uuptoday.org

Following the DUP’s ‘pledge’ on a Finance Ministry and water charges, Ulster Unionist Chief Negotiator, and North Down candidate, Alan McFarland has voiced his amazement at the increasingly far-fetched and delusional nature of DUP double-speak on devolution.

In a statement, Mr McFarland said: “This is the final nail in the coffin for DUP hypocrisy. Here we have claims about what they might do in a Ministry – but they’re not honest enough to tell people if they’ll even go into the executive.

“They can’t have it both ways. It was only a short time ago that DUP MP Gregory Campbell said that ‘it would be an insult to people’s intelligence to think we could be in government with Sinn Fein by March 26’.” But the first water charge bills come after April 1. Clearly anything they say on water charges is completely and utterly valueless.

“Nothing can be done on water charges if there’s no devolution in place. That’s why the Ulster Unionist Party is saying loud and clear that we will take the seats to which we are entitled on March 26. If people want movement on water charges, vote for parties that will make devolution work.”

Concluding, he said: “The DUP think easy populism is a substitute for honest politics. They’re wrong. Their claim is a joke – and more evidence that the DUP is desperate and now completely detached from reality. They have no credibility on water charges and finance ministries, because they have no credibility on devolution.

“Northern Ireland needs a strong government of its own. This election is about standing on our own two feet, creating a government of our own, and reversing the disastrous policies of Direct Rule Ministers.

“A vote for the divided DUP is a vote for the unknown - a vote for Plan B, a vote for Joint Authority. A vote for the united UUP is a vote to stand for Northern Ireland to stand on our own two feet - a vote for a government of our own.”

Esmond Birnie UUP spokesman on Finance and UUP south Belfast candidate

“Now most of the Party manifestos are in it is notable how some of them are calling for what is euphemistically termed ‘tax varying powers’.

“In practice this would mean tax increasing powers, particularly of income tax. Given that Northern Ireland has a lower employment base than the rest of the UK allied to higher demands on social spending, it is hard to see how a devolved government could avoid being forced to raise income tax.

“Sinn Fein and APNI should be honest about how far they want to raise the basic and higher rates of taxation, and at what levels of income these new super Northern Ireland taxes would begin to bite.

“Such proposals are especially ironic in light of the fact that there is no doubt that the economic renaissance in the UK since about 1980, and in the Republic since about 1990, owes at least something to reductions in rates of income tax.”

UUP Foyle Assembly candidate, Peter Munce has called today for a ‘step change’ in East – West relations.

Peter said that a future Assembly must focus on how to maximise the benefits of being in the Union by actively pursuing and identifying areas of potential cooperation and collaboration between Northern Ireland and other regions of the UK and between these islands.

In a statement Peter said,

“In 1998, the Ulster Unionist Party attempted to build new relationships on and between these islands in the British Isles based upon partnership and respect. Putting greater emphasis on the east/west dimension is the logical extension of this work.

“People get caught up very easily in the debate over closer North/South cooperation and forget about the obvious benefits that could flow from greater economic, social and environmental cooperation between regions of the UK – particularly as Scotland, Wales and some regions in the North of England face the same socio – economic problems as Northern Ireland.

“The vast majority of Unionists support constructive, accountable North/South cooperation, in areas where it is mutually beneficial but we also believe that a more natural framework of cooperation should encompass the entire British Isles – hence the provision, back in 1998 of a framework for East – West cooperation in Strand 3 of the Belfast Agreement, which to date has been undervalued and must be given greater recognition.

“Proposals to strengthen the work of the British Irish Council (BIC) through the creation of a permanent secretariat to support its work are long overdue but are to be welcomed. We must increase the number and frequency of meetings of the British-Irish Council.

“Increased cooperation between these islands can have a lasting impact capable of building stronger communities in both areas with greater economic prosperity and more social cohesion.”

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey today attended the launch of the Ovarian Cancer awareness month at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast organised by Julie Clarke’s Angels of Hope – a charity dedicated to raising awareness and funding of ovarian cancer.

The Ulster Unionist leader welcomed the awareness raising campaign and offered his full support to the organisation. He said:

“Ovarian cancer is a devastating disease, over 7000 women in the UK are diagnosed with each year in the UK, 5000 of whom will lose their lives. Ovarian cancer is one the fourth most common cancer in women and one of the deadliest yet it is also frequently diagnosed late giving its patients less chance of survival.

“Other countries such as Australia are leading the way in terms of the early diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological cancers with dedicated cancer centres for research into screening programmes and treatment. We can learn from their experiences and a start would be a national ovarian cancer screening programme”

“There has been some excellent work done raising awareness of breast cancer and I would like to see the same recognition given to ovarian cancer.”

UUP East Londonderry Assembly candidates Norman Hillis has praised the Housing Executive and the fire and rescue service for their prompt response to a blaze when gas cylinders went on fire in Coleraine.

Mr. Hillis said: “The incident forced two dozen families out of their homes and the Executive deserve credit for the effective manner in which they dealt with the emergency.

“It was a trying and testing time for many residents in the Ballygallin Park area and the Executive staff worked hard to provide alternative accommodation as quickly as possible.”

Mr. Hillis also praised the role of the fire service: “Once again the expertise of local firefighters ensured that damage was kept to a minimum and thankfully there were no serious injuries in this frightening episode.”

