Archive for October 22nd, 2007
Following today’s debate on the requirement handed down by the Courts to the Department of Health to issue guidelines on the legal termination of pregnancy, Ulster Unionist MLAs John McCallister and Danny Kennedy have welcomed Health Minister Michael McGimpsey’s statement that he is not seeking and will not seek to change Northern Ireland’s abortion law.
Mr. McCallister said, “today’s debate on abortion clearly shows that opinion in the Assembly remains resolutely opposed to any attempt to extend the 1967 Act to Northern Ireland. Both the motion and the amendment reaffirmed and reasserted the existing legal position – that abortion is unlawful except when necessary to save the mother’s life or to prevent her physical or mental harm. As I stated in my speech, I oppose the extension of the 1967 Act to Northern Ireland and any attempt to undermine the existing law in this part of the United Kingdom. It is of fundamental importance that the Department of Health, in discharging its legal obligation to bring forward guidelines on the lawful termination of pregnancy, ensures that the guidelines are entirely consistent with the existing law. It is therefore to be welcomed that the Minister has said that the proposed guidelines are being reviewed to ensure that this is so”.
Mr. Kennedy also emphasized the strong support within the Assembly for maintaining Northern Ireland’s present abortion law. He said, “as a member of the Assembly’s All-Party Pro-Life Group, I – like my colleague John McCallister – am firmly opposed to any attempt to undermine Northern Ireland’s existing abortion law. The 1967 Act which applies in the rest of the UK has resulted in more than 1 in 5 pregnancies in GB ending in an abortion. No right-thinking person can accept such a situation as desirable. This is why the amendment moved by myself and my colleague explicitly stated that the guidelines to be brought forward by the Department must be consistent with the existing law. I welcome the Minister’s clear and unambiguous declaration that he is not seeking and will not seek to change Northern Ireland’s abortion law”.
Continue Reading E-mail October 22nd, 2007
John McCallister MLA
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Newry and Armagh MLA Danny Kennedy today expressed his disgust at the brutal murder of 21 year Paul Quinn who was apparently set upon by a gang and added if the IRA were involved it could have political consequences.
In a statement Mr Kennedy said,
“The community will feel utter revulsion at this murder and the manner in which it was carried out, reminiscent of a lynching gang from the deep south.
I would urge full co-operation from the community with the Police in ensuring that those responsible for this disgusting act of murder are brought to justice and thrown behind bars.
If as allegations suggest, the IRA was involved in the murder of Mr Quinn it could have political consequences.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 22nd, 2007
Danny Kennedy MLA
Ulster Unionist Agriculture spokesman and Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tom Elliott today called for the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) to be abolished. Mr Elliott says that with a minimum wage already in place, there is no need for such a discriminatory scheme. In a statement Mr Elliott said,
“All parties agreed to the UFU 5 point plan prior to this year’s assembly elections. This included contributions in the Assembly chamber at a debate on 8th Jan 2007 when both Michelle Goldernew and Catriona Ruane said they wanted the AWB abolished.
In answer to my question last week, Minister Gildrnew said she would not abolish the AWG. Agricultural workers, like all workers, are already protected by the national minimum wage.
Why should agricultural employers be discriminated against? No other industry has such a wages scheme, all others use the national minimum wage.
Sinn Fein says they are trying to protect minority groups by retaining the AWB. What is the difference in agricultural employees and minority groups who work in other industries, like restaurants, supermarkets, the health service, childcare etc?”
Continue Reading E-mail October 22nd, 2007
Tom Elliott MLA
Ulster Unionist Regional Development spokesman Fred Cobain today raised his objections to Minister Conor Murphy’s proposals on water charges. The North Belfast MLA said he could not support any moves which saw every household in Northern Ireland paying, in some shape or other, for water.
In a statement Mr Cobain said,
“Thousands of the poorest and most vulnerable pensioners, working poor and near benefit-level families will all be worse off after today’s statement and will feel cheated that the right noises that Sinn Fein and others were making before the election with regards to water charges have been brushed under the carpet.
The DUP promised a financial package that would offset water charges, their leader pledged and committed himself to securing a financial package and indeed sought and secured a mandate to do so. They didn’t deliver and now in cahoots with Sinn Fein Minister Murphy we are now seeing water charges being brought up for discussion with a view to eventual implementation.
I cannot and will not support water charges that will hit the most vulnerable and needy in society.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 22nd, 2007
Fred Cobain MLA
Speaking to Young Unionists at Queens University on Monday night, Ulster Unionist Chief Whip and Strangford MLA David McNarry said the UUP was not against people wishing to speak or promote Irish but that an Irish Language Act would have been deeply divisive. In a speech to Young Unionists Mr McNarry set out the UUP position,
“I should say at the outset that, despite Republican efforts to paint us as bigots on the language issue, the Ulster Unionist Party respects cultural diversity. It creates a stable, peaceful, pluralist society. In a way tolerance, diversity and pluralism of views is the very essence of what it means to be British.
Modern Britain is a haven for different cultures, ideas, traditions and languages precisely because we do not seek to impose our will or project some kind of superiority or political connotation onto our language and culture.
That’s why we oppose this Act– this respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity - and that we tried to enshrine into the Agreement before the DUP opened it all up again - would have been fundamentally undermined by the proposed Act.
Make no bones about it, the Irish Language Act would only further politicise Irish, place an undue and costly emphasis upon it and allow it to be used as a cultural weapon in an unarmed struggle. It is not enough for Republicans (and to a lesser degree nationalists in the SDLP) to have Irish language promoted normally, they demand a neon ultra-Irish shoved in the face of the majority of people in Northern Ireland.
Listening to those in the Pro-Act lobby and Irish lobby generally, you’d think that the use of Irish was widespread and was somehow being held back from a renaissance type explosion. Not so. The last census shows us that just a little over 75,000 people in Northern Ireland can speak, read and write in Irish. 75,000 people. That’s about 4% of our population here in Northern Ireland.
You will all be aware of the current pressures on public expenditure in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland must tighten its collective fiscal belt after the miracle financial package that the DUP made a pre-requesite to devolution, failed to materialise.
So, on a sound financial basis it doesn’t make any sense to spend that much money on such a small group. But it’s about more than money. Irish Language is used by Republicans not to be inclusive but to be exclusive. It is used as an expression of the aspirations of Irish Republicans.
As a result it has been turned from something that any pluralist British person can accept as a legitimate form of expression and a celebration of tradition, into something deeply political divisive. We don’t need an Irish Language Act and never will.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 22nd, 2007
David McNarry MLA
Ulster Unionist Party Leader and East Belfast MLA Sir Reg Empey today expressed his delight that the Connswater Community Greenway has made the final round for the lottery’s Living Landmarks Fund. The project could receive £23 Million to transform the banks of the Connswater River into what Sir Reg has described as a mini-Laganside.
In a statement Sir Reg said,
“I am delighted that the Connswater Community Greenway has made the final round and is in the running to receive £23 Million. This is a project that I have been involved in championing since its inception a couple of years ago.
I have long been saying that we can do much better than the stinking mess that the Connswater River currently is.
At present it is full of junk, shopping trolleys and in the summer it stinks to high heaven. The River, thanks to the vision of the Greenway project, now stands on the cusp of a major transformation. I am delighted too that the National Lottery Heritage Fund can see the benefits of the Greenway case and will progress things to the next level.
I would like congratulate the staff at the project and all of those involved at local community group level who have given their time and support to this worthwhile bid.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 22nd, 2007
Sir Reg Empey MLA
