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In a statement this evening, UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey said,

“The DUP’s foolishness in annoucing to the world which ministry will be its first choice in an Executive should it be the largest party, when it hasn’t even made up its mind about entering the Executive in the first place, is yet another illustration of the deep confusion within its ranks. Yesterday Ian Paisley gave Sinn Fein the green light to take the Education Ministry when he signalled that the DUP had given up on education. Gerry Adams has now sprung the trap on the DUP, declaring that Sinn Fein will go first for education.

“It is hard to forget the DUP’s cyncial posturing during the last Assembly when they feigned horror at Martin McGuinness being Education Minister. Now, however, the DUP leadership is telling the Northern Ireland electorate that it is a matter of little importance to hand the Department of Education to Sinn Fein.

“The DUP’s flip-flop comes at a time when the future of Northern Ireland’s education system is yet to be decided. This is, put simply, a betrayal of parents and schools across Northern Ireland.

“There is, however, a sure route out of this mess created by the DUP. A vote for Ulster Unionists on 7th March will guarantee that we will take the Education Ministry. We are declaring that Education will be our number one choice for a Ministry. We - unlike others - will put Northern Ireland’s schools first.”

With the deadline for responses on the Irish Language Act consultation closing on Monday, Ulster Unionist South Belfast candidate, and former DCAL Minister, Michael McGimpsey, has warned that such an Act could be “profoundly harmful to community relations”.

In a statement, Mr McGimpsey said: “The decision at St Andrews to introduce an Irish Language Act is profoundly unsettling, with potentially very damaging implications for community relations and respect for cultural diversity.

“And for any Government department to propose that legislators pass legislation with no indication of the cost to the taxpayer is a neglect of government’s duty to promote fiscal responsibility and accountability.

“But how did we get to this position? Anyone remember the nightmare scenarios in the DUP’s 2003 party election broadcast? We had fake newspaper headlines – one read ‘Irish compulsory in all schools’.

“At the time that looked like irrational fear, but few will have realized that this would become a DUP commitment.

“When the DUP went to St Andrews the language issue had been settled, but when they came back from St Andrews they had the Irish Language Act in their back pocket.”

Concluding he said: “References to the Welsh language in the consultation are wrong-headed. Put simply, Northern Ireland is not Wales: the Irish language, unlike Welsh, has political and cultural associations that ensure it cannot be viewed as a ‘neutral’ form of cultural expression, having no impact on community relations.

“The Ulster Unionist Party respects cultural diversity as a key foundation for a stable, peaceful, pluralist society. That’s why we oppose this Act – respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity will be fundamentally undermined by the proposed Act.

“The bottom line is that it’s entirely unnecessary and contains a wilful ignorance of the views of a wide range of political and community stakeholders in Northern Ireland. The DUP ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

Ulster Unionist East Londonderry candidate Edwin Stevenson has said that once devolution is up and running here Ulster Unionists will be pressing for government agencies to massively increase sourcing of food from local producers.

In a statement, Mr Stevenson said: “Ulster Unionists believe in a quality future for Northern Ireland’s rural communities – quality jobs; quality environment; and quality products.

“Agricultural policy must coherently address the economic, social and environmental needs of rural communities. That’s why I would press for the introduction of a public procurement strategy empowering government departments and agencies to source a high proportion of food from local, Northern Ireland producers.

“As part of this we will also be pressing for the introduction of clearer food labelling – produce should be grown, born, reared, slaughtered and processed locally to qualify for bearing the Northern Ireland label. The homegrown label will be a mark of outstanding quality

“For example, the clear labelling on beef of its country of origin is essential to give local beef farmers a helping hand and to bring them back into a successful export market.

“We want to see a fair relationship between producers, processors and the supermarkets – addressing unfair and restrictive practices and helping to secure a sustainable future for Northern Ireland farm businesses.

“If consumers can see the source of the beef that they buy and know where the farmers whom they support come from, they may give more backing to local producers.”

UUP Foyle Assembly candidate, Peter Munce said today that the challenge for a new generation political leaders is to bridge the gap that exists between political parties and the electorate.

Peter was speaking at event in Londonderry, organised by the Peace and Reconciliation Group, which invited sixth form students from local schools to come along and question candidates in Foyle about their party’s manifestos.

