uuptoday.org

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.”

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey led a delegation that met with the Secretary of State yesterday evening.

The UUP was seeking assurances that civil servants would be allowed to give full advice and opinion to those preparing for government at Stormont and that the Executive would not be picking up any unfunded liabilities from the Northern Ireland Office when the handover from Direct Rule to devolution takes place on May 8th.

In a statement Sir Reg said,

“The Ulster Unionist party is preparing itself for government and is keen to ensure that our future Executive Ministers are not hampered, impeded or shackled with any of the leftovers of Direct Rule.

With this in mind we sought assurances from the Secretary of State that the parties will be provided with good advice and proper help from civil servants. In the past this has not always been the case as they were not permitted by Peter Hain to give Assembly Members full co-operation.

Secondly we asked the Secretary of State to thoroughly examine the books and ensure that when the direct rule ministers hand over to the devolved ministers the new Executive will not be shackled with any unforeseen liabilities. Any unfunded liabilities could radically change the final tally of the financial package.”

Commenting on the Agriculture Minister David Cairn’s announcement this afternoon about the details of how Voluntary Modulation will be applied in Northern Ireland UUP MEP Jim Nicholson said,

“I condemn the Minister’s decision to apply the maximum percentage of voluntary modulation available. This robs farmers of their much needed Single Farm Payment money and it can’t be guaranteed that it will come back to them.

“Quite clearly this decision should not have been made until the restoration of devolved institutions. It should have been made locally by a locally elected Minister. It flies in the face of the spirit of good cooperation the Minister has attempted to forge with elected representatives.

“While I am pleased he has confirmed that the Government will put forward co – financing, I am concerned that he hasn’t stated the total amount or percentage of co finance available. This money should have been used to reduce the overall burden on the farmer in the first place.

“Mr Cairns would not have been in a position to take this decision if it wasn’t for the fact that the European Parliament rejected every one of his Government’s proposals.

“I will work during the up coming CAP health check to ensure that a level playing field for modulation is established throughout Europe.”

Sam Gardiner, Ulster Unionist Environment Spokesman, has appealed for people to look closely at their patterns of food consumption following a Government body on Waste management reported that in the UK 6.7 million tons of food is dumped each year.

The Upper Bann Assembly Member wants people to try and reduce their overall food purchases and to try and manage their food supply better.

“Buying too much food leads to dumping of waste food and this has a major environmental impact.  “Wrap” – the Government’s waste management body, has estimated that the average household throws away one third of all the food it buys. This is losing most households 15% of their spending money – money which they would have available to spend on other things if they exercised a bit more care in their buying of food. That’s 15 pence in every pound which is going straight into the bin.”

“20% of Britain’s carbon emissions are related to the food production, food processing, transporting food and storing food. Most of our waste food is dumped in landfill sites, where it breaks down producing harmful greenhouse gases. This is bad news for the environment.”

“If people managed their food purchases better then this would enable each and every one of us to contribute a little towards improving the environment.  This is not a nanny state kind of thing. It is just asking people to plan this together as a family. Look at your weekly purchases, itemised on your till receipts, make a list of what you did not use and then see how much you could save. Then, as a family, decide what you could have spent it on if you had not wasted it. Believe me, it is a worthwhile exercise. It makes you look at the weekly shop differently.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott has welcomed the announcement by Invest NI of the £1 million investment and the creation of 10 jobs at the Tyrone Crystal Plant in Dungannon.

Tom said: “Just over a year ago the future was most uncertain for this world-renowned factory with a large number of workers being made redundant. The new owners have worked extremely hard to fully implement a growth strategy that will enable the company to significantly increase turnover and secure additional sales in new and existing markets.

This investment will help the company grow in and will assist its efforts on new product design as well as improving fundamental process, management and marketing activities to support the new project

The investment will most importantly underpin the 37 existing jobs at the Dungannon plant and will create another 10 jobs and should help the company re-establish itself as a market leader in the quality giftware market throughout the world. This will also help safeguard the existing jobs and perhaps lead to more jobs in the future.

Innovation and flexibility are the core themes on the future sustainability of any company in Northern Ireland and this investment will greatly assist Tyrone Crystal in its future development. This of course will also contribute to the local economy of Fermanagh & South Tyrone. It is vital that the manufacturing sector receives the necessary support from Government and encourage growth for firms like Tyrone Crystal and build on its well established brand name.”