Archive for October 4th, 2007
Ulster Unionist Education spokesman Basil Mc Crea today met with a large number of classroom assistants who were picketing Parliament Buildings, Stormont.
In a statement Mr McCrea said the assistants didn’t want to be in this position but felt nobody was listening to them or their reasons for striking,
“I was struck today by the sheer numbers of classroom assistants who came to picket Stormont and try and lobby politicians. These are not militant workers but just ordinary people who want a fair wage for a fair day’s work.
Many I spoke to are visibly upset at being put in the position where they have to strike and deny the children, many with special needs, of their valuable skills and teaching skills.
The fact that they are striking is down to a failure of dialogue. Many assistants complained that they couldn’t get hold of or meet with the key decision makers in politics and as a result are feeling marginalised, ignored and consequently misunderstood.
I understand that the Education Minister herself avoided meeting 100 assistants at a school in Craigavon by cancelling her visit. This is no way to treat people. I offered the assistants my support and that of my party and we will continue to try and resolve this dispute to the satisfaction of all.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 4th, 2007
Basil McCrea MLA
Following publication of the Northern Ireland red meat industry taskforce report today, Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has reiterated his call for imports of Brazilian beef to the EU to be banned immediately.
In a statement Mr Nicholson said,
“I welcome the publication of this report today and any action taken by key stakeholders within the agriculture industry to ensure the sustainability of our beef and lamb farmers. However, many farmers will know that we have been down this road before with many false starts and dawns over the years. What our farmers need to see now is delivery on the issues raised by this report.
“Many of the findings contained in this report prove, once again, the need for the European Commission to take urgent steps to ban imports of Brazilian beef to the EU because, time after time, it has been proven to be of a sub – standard nature.
“Northern Ireland’s farmers must comply with the high standards laid down by the EU in terms of health, food safety and traceability so why shouldn’t imports coming into the EU from other countries do the same? The reality is that if Brazilian beef imports are continued to be allowed into the EU then more and more farmers in Northern Ireland and across Europe risk being put out of business. With the cost of production rising, it is hard to see how our farmers can compete with these cheap imports.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 4th, 2007
Jim Nicholson MEP
The Ulster Unionist Party’s Urban Regeneration spokesperson, Paula Bradshaw, has written to the Chairman of the Social Development Committee seeking assurances that the results from the current consultation process on the performance of DSD’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy – People and Place, will be meaningfully considered and recommendations acted upon.
Ms Bradshaw, who is also the Chairman on the South-West Belfast Neighbourhood Partnership Board responsible for delivering the strategy in the Donegall Road and Sandy Row areas of the City, welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback to the Committee. In a statement she said,
“From the start of the implementation of this Strategy there was have been very significant problems for those trying to deliver on the ground. The absence of a Single Regeneration Budget, that is afforded to our counterparts on the mainland, and no information coming from the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit of DSD as to how much each Neighbourhood Partnership Board is being allocated, it is very difficult to know how best to proceed with the process in terms of priorities.
The current consultation process is due to end on 8th November 2007 and the Ulster Unionist Party is encouraging all those involved with the Neighbourhood Partnership Boards to contribute to this monitoring exercise to ensure that much needed changes to the implementation mechanisms can be introduced.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 4th, 2007
Paula Bradshaw
Ulster Unionist DETI spokesman and North Down MLA Leslie Cree today responded to comments made by Dr. Alan Gillespie about Northern Ireland’s economy. In a statement Mr Cree said,
“Taken as a whole Dr. Gillespie’s comments offer a compelling agenda for economic prosperity in Northern Ireland. A vibrant, entrepreneurial private sector, a competitive tax rate to attract FDI, growing innovative local businesses and a public sector oriented towards partnership with the private sector – all these are supported by Ulster Unionists. Our Executive and Assembly must have an authentic commitment to a stronger economic future for Northern Ireland. As Dr. Gillespie states, this requires commitments ‘to be translated into delivery’.
“We also agree with his assessment that effective international marketing of Northern Ireland is essential. However, Ulster Unionists would take issue with the suggestion of a single, all-island international economic development body. This is not actually a matter of sovereignty, but of practical economics. As Dr. Gillespie himself notes, ‘we are not a homogenous island’. With differing tax and regulatory frameworks, and the fact that both jurisdictions are economic competitors, it is important that sensible, pragmatic North-South economic co-operation is not undermined by overly-ambitious and impractical proposals.
“A vibrant economy is in the interests of all in Northern Ireland. Our well-being and cohesion as a community requires economic opportunities and growth. Alan Gillespie has given a powerful challenge to the Executive and the Assembly. Ulster Unionists are ready to do their part in rising to that challenge.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 4th, 2007
Leslie Cree MLA
Danny Kennedy MLA, Deputy Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, has addressed a group of National Health Service senior managers from across the UK at Parliament Buildings in Stormont on the theme of leadership.
The NHS managers were delegates at an event organised by the King’s Fund, an independent charitable foundation working to promote better health through developing policy and fostering innovation and leadership in the health service.
Mr Kennedy told the delegates :
“Leadership, in my experience, is as much about behaviour as it is about skills. Skills can be taught. Behaviour is more difficult. It is often intrinsic to the individual and, to this extent, leaders are often born and not made.”
“Leadership is also about style. The style that may suit one situation or set of circumstances may be wholly inappropriate in another. What is good one day can be bad on the next. A leader, for instance, can appear resolute on one occasion and, on another, dictatorial. Mrs Thatcher’s leadership is a case in point. It was suited to the Falklands War and to addressing the nation’s economic malaise in the early 1980’s. It appeared resolute in those contexts. When it came to Europe, it appeared, on the other hand, as intransigent. The enabling war leader became the obstacle in the way of progress a few years later.”
The Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader continued :
“That is why we need to be careful about the cult of leadership. Such a raising of the leader to almost venerated status, can cause massive political angst when they have outlived their usefulness and their political time. People eventually become exhausted by the demands of an authoritarian leadership. Such a leadership is also highly personal and few successors can replicate it.”
“Leaders,” he said,” should never be afraid to be courageous.
Quoting British Prime Minister Lloyd George he said :
“Don’t be afraid to take a big step when one is indicated. You can’t cross a chasm in two small steps.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 4th, 2007
Danny Kennedy MLA