Speaking at the event Peter said,

“Politics is about people and people are hungry for a new type of politics that reflects their hopes and ambitions. I have no hesitation in saying that the Ulster Unionist Party’s manifesto is about creating this new type of normal politics.

“If we are to move Northern Ireland forward beyond the failed, stale politics of the past and focus on people’s priorities, then we need devolution. That is why the message from the Ulster Unionist Party in this election is that we are ready for Government on March 26th.

“Another election brings yet another attempt for politicians to engage with the increasingly apathetic “younger voter” who, to a large extent, has become disillusioned with the way in which politics is conducted in Northern Ireland.

“If we are to believe yesterday’s opinion poll then once again it appears that the 18 – 34 age group will be less inclined to vote with the figures revealing that only 49% of those aged between 18 and 34 are “absolutely certain” to vote.

“But this only tells half the story. People in Northern Ireland, especially younger people, are intensely exercised about political issues, single – issue campaigns like ‘make poverty history’ proved this, but they are not intensely exercised about party political issues. They want to make the world a better place but don’t really think that joining a political party is necessarily the best way to pursue this.

“As a young person, just turned 25, I am different. I have joined a political party. I am fortunate enough to come from a generation whose lives were not touched, in the same way as others were, by the pain, sadness and heartache caused by thirty years of bombs and bullets. I was 12 when canary wharf was ripped apart, 12 when 6 men were killed in Loughlinisland and 11 when the Shankill bomb exploded. I am not defined by the troubles, but I am shaped by them.

“The generation I come from has a huge task ahead of us. We inherited a divided society with an imperfect peace but our legacy can be a united society with a perfect peace.

”And I believe that the Ulster Unionist Party with our enduring values of fairness, tolerance, respect and opportunity can best deliver that legacy. That is why I am fighting this election. That is why I am involved in the Ulster Unionist Party. I am a unionist by heritage, by instinct and by conviction. Northern Ireland and all its people, regardless of class, gender, religion or ethnic origin are best served by the maintenance of the union and the benefits, both social and economic, which come from it.”

A recent event organised by the Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network sought to identify the key issues for women in rural areas and how these might be addressed. The event held in the Linen Green, Moygashel on Wednesday night last drew considerable support from the public and from community development practitioners.

Gender wage imbalances, isolation, marginalisation, domestic violence, access to quality healthcare, education and our male-dominated Judiciary were a number of the issues which were discussed over the course of the evening.

Fermanagh & South Tyrone Ulster Unionist Party Assembly candidate, Kenny Donaldson was amongst the political panellists.

Speaking after the event, Kenny said: “I was delighted to be asked to participate in what proved to be; a highly informative and interactive discussion.

“What came out in discussions above all else was the need for; ‘a sustainable, rural childcare strategy’ to be developed. Lack of quality, affordable childcare in rural areas is a major barrier for rural women whom wish to become involved in economic, social and political life.

“I pledge my support for the efforts of our rural women’s movement. Women have been the lynchpin of rural society for decades and it is long gone time that they were afforded every opportunity to contribute to the wider social, economic and political life of this Region.

“The days when, ‘women made the tea’ while ‘men did the business’ is not reflective of a modern, rights based society. All should be afforded equal opportunity to develop without being discriminated against. I look forward to working in partnership with our rural women’s movement in delivering upon the many issues which have up to now, been neglected by Direct Rule Government,” concluded the Fermanagh & South Tyrone UUP Assembly Candidate.

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the North Antrim Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate, has said any future Executive at Stormont must not use the lower birth rates as an opportunity to cut teacher numbers in its bid to make financial savings in education.

Dr Coulter, who served as a member of the past Assembly’s Further and Higher Education and Training Committee and was himself a college lecturer for 18 years, emphasised that public services should be governed by quality and not just cost-effectiveness.

He added that there was “an urgent need” to begin making major choices in the direction of quality delivery of public services.

Dr Coulter continued: “In the next decade, school pupil numbers will decline as a result of lower birth rates. Instead of seeing this as an opportunity to cut down on the number of teachers and save money, any future Executive should be using this as an opportunity to cut down on class sizes. This would be a positive decision in favour of quality.

