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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.”

Speaking today, Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey said,

“There is no escaping the significance of today’s events. Today’s meeting was of historic importance.

It almost seems inconceivable that the DUP leader had been forced to make a U-turn and is prepared to go into government with Sinn Fein when he had previously denounced the Ulster Unionists for years for going into power with the SDLP.

As a consequence of the events leading up to today, Gerry Adams has scored a huge propaganda coup and Sinn Fein has been given very significant bargaining power with the Government. We remain concerned at the price that will be paid for this six week delay in terms of further concessions.

However, the fact that the people of Northern Ireland appear to be closer today to getting their long overdue devolved institutions back up and running is to be welcomed. While I remain deeply sceptical at the underlying motives behind this six week delay, it does nonetheless represent progress.

As significant players in the process, both in the past and today, the Ulster Unionist Party stands ready to play our part in delivering the much needed changes to how Northern Ireland is governed.”

Ulster Unionist South Belfast assembly member, and BELB member, Michael McGimpsey, has today led a delegation to meet with BELB chiefs to demand the rebuilding of Taughmonagh Primary.

The delegation, which comprised of Cllr Bob Stoker, Taughmonagh Primary school principal Janet Dowds, and local community association representatives Harry Smith, Marie McGarry and Allison Robinson met with BELB chief executive David Cargo at the board’s Academy Street headquarters.

In a statement, Mr McGimpsey said: “Taughmonagh has been largely demolished for the redevelopment of Harburton special needs school. At the moment, children find themselves in the intolerable situation of being housed in huts and temporary classrooms with no playground facilities available.

“On my proposal last Christmas, the Education and Library Board passed the proposal to rebuild Taughmonagh primary. And yet the school was not included in Maria Eagle’s recent school building programme announcement. Teachers, parents and children are desperately disappointment and demand delivery on the works promised.”

He added: “Work on this building must be started soon – children can’t be expected to endure another Christmas in mobile classrooms.

“The decision is there – so why has there been a lack of will from the department in implementing it?”

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey, in a statement ahead of tomorrow’s crucial meetings at Parliament Buildings, said:

“Over the last few months the DUP has been saying that its participation in a power sharing Administration at Stormont is ‘condition led and not calendar led. They cannot therefore be surprised if people are skeptical about their motives when they perform another U turn and produce a calendar led resolution from their executive.’

‘The DUP are now saying that they want an extra six weeks after which they will share power with Sinn Fein. This is calendar led. What is the purpose of this delay and what guarantee is there that this new deadline will be met?’

‘Ulster Unionists can well understand if people are looking extra time to manage internal difficulties, even though we note that the same consideration was never extended to us by the DUP when we had divisions.’

‘The way ahead tomorrow is for a meeting of party leaders to take place so that the issues of concern to the DUP can be fleshed out and a judgment made as to whether they are serious or whether this is just another delaying stunt.’

‘There is no doubt that Sinn Fein has dragged its feet for years, and a few weeks may seem to be a small price to pay, but only if the DUP is genuine, and on that the jury is out.’

‘My other major concern is that this new crisis has placed Sinn Fein in an exceptionally strong bargaining position. As Peter Hain is on the hook of the St Andrew’s timetable, having told the world that the deadline of the 26th is real, the Secretary of State is now saying that if the parties agree he will legislate to postpone the devolution timetable. Sinn Fein’s agreement for that is required and that will only be at a price. Will it be OTRs or more Dail speaking rights? This is the downside of the DUPs playacting.’

‘There are other matters, top of which is water charges and education. If any messing around results in these issues being dealt with as Direct Rule Ministers wish, it would add up to a major betrayal of the people of Northern Ireland.’

Peter Hain is going to look very foolish if devolution is delayed and new legislation introduced in Parliament on the hope rather than expectation of devolution taking place in May. At the end of the day the decision is his and the prime Minister’s. He cannot sub contract the decision to party Leaders.

‘I suspect most people agree that Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are still going to be the same republicans in May as they are today.

UUP Leader Sir Reg Empey today said that there is no such thing as a half way house over devolution this weekend.