Ulster Leader Sir Reg Empey visited the Shankill Road today to support Ulster Unionist candidate for West Belfast Louis West.

During his visit to the Shankill Road, Sir Reg talked to the local people about their hopes for devolution and the issues facing them in their every day lives.

Sir Reg said: “Hard pressed families are facing water charges and increases to their domestic rates. This is unbearable, particularly for young families in the area. It is unsustainable and fundamentally unfair.

“The one way to get a fairer alternative, to ensure fairness for all, is to get devolved locally accountable government up and running here.“

UUP candidate Mr West, who has spent a lifetime in community development work in the Greater Shankill area, said: “Having worked on housing issues and been involved in community work in the Shankill community for most of my life, two issues are coming across loud and clear - private rents are too high, and there not enough social housing.

“This is putting pressure on the community and is driving the local population away.”

He added: “Young people need hope. They need to be equipped to seize opportunity. That means ensuring that our young people have the skills necessary to successfully gain employment.

“A recent House of Commons report has found that the numeracy and literacy skills among Protestant communities are low. Our children are being failed.

“Proper investment in schools and support for our teachers is vital to providing hope and opportunity for all.”

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the North Antrim Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate, who is also the UUP Health Spokesman, said today that we need to give the national health service back to the people.

“The National Health Service in Northern Ireland must once again become the People’s Health Service and not the Bureaucrat’s Health Service. The whole focus of the NHS must become patient centered and this target driven culture must be sidelined. All targets do is create work for pen pushers.”

“What we need to be concentrating on is delivering a first class service to the people. That means real quality change. It means, for instance, freeing up the way we manage Consultants’ appointments. We need to get consultants out to the people in local Health Centres, working alongside family doctors. We need to take a lot of the bureaucracy out of specialist treatment.”

“It also means we need to manage our operating theatres more efficiently and the road blocks which prevent us developing an American and European style conveyor belt operating theatre management system. If that means we need more anesthetists then we must recruit more anesthetists. That will really reduce waiting lists.”

“We need to make the promise of the original Heath Service come true again – delivery at the point of need.”

“We also need to seriously look at the balance between front line services and the bureaucracy which has grown up around those services. We must get front line spending up and spending on administration down. Where are the gains computers were supposed to give us ? We are employing more administrative staff than ever.”

“I say give the Health Service back to the people and stop the misuse of public money.”

Ulster Unionist candidate for Strangford and Castlereagh councillor Michael Henderson has welcomed the announcement from the Department of the Environment that UK retailers have agreed to reduce the overall environmental impact of their carrier bags by 25% by the end of 2008.

In a statement Cllr Henderson said:

“I welcome the commitment by retailers to reduce the environmental impact of bags by encouraging customers to significantly reduce the number of carrier bags they use, reducing the impact of each carrier bag (e.g. by using less material or incorporating recycled content); and enabling the recycling of more carrier bags where appropriate.”

He added: “Some supermarkets such as Tesco are already actively promoting the reuse of plastic bags by offering reward points to customers to reuse their plastic bags but I am very pleased to see that all supermarkets have committed to this as well.”

“Cutting the number of plastic bags will reduce pollution and the move is a positive step forward in the sort of responsible thinking we need in order to really tackle the issue of global warming.”

Ulster Unionist candidate for Mid- Ulster, Billy Armstrong has welcomed a new five year strategy for health and safety at work proposed by the European Commission. The strategy sets out a series of actions at European and national level including improving and simplifying existing health and safety laws and better identification and assessment of potential new accident risks in the workplace.

Billy said: “The need to improve working conditions is a collective concern, prompted by both humanitarian and economic considerations. A safe and healthy working environment is an essential element of the quality of work and applies to a factory environment or on the farm.

Every year there are many accidents at work in Northern Ireland and many of these could be avoided if proper health and safety precautions were adopted. It is estimated that every year in the EU there are 4 million accidents at work which represent enormous costs for the European economy. Improving the health and safety of workers is key to the EU’s growth and jobs agenda.

Loss of income due to absence from work costs European workers around one billion euros a year and employers face costs linked to sick pay , replacement of absent workers and loss of production. Small business account for some 82% of occupational injuries and 90% of fatal accidents at work. Industries such as construction, agriculture which are major employers in Northern Ireland have higher than average risks of workplace accidents.

Any measures which will improve the health and safety for workers is welcome and the strategy is not just confined to legislation but will provide information, guidance and promotion of a healthy working environment by paying particular attention to small and medium sized enterprises. Education, awareness, anticipation and improving people’s knowledge of risks are key elements of the strategy.”

Responding to the Belfast Telegraph poll today, UUP Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy said,

“It is quite clear that our core vote has held firm and has responded well to our manifesto and message.

The response our candidates have received on doorsteps across the province would suggest that the electorate are responding much more positively to our “ready for government” message than the Belfast Telegraph poll would suggest.

We will not be deflected from our main purpose, though, which is to ensure that there is a strong, coherent and co-operative voice at the very heart of the Assembly and Executive Committee.

As the poll has noted, a majority want devolution to work; they want the restoration of stable accountable government. But they are not convinced that this can be achieved by Sinn Fein and the DUP alone.

So, until the close of polls at 10pm on Wednesday, we will continue to promote our positive agenda: making Stormont work for all of us”.