“The Finnish and Danish education systems are widely recognised as the best in the world. They also have the lowest class sizes. The Office for Standards in Education has shown in its most recent report that this is a key feature of education in both Finland and Denmark.

“We are going to have to shift education, training, health and all our public services on to a quality footing. We cannot hope to compete with low wage economies in the Far East in an endless downward spiral.

“Instead, we should be focusing more on innovation and quality and on building a high-tech, high-value added economy like the Scandanavian countries. We should also be looking at ways to rebuild the cohesiveness of our society and a greater sense of order and calm among our people,” said Dr Coulter.

Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate for Mid- Ulster, Billy Armstrong has responded to the attacks by the DUP via their party election broadcasts and election literature which seem more intent on attacking the Ulster Unionist Party than showing any form of leadership for the future wellbeing of the citizens of Northern Ireland.

Billy said: The message I am receiving at the doorsteps throughout Mid- Ulster is that people are thoroughly fed up with the present DUP double speak on a future executive and making the Assembly workable, and again highlights the DUP internal difficulties, with even more of their District Councillors resigning from the party (David Tweed on 1st March)

Who, only a party that is nervous of losing some of its elected representatives to another Political Party would have an “undersigned” letter such as imposed by the DUP leadership, meaning that any DUP candidate that has been elected on 7th March would be removed from their Assembly seat, if he/she does not toe the party line. This is contrary to a fundamental principle of British democracy, and if Ian Paisley cannot trust his own candidates, why should any of you that might consider voting DUP. Long-standing loyal members of the DUP have said to me, “they have deserted the electorate and reneged on everything that they ever said, a lot of unhappy people in the DUP.

The DUP are unworthy of a leadership position for the Unionist people. In 2003 elections the people of Northern Ireland elected an Assembly thinking of the DUPs promise of a Fair Deal, this promise never materialised, just more concessions to Sinn Fein within the St Andrews agreement, who abused the political process again and again. So now the DUP plan to get it right now in the 2007 election, you the elected are asked to give DUP a second chance with a hollow promise of Getting it right this time.

So much for their pledge that they would “Smash Sinn Fein” or a “Fair Deal” and the latest ‘Getting it Right’ These are the con tactics that the DUP have used since 1969 without any positive results, and wasted all these years for a worse deal.

Now we have another opportunity to build a future for Northern Irelands people through devolved government and the Ulster Unionist Party is ready to go into a democratic elected government on 26 March 2007, are DUP and Sinn Fein ready?

The Unionist people I meet are now also ready for a regional government of their own, and they want a government that works for all of us. Given the progress that Northern Ireland has made in recent years, we must seize the opportunities for progress. It is now time to concentrate on the real issues, which affect all of us: Health, Schools, Rates and Water charges, our Environment, Jobs and Investment and the ability to Export merchandise worldwide.

There is a legal requirement for all parties who wish to hold Executive office to fully support the PSNI and the rule of law, and we in the Ulster Unionist Party intend to take those seats in the Executive to which we are entitled. No “ifs or buts” or timetables or threats to our candidates but a clear pledge to work for all of us.

Ulster Unionist Strangford candidate David McNarry has today said that DUP threats over a financial package represented another embarrassing example of that Party handing over vetoes on devolution to anyone who’ll have them.

The latest DUP pre-condition on devolution emerged after government confirmed in Parliament on Tuesday that March 26th is an immovable deadline for devolution.

In a statement, the Strangford candidate, who represented the Party in the PFG economic sub committee, said: “The DUP are talking up their hard stance on an economic package. This now means that in addition to giving Sinn Fein a veto over devolution, they have also handed a veto to that other well-known friend of unionism - the present government.

“Are the DUP saying that unless Brown gives them exactly what they want they are walking away from devolution? Handing over vetoes to others is not good negotiating. Once again the DUP weighs in with big words, but with little substance.”

He added: “The DUP had no new ideas on the economic sub group and in the past four years have failed to negotiate an extra penny from Gordon Brown. But now we are presented with hollow threats and bluff posturing.

“At the moment they’re dropping councillors, they’re dropping points in opinion polls, and they’re dropping the ball on devolution. The DUP simply cannot be trusted.”