Archive for April 12th, 2007
Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament, Jim Nicholson MEP has said today’s vote in a key committee in the European Parliament on plans to cut the cost of using your mobile phone abroad should be seen as a victory for consumers in Northern Ireland.
The committee on industry, research and energy has adopted a report by Mr Nicholson’s colleague in the EPP – ED Austrian MEP Paul Rübig supporting the European Commission’s proposals to cut so-called roaming charges by as much as 70%.
Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,
“The decision of the European Parliament today is a victory for consumers in Northern Ireland. The European Commission started looking at this issue as far as back as 2000 and action was long overdue to protect tourists and businessmen from being hit by excessive roaming charges and massive mobile phone bills.
“I will be more than happy to support this report when it goes before a full session of the Parliament next month and believe it will be of huge benefit to businessmen and holiday makers alike.
“For far too long now mobile phone companies have been making excessive profits, at the consumer’s expense, on roaming charges. Such a vast difference in cost between domestic and international calls is unjustifiable and unacceptable in a single market. People already pay enough for their summer holidays and shouldn’t be hit with more high charges for using their mobile abroad.
“For the legislation to take effect before the summer holiday season goes into full swing, it must be approved by the Commission and by the heads of all EU Member States before July.”
Continue Reading E-mail April 12th, 2007
Jim Nicholson MEP
UUP MEP Jim Nicholson has initially welcomed the decision by Tescos to pay more for milk and has urged other supermarkets to do the same.
Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,
“For a long time there has been an undeniable need for the producer to receive a fairer reward for his produce. However, tescos move to pay more for milk must go beyond the dairy industry. What we must see now is fairer rewards paid to producers in all sectors of the agri food industry.
“We also must realise that it will be a long time before dairy farmers actually receive the extra cash for their produce in their pockets.
“I just hope that this move is not too little too late for many farmers. Government, consumers and retailers must understand that the agricultural industry and the rural economy face severe change in the next 10 years, which cant be resolved my meaningless programmes or gestures that are only designed to place a band – aid on a massive wound.”
Continue Reading E-mail April 12th, 2007
Jim Nicholson MEP
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has said the new Roads Minister in the power-sharing Executive must make the dualling of the controversial A26 at The Frocess “a top priority before the accident death trap claims more lives”.
Assemblyman Dr Coulter said: “There is the very real danger if the new Executive minister responsible for roads does not make The Frocess section an urgent priority, that it could become one of Northern Ireland’s most notorious death traps.
“We all hope and pray the new roads minister will make a firm announcement on the dualling of this A26 accident blackspot as soon as possible after 8th May when the planned power-sharing Executive will come into force.
“Having said this, I would also continue to give my full backing to farmers from the constituency whose land is threatened by one of the proposed routes for the dualling.”
Assemblyman Coulter said he recognised that given the increased volume of traffic on this stretch of road and the continued death toll at and near The Frocess, there was “a critical need” to dual the A26 trunk road from Glarryford Cross to the A44 Drones Junction.
He added: “However, at the same time, we do not want the farming community in this locality to suffer if their farms are to be torn apart by the dualling development.
“A number of alternative routes for the A26 dualling should be considered, but I would urge the new roads minister not to literally drive the development through prime farmland.
“The agricultural community in the constituency has faced enough stresses and strains in recent decades without having the additional burden of having their land torn apart.
“This area has some of the best farmland in North Antrim and I would whole-heartedly support the farmers in their fight to stop the A26 dualling destroying their land.
“In this respect, I would also urge the roads minister to consider an alternative dualling route rather than splitting this very close knit rural community in two,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.
Continue Reading E-mail April 12th, 2007
Rev. Dr. Robert Coulter MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Health Spokesman, has said the restoration of a legislative parliament at Stormont “will greatly boost” the development of the Celtic Nations Autism Partnership with Scotland and Wales.
Dr Coulter, who is the UUP Autism Ambassador with the charity and awareness group Autism Northern Ireland, noted the return of the Assembly would also see moves to have a specific Northern Ireland Autism Act as well as a special autism support centre based in the constituency “shift into top gear”.
He added: “The restoring of the power-sharing Executive on 8th May will help MLAs focus on the scale of the problem facing those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and their carers.
“At the moment, more people in the Province suffer from ASD than the combined total of people who have Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Down’s Syndrome. Indeed, several hundred children in Northern Ireland are still waiting on vital primary assessment for autism.
“In this respect, I would also warmly welcome how academics from the University of Ulster teamed up with a local charity to produce a support package for parents of children with autism.
“However, the Executive also needs to develop a number of special needs communities where young adults, post 19, could live for a short time to give ageing parents or relatives some time to relax on their own and recover from the daily strains of caring for special needs adults.
