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Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy has voiced his hope that the new Southern Health and Social Care Trust will hit the ground running and “bring about many opportunities to work more efficiently”.

Mr Kennedy was speaking at a reception for Southern Health and Social Care Trust at Parliament buildings on Monday afternoon. This introductory event was attended by MLAs from across all political parties and was designed to raise awareness of the work of the new trust.

In a statement, the Newry & Armagh MLA, who sponsored the event, said: “We are all familiar with the unprecedented change which is currently underway in health and social services as a result of the Review of Public Administration. Inevitably this will bring about many opportunities to work more efficiently but will also present new challenges to overcome.

“The UUP’s new Minister for Health, Michael McGimpsey, has taken on this portfolio and is well aware of the demands as well as the exciting times ahead.”

He added: “The new senior team in the Southern Trust has stressed they will operate an open-door policy to facilitate what is hoped will be the beginning of good working relationships. This is to be welcomed. I look forward to working with the trust toward ensuring a more efficient and effective service is delivered within the area.”

At the reception, Health Department Permanent Secretary Dr Andrew McCormick outlined his views on priority areas. Chairman of the Southern Trust Anne Balmer and Chief Executive Colm Donaghy also highlighted challenges and developments specific to the Southern Trust.

Following on from today’s motion on a Single Equality Bill in Stormont, Ulster Unionist Chief Whip David McNarry has said:

“It is with deep regret that the Ulster Unionist Party today witnessed the intemperate rhetoric from the Sinn Fein Assembly benches that many in Northern Ireland had hoped was a thing of the past. Our Assembly Group – in the best traditions of parliamentary democracy – approached the debate with an open-mind, willing to support the principle of a Single Equality Bill.

“However, as the debate progressed it became clear that Sinn Fein MLAs regarded the motion as an opportunity to vent outdated prejudices. What should have been a measured, thoughtful debate by the Northern Ireland Assembly on equality legislation for the 21st century became nothing more than biased finger-wagging by Sinn Fein representatives.

“As my colleagues stated in the Chamber, the UUP is committed to equality of opportunity for all in Northern Ireland. We want a Single Equality Bill that secures an equality agenda for the 21st century – guaranteeing equality for women, the disabled, ethnic minorities and older people.

“Sinn Fein’s inability to promote consensus within the Assembly is a worrying indication of future developments both within the Assembly and OFMDFM.”

UUP Party Officer Kenny Donaldson has urged the public to guard against the dangers of drink spiking.

Mr Donaldson made the call after it was revealed that since the ban on smoking in public places, reported incidents of drink spiking have increased in a number of towns and cities throughout Northern Ireland.

In a statement, Kenny said: “It would appear that in many pubs and clubs, drinks are being left unattended whilst people pop outside to have a cigarette. Whilst they are away it would seem that unscrupulous opportunists are tampering with their drink.

“We have all heard about people who have had their drink spiked with drugs. People have suffered sexual assault, been the victims of a mugging or other theft related crime. My message is simple – do not leave your drink unattended for any reason and where possible, consume alcohol in moderation so as to ensure that you are in possession of your wits. Guard against falling vulnerable prey for opportunistic predators.

“I would also call upon the Courts to serve out harsher punishments upon those who carry out the crime of drink-spiking. A strong message needs sending that this crime will not be tolerated and that those perpetrating the act will receive, lengthy custodial sentences,” concluded Kenny.

Speaking in the Assembly, Sam Gardiner MLA, the local Ulster Unionist Assemblyman called on a major rebate system to be speedily devised to help older householders on fixed incomes.

“In my Upper Bann constituency, there are many older people living on fixed incomes and pensions but whose houses have risen in value with the current house price boom. This has meant they have big increases in their rates bill. They have no way to pay these new bills without selling their homes. This is unacceptable.”

“The fact that their home is now worth a lot more, makes no material difference to them. They will never see that value unless they sell their homes and that, for many, is unthinkable. They may be asset rich but their income stream may be incapable of absorbing new rates bills and water charges.”

“These homes are not just houses. They are family homes where many of these older people have lived all their lives. It is where many of them have brought up their families. There is something deeply personal about a person’s home – especially as they get older. They are filled with memories and have a real sense of place for the people who live there.”

“That is why a generous rates rebate scheme must be put in place as soon as possible by Peter Robinson the Finance Minister. There must be no foot dragging on this. It is time this Executive got to work.”

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, said constituents would “greatly benefit” from any future decision to scrap health prescription charges.

Dr Coulter, the UUP Health Spokesman, was speaking after backing a recent Assembly motion urging the Health Minister to establish a cost and benefit review aimed at abolishing health prescription charges as had been carried out in Wales.

The North Antrim MLA noted that in 1979, the prescription charge was 20 pence, yet by this year, it had reached £6.85.

“That is more than five times what might have been expected due to normal inflationary pressures. That simple arithmetical exercise shows how inflated prescription charges have become.”

Dr Coulter branded prescription charges as “a health tax”. He said this was why the Welsh Assembly – which had fewer devolved powers than the Stormont Assembly – had abolished prescription charges from 1st April this year.

“The purpose of levying prescription charges is now unclear. The income from them is negligible in overall terms. We must get away from continuing and perpetuating activities simply because we have always done them.

“Levying prescription charges is one of those survivals from past practice that no longer makes sound business sense for government.

“It may be argued that we need to get back to the founding principles of the National Health Service in this matter. The NHS, introduced in 1947, was a comprehensive health service that was free of charge at the point of need.

“If patients are treated free of charge at the point of need, medicines should also be free,” emphasised Assemblyman Dr Coulter.

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, had the honour of proposing and speaking on the first motion of the new legislative parliament when MLAs supported his call to rejoin the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Dr Coulter said: “It was a tremendous personal honour for me when I was told I would be proposing the first motion for debate in the new Assembly. In the past, I have also had the privilege of representing the Assembly at CPA conferences in Australia and Wales.

“The success of this motion is an important milestone for the Assembly. In rejoining the CPA, the Assembly is re-entering the largest association of free and democratic parliaments across the world.

“This is an important statement for the Assembly to make. It says Northern Ireland is back on a sound democratic track and, once again, is a distinct part of that great democratic worldwide community.”

Dr Coulter said the CPA was founded in 1911 and was originally known as the Empire Parliamentary Association. It became the CPA in 1949.

Active CPA branches existed in 169 national, state, provincial and territorial parliaments across the Commonwealth, with a total membership of around 16,000 parliamentarians, he added, making the CPA “one of the greatest democratic forums on earth”.

The North Antrim MLA recently attended the annual conference of the British islands and Mediterranean region in Belfast, which was hosted by the CPA’s United Kingdom branch.

He said CPA membership would bring “real and tangible benefits” to Assembly members. “It will put them in the mainstream of a worldwide association and embed the Assembly where it rightly belongs – alongside other democratic legislatures.

“The time has come for our Assembly to take its place once again among our parliamentary friends and among the great community of nations and free people that make up this truly international body, spanning all continents and income levels and bound by a common heritage of democracy, liberty, justice and freedom under the law,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.