wrong-doing must have there names and reputations cleared and compensated for the costs imposed on them by the restrictions and the dumping of many perfectly good animals.”
In conclusion Tom added: “I would also call on DARD and the other stakeholders groups involved in finalising the definitive test to detect the presence of illegally administered hormone to bring it on line as soon as possible, we must ensure that this episode cannot be allowed to happen again.”
Continue Reading E-mail March 29th, 2007
Tom Elliott MLA
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has welcomed the news that the inspection and hormone residue testing of on farm emergency slaughter (OFES) male cattle is to revert to the previous arrangements employed for such animals. The Fermanagh and South Tyrone assemblyman also urged that compensation be made available to the many farm businesses caught up in the “heavy-handed” enforcement techniques of officials.
In a statement the UUP Agriculture and Rural Development spokesman said: “This issue has been a long running saga and it has yet to be resolved to the satisfaction of the farmers involved, many of whom were treated like criminals and yet have since been totally vindicated.
“Speaking with farmers when this matter originally came to my attention last year I was disgusted to learn of their plight, with their homes ransacked and heavy restrictions placed on their herds. I can understand that the presence of alpha-nortestosterone in the cattle was of concern with regards human health, but to treat farmers as being guilty of administering the hormone illegally, without the presence of concrete evidence, caused many families great distress.
“Those farmers who have now proven to be innocent of any wrong-doing must have there names and reputations cleared and compensated for the costs imposed on them by the restrictions and the dumping of many perfectly good animals.”
In conclusion Tom added: “I would also call on DARD and the other stakeholders groups involved in finalising the definitive test to detect the presence of illegally administered hormone to bring it on line as soon as possible, we must ensure that this episode cannot be allowed to happen again.”
Continue Reading E-mail March 29th, 2007
Tom Elliott MLA
Ulster Unionist MP, Lady Hermon, has described as ‘pathetic’ figures revealing the conviction rate for those caught vandalising Northern Ireland’s transport network.
Speaking from her North Down Constituency Office, she said: “Nothing excuses assaulting Translink staff simply for doing their job and nothing excuses causing criminal damage to public property. Since Translink provides such essential public services though its buses and trains, it’s an absolute disgrace that its staff and its property are treated in such a reprehensible manner.
The conviction rate for transport vandals is pathetic, to put it mildly, and I’m astounded the PSNI has not been much more rigorous in tackling this serious problem. So I’ll certainly be demanding that the police together with Translink adopt a zero tolerance approach towards vandalism and assaults. The immediate extension of CCTV provision to all Translink property would clearly be a step in the right direction.”
Continue Reading E-mail March 29th, 2007
Lady Sylvia Hermon MP
Ulster Unionist Health Spokesman Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA today called on the Government to abandon what he termed “the fiasco of their failed Modern Medical Careers scheme” and revert to the previous method of direct application to hospital trusts. Dr Coulter also called for the expansion of doctor training posts throughout Northern Ireland so that 400 of the brightest and best doctors in the country are not lost to patient care in Northern Ireland.
“There have been so many horrendous problems associated with the government’s Modernising Medical Careers initiative that I believe the only proper course of action is to scrap it in its entirety and revert to the previous method of recruitment. This is not something which can be patched up. It needs to go and go now.”
“This scheme will lead to 400 doctor redundancies among junior doctors in Northern Ireland alone. Each junior doctor takes at least £250,000 to train. In losing 400 doctors we will be wasting a £100 Million investment of public money, let alone the damage we will be doing to patient care. We should not be getting rid of doctors – we should be getting rid of administrators and the target driven bureucracy.”
“I know that many junior doctors are considering leaving the country, going to Australia, New Zealand and Canada and that many are considering leaving medicine altogether. That would be a national tragedy. I have never known morale in the health service to be as low as it is now.”
“There will have to be a public enquiry into the ratio of doctors to patients and the ratio of nurses to patients in our hospitals and this must be compared to the ratios in similar places like Australia. It is unthinkable that we should be making superbly trained and recently qualified doctors unemployed. Something is very badly wrong.”
“With the restoration of the Assembly and locally accountable Ministers, Northern Ireland should consider scrapping this scheme locally and getting back to some sanity in the training of our doctors and future consultants.”
Continue Reading E-mail March 29th, 2007
Rev. Dr. Robert Coulter MLA
UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey and Party Parades spokesman Michael Copeland met today with the Parades Commission this morning.
The meeting, at the Commission’s request, saw Sir Reg and Mr Copeland pressing the Commission for fresh thinking ahead of the approaching parading season.
In a joint statement the UUP Men said,
“The parading season is very close and once again neither government nor the Parades Commission seem to have any fresh ideas or perspectives to bring to the table.
As always the parading issue has the potential, if not handled correctly, to derail or jeopardise the good will and positive new consensus that a return of devolution brings.
Druncree needs to be resolved along with other contentious parades across Northern Ireland. The progress that we have all made cannot be allowed to become undone.
The Ulster Unionist Party is appealing to all parties to urgently begin looking at a collective approach to the Parading issue.
Parading and the issues surrounding it cannot be swept under the carpet any longer.”
Continue Reading E-mail March 28th, 2007
Sir Reg Empey MLA
Ulster Unionist Councillor Alderman Arnold Hatch has today said that the “massive u-turn” by the DUP leadership to enter into power-sharing with Sinn Fein would leave their two MLAs in Upper Bann – David Simpson and Stephen Moutray – “bewildered and confused”.
In a statement, Mr Hatch said: “Messrs Simpson and Moutray were two of the 12 DUP elected representatives who signed that famous letter against the direction the DUP was taking. Have they turned full circle again?
“The DUP has finally played catch-up with the Ulster Unionist Party and accepted the framework and institutions that we negotiated in 1998.
“The images of Dr Paisley sitting at the same table with Gerry Adams were momentous and historic. However, it should be remembered that the DUP heaped physical and verbal abuse on Daphne and David Trimble, and the UUP, for sharing power with moderate nationalism.
“We had Seamus Mallon as our Deputy First Minister, not a former commander of the IRA. How times have changed.
“The DUP has been to the electorate with various messages over the years – from ‘Smash Sinn Fein’, to ‘government with Sinn Fein’. What happened to the requirement to see a photograph of IRA weapons being decommissioned? Is the testing period now only six weeks?
“The need for the dissolution of the IRA Army Council has gone. Have all the pledges and tests been abandoned?
“Jim Allister, their very capable MEP, has left their Party and several councillors will also follow suit due to this remarkable about-face. Will Simpson and Moutray now take the salaries and abandon so-called principles?”
Continue Reading E-mail March 28th, 2007
Alderman Arnold Hatch
Commenting on Jim Allister’s resignation from the DUP today UUP MEP Jim Nicholson said,
“Mr Allister’s resignation from the DUP is not a huge surprise given his stated position on power sharing in recent weeks.
“Mr. Allister’s decision is a matter for him and his former party. However, I would like to assure him that regardless of his political affiliation, I have every intention of maintaining the good working relationship we have had since he was elected to the European Parliament. It is in the interests of all the people of Northern Ireland that we continue to work together until the end of this mandate in 2009.”
Continue Reading E-mail March 27th, 2007
Jim Nicholson MEP
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