Sir Reg was responding to speculation that some ‘breathing space’ was possible based on how often the Executive meets.

In a statement the UUP Leader said,

“Either there is devolution or there is not. No flexibility exists. People often want to buy time for difficult decisions, but the decisions taken by those who negotiated the St Andrew’s Agreement Act are now coming home to roost.

Once Ministers are nominated and sign the Pledge of Office power is devolved to those Ministers. NIO Ministers are no longer responsible for Departments at that stage and local Ministers are legally responsible. Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness would be responsible jointly for the Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister from that point onward.

Whatever arrangements that might be agreed for when and how often the Executive meets during the following few weeks is neither here or there. Power is devolved on Monday or Stormont crashes. That is the legal and political reality and no attempt should be made to deceive people into believing that something else is happening.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has emphasised the importance of the agri food industry to Northern Ireland and its economy.

Tom said: “This industry accounts for £2.4 billion and currently employs around 20,000 people in processing and upwards to 80,000 across the whole supply chain from farms to factories.

“One cannot over emphasise the importance of the agri-food industries in Northern Ireland and are a vital part in preserving the fabric of social and economic life in Northern Ireland. These industries, many of which are located in rural parts of the province underpin the rural population and economy here. It is vital that every effort is made to ensure that the future of this sector is secure, prosperous and sustainable for generations to come.

We don’t want to see the food and agricultural industries here go the same way as the textile and shipbuilding industries because people didn’t want to change. The industry is very consumer orientated and changing consumer preferences are driving everything from what new products are developed, to the way they are marketed. Fivemiletown Creamery is now supplying US supermarkets with its cheese and today you will find Northern Ireland products in supermarkets and gourmet food halls throughout the world. The company recognised that to survive in an increasingly competitive national and international business environment you must be innovative and market your products aggressively. This is an example to other companies on what can be achieved.

Recent figures show that this sector continues to contribute almost 23% of total manufacturing sales and 13% of exports, this illustrates the importance of the agri – food industry to the future economic growth of Northern Ireland. We are fortunate to have a large number of internationally recognised brands located in Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Moy Park, Dunbia (Dungannon Meats), Linden Foods and Fivemiletown Creamery to name but a few. The secret of their success and their commitment to innovation in products along with their successful marketing will ensure a locally owned industry with immense export potential. They are ideally placed to make an even greater contribution to localised wealth generation in the future.

Tom concluded: “A new NI Executive would be well advised to follow the examples of the Scottish Executive and Irish Government in making food a priority industry in areas such as procurement and promotion. Sufficient resources should be in place to accelerate the growth of this important industry. Let the Executive recognise that we already have a fist class, quality and secure product which if given the resources will continue to expand and prosper on the world market and we will not be slow in adapting to consumer demands in the future.”

The announcement by the Education Minister, Maria Eagle, that 84 postponed school build projects, including Devenish College, can now continue as planned has been welcomed by Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott.

The assemblyman said that such a statement by the Department of Education was long overdue and that the slow rate of progress surrounding many schemes had needlessly increased uncertainty regarding the future of many schools.

In a statement Tom said: “With regards the site of the new Devenish College on the Tempo Road I am glad that the go-ahead has been given, pupils, parents, teachers and the Board of Governors have had to endure many months of uncertainty and broken promises.

“The Minister’s statement will hopefully mean that the situation can finally progress, however the nature of the scheme, either through Public Finance Initiative or the more traditional format, needs to be finalised before the new campus can commence.

“I have recently made representation to Minister Eagle regarding the need for action on Devenish College and I will continue to press for the construction of the first-rate facility that the pupils and teachers deserve and have been promised by Ministers time and time again.”

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone assemblyman concluded by adding: “The postponement to the planned replacement for the Erne Special School in Enniskillen, is of course a blow to the families and staff involved. The care and support provided by the school is of vital importance to the community and must be allowed to continue without uncertainty.

“I am however glad that many projects across my constituency and beyond can now progress, the recent ‘stop go’ approach to school build projects has dented morale throughout the educational sector and I hope that this will now end.”