“What is also urgently needed is for all the charities and organisations which support ASD sufferers and their carers to establish a united forum across Northern Ireland.
“It is vitally important that Autism NI along with the National Autistic Society and other groups are singing from the same campaigning hymn sheet. A united forum for these groups will guarantee there is no duplication of effort and funding.
“The twin goals of ensuring the Northern Ireland Autism Act becomes law as well as securing further dedicated autism centres for the Province should act as an impetus for unity among not just the autism charities and support groups, but among all MLAs irrespective of party affiliation,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.
Continue Reading E-mail April 12th, 2007
Rev. Dr. Robert Coulter MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, said he hopes Wright Group’s recent 11.5 million euro contract with Bus Eireann “will open the floodgates for further orders across the globe for the constituency’s world renowned business”.
The North Antrim MLA praised the “vision and commitment” of Wright Group of Ballymena in playing a key role in securing employment in the constituency.
Dr Coulter said: “Once again, the Wright Group has brought another accolade to the constituency in winning this prestigious deal with Bus Eireann, and we all hope this is just the start of a new era in the company’s success story.”
Dr Coulter added the news was particularly welcome given the family-owned business had recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.
“The Wright Group is one of Northern Ireland’s best companies. The quality of its product, its manufacturing excellence and its dedication to what it does have all brought about this latest success.
“The statistics of the company’s success are impressive over the years, and show that private enterprise is alive and well and living in North Antrim.
“Both myself and the people of the constituency are justifiably proud of the commercial success of the Wright Group.
“This is very good news for the local economy, not just in Ballymena, but throughout the entire North Antrim constituency. I congratulate the Wright Group on this tremendous achievement. The Wright family in particular are to be commended on developing their company over the years to becoming a firm of international standing.
“Since the firm was established in the mid 1940s, it has continued to bring important employment to Ballymena and beyond. On the international front, its success in winning overseas orders, such as in Hong Kong, has made the Wright Group an ambassador for quality manufacturing in our Province.
“At a time when Northern Ireland has been experiencing the gloom of job losses in the local economy, this contract accolade for the Wright Group is a very welcome boost for the North Antrim constituency in particular.
“I wish the company every success for 2007 in winning more national and international orders,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.
Continue Reading E-mail April 12th, 2007
Rev. Dr. Robert Coulter MLA
Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has called on the government to re-examine funding issues surrounding Sinn Fein’s abstentionist MPs.
For years, politicians here were getting paid without doing the job they were elected to do. People clearly had enough of paying out to absentee MLAs. Why should Sinn Fein MPs be any different?
In a statement, the Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA said: “The people of Northern Ireland are entitled to the best possible representation and the fullest commitment from their public representatives. The taxpayer of Northern Ireland is also entitled to see that money from the public purse is used wisely. Sinn Fein’s abstentionist anomaly flies in the face of both – this must be cleared up.”
He added: “Sinn Fein are sitting in the Assembly. Sinn Fein Ministers will be taking an oath to sit in the Executive. Sinn Fein has said that it intends to go onto the Policing Board. But Sinn Fein will not sit in the UK Parliament.
“So it’s okay to sit in Stormont and administer British rule in Northern Ireland through a devolved assembly. But it’s not okay for republicans to go to Westminster . This makes little sense. And it makes little sense for taxpayers, who also happen to be Sinn Fein constituents, to continue to pay them for the luxury of these absurd and incongruous sensibilities.”
Continue Reading E-mail April 12th, 2007
Tom Elliott MLA
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey has been informed by Minister Hanson that there are a number of unfunded liabilities within the NIO despite being told that the new Executive would not be picking up any unfunded liabilities on the 22 March in Number 11 Downing Street.
Any unfunded liabilities could radically change the final tally of the financial package for Northern Ireland.
In a statement Sir Reg said,
“The Ulster Unionist party is keen to ensure that our future Executive Ministers are not hampered, impeded or shackled with any of the leftovers of Direct Rule. But the fact is that it has now been made clear by Minister Hanson that there are liabilities and there is now a big question mark over the final shape of Chancellor’s proposals.
Unfunded liabilities are in effect unpaid bills which put a dent into the package the Chancellor is offering. There may not be a black hole, but they should be able to give us some general information, or at least some sort of steer about what kind of liability is involved.
Until we can get this sorted out we will not know what the net gain, if any, is from the Chancellor’s package. I was assured on 22nd March in 11 Downing Street that there were no unpaid bills to worry about. Now Minister Hanson says there are but cannot be specific about the sums involved. It is essential this is sorted out. We need to get off on the surest possible footing when devolution returns.”
Continue Reading E-mail April 12th, 2007
Sir Reg Empey MLA
