Archive for October 30th, 2007
Responding to attacks from Sinn Fein and the DUP in the press today surrounding on-going Ulster Unionist discussions on a form of opposition, East Antrim MLA and Finance spokesman Roy Beggs said in a statement,
”Nothing stands still in politics. Ulster Unionists are pleased that the local ministers are taking local decisions. We have taken our ministerial seats and have honoured our election commitment to join the executive.
But we must always strive to improve local accountability. Ulster Unionist will be reviewing our options in light of the decisions that are made by the Executive and the behaviour of other ministers. Opposition is a real option that must be considered in the future. In addition, there is an Assembly review process underway so changes are likely to happen.
Who would have thought the DUP and Sinn Fein would be working so closely together that their leaders are commonly known as “the Chuckle Brothers”. Who would have thought that a Sinn Fein Minister would be able to regularly read out the answer to DUP supplementary answers to which he should be unaware of?
Who would have thought that an SDLP minister, disappointed with the lack of progress by the UDA in ending their illegal activity would have been subject to such abuse by the DUP?
Would it not be even healthier if the electorate had a clear choice in the future with a government and official opposition parties? It would be possible to agree new arrangements whereby the electoral could have a choice between the chuckle brothers who look after their narrow party self interests and those who are content to work together for the betterment of all of NI. With political maturity the option of voluntary coalition would be possible. I am content that at present that the UUP should remain in the executive but we must review this situation in light of the behaviour of both the DUP and SF.
We should be dealing with real political issues. For example how will the recently announced budget effect the under funding in Children’s Services within the NHS. Children services in NI are 30% under funding compared to the rest of the UK. A recent report highlighted that our local Homefirst funding for Children’s services was the lowest of any health region within NI.
Why has the funding for OFMDM continued to increase at a higher rate than health? Is it because the Chuckle Brothers Ian and Martin now control OFMDFM. Would we not be better letting all our children get a better start to life by diverting the increased funding to children’s services? That’s what real politics should be about.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 30th, 2007
Roy Beggs MLA
Ulster Unionist Planning Spokesman, Sam Gardiner MLA, has said he was glad the Environment Minister Arlene Foster had agreed that a revised rural-planning policy to replace PPS 14 would take account of environmentally friendly housing.
“The Minister was responding to a question I asked after her statement on PPS 14 to the Assembly on 25 Oct. She assured the Assembly that she would look at economic development in the countryside and environmentally friendly housing in any replacement for PPS 14.”
“I have been pressing for some time for a rational set of new guidelines to replace the overly stringent PPS 14. These should include the needs of the rural economy, the social cohesion of rural communities, and a sustainable rural environment in environmentally friendly schemes.”
“Even though the Minister has taken over PPS 14 from the Department of Regional Development this will be short lived. All parties have said it must be dismantled and that will happen. We must keep the pressure on to make this happen sooner rather than later – certainly well before any review of the Planning structures in 2010. I am not happy with the delays in some of the Executive’s timescales for action.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 30th, 2007
Sam Gardiner MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has warned that the constituency’s farming community needs urgent action from the Exectuive if it is not to face the same financial ruin that happened to Northern Ireland’s linen industry.
Assemblyman Dr Coulter added: “Whilst as a community, we greatly welcome the Executive budget proposals for spending more than five billion pounds on hospitals, schools and roads across the Province over the next three years as well as the challenge of creating 6,500 jobs, the Executive must ensure our at times hard-pressed farming community gets its fair share of the investment.
“Agriculture is one of the main industries in this predominantly rural constituency and our farming community was already strained to breaking point because of the Foot and Mouth crisis.
“North Antrim’s farming families provide a massive contribution to the social, economic and environmental life of the constituency.
“Those families have had to face the various economic millstones heaped on them by the European Union. They want to see urgent action in terms of cash aid, not pathetic words of sympathy or empty promises.
“The agricultural community forms not just a major part of the commercial backbone of North Antrim, but also of this entire Province. We must not allow the fight to save this important industry to become a party political or sectarian football. I would appeal to the entire North Antrim community to unite behind the constituency’s farmers.
“The livelihoods of many thousands of people in the farming industry are at risk right across the Province. However, it is not only those directly involved in farming who stand to lose if the Ulster agricultural industry goes under financially.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 30th, 2007
Rev. Dr. Robert Coulter MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has warned the community could suffer because not enough money has been earmarked for health in the recently unveiled Programme for Government spending proposals.
Assemblyman Dr Coulter, who is also UUP Health Spokesman, made his remarks after chairing a health discussion panel at this year’s party conference in Belfast.
He added: “At first reading the full Programme for Government package runs to some £5.6 billion on schools, roads and hospitals – but the contribution for the health department is lower than the other departments in needs terms.
“The Ulster Unionist Party is disappointed with the proposed spending on health. It needed to be much higher given the fact people in Northern Ireland are living much longer.
“We required a radical budget for health; one which had quality as a central theme. Instead, the people of the Province have been allocated a budget which won’t do what those people require.
“The health budget for Northern Ireland is being seriously underfunded. We are between 25 per cent and 30 per cent lower than our counterparts in Great Britain.
“In practical terms, the draft budget will do nothing to drive down the waiting lists. Some £450 million has been allocated to health, when in reality, around £750 million is required because people live longer.
“The cash allocated to health in the Programme for Government is only dabbling with the health service. Being behind in health spending is one of the great injustices of Northern Ireland politics and makes our people second class citizens within the United Kingdom.
“As people live longer, we need to recognise that older people would like to be cared for at home – not in hospitals.
“The Programme for Government also needs to recognise that Northern Ireland will not be able to look after the most vulnerable groups in our society, especially the elderly, by cutting back on nurses.
“At one time, Northern Ireland had some of the worst waiting times in Western Europe. The Programme for Government budget should have addressed the urgent issue of investing in health. You can’t have wealth without health,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.
Continue Reading E-mail October 30th, 2007
Rev. Dr. Robert Coulter MLA
Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and MLA for Newry and Armagh Danny Kennedy today welcomed the announcement by Norbrook to invest £83 Million in developing new products which could create up to 300 new jobs for the Newry and Armagh area.
In a statement Mr Kennedy said,
“This investment is great news and I commend Lord Ballyedmond for his continued entrepreneurial spirit and his desire to see Norbrook develop further as a world leader in veterinary and agricultural medicine provision.
Researching and developing are key to any company’s growth and expansion and Norbrook clearly have intentions to both grow and expand.
The £83 Million investment, will, I understand create up to 300 new jobs. This is a great boost to the area and proof, if it were needed, that Norbrook continues to be a major part of the economic fabric of the Newry and Armagh area.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 30th, 2007
Danny Kennedy MLA
