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Kenny Donaldson, an Ulster Unionist Party Officer and resident of Crossmaglen, South Armagh has given his reaction to recent events where, 21-year-old Paul Quinn of Cullyhanna was brutally beaten and consequently murdered by a gang of masked men at a disused farm-house in Oram, County Monaghan.

As well as the Oram incident, on Tuesday night last, news reports confirmed that an 18-year-old lad was battered by a gang of up to seven men at Carnegat, Newry.

In a statement, Kenny said: “I would firstly express my sincere condolences to the family circle of Paul Quinn and to the other families whose loved ones were left hospitalised following the brutal attacks they suffered at the hands of gangs of masked men.

“The shock-waves of what has happened in recent days is reverberating, people thought that the days of Kangaroo-style courts were over and that Northern Ireland and indeed the South Armagh area had finally, entered a new political and societal era.

“As a proud Crossmaglen and South Armaghman, I am angered that the area to which I love has once again been placed in the limelight for the wrong reasons. South Armagh has been described as ‘Bandit Country’ and was seen as such by large numbers of people, from both sides of our historic divide and from beyond these Shores. Many terrible atrocities occurred in this community over the ‘Troubled Years.’ But in recent times the area has made the news for the right reasons, the local economy is growing, tourism numbers are increasing and there appeared to be, a new resolve amongst the local community to move this area of Northern Ireland forward.

“Wakening up to the news on Sunday and then Wednesday morning last, that once again; self-appointed dictators had reaped their own brand of Kangaroo Justice upon young men was deeply distressing for me and yet I have no comprehension of how much worse it would have felt for the family and friends of the deceased and the injured.
Kenny added: “There is much loose talk that the deceased and the injured were guilty of crimes, irrespective of whether or not that is true; no-one has the right to take life through their own brand of ‘barbaric Justice.’

“I am calling on the broad, law-abiding South Armagh community to speak with one voice in declaring that we do not want Kangaroo Courts where self-appointed dictators perform the role of, Judge, Jury and Executioner. While belatedly, the Republican Movement have given their political representatives in Sinn Fein the ‘green light’ to endorse and support the fundamental rule of law and order, covering support for the Police (PSNI) the Courts and all other aspects of the Criminal Justice System.

“Refusal to adhere to law and order systems can no longer be appeased. I believe that the vast majority of South Armagh people are committed to the future and of building a fair, just, safe and stable community. I appeal with these people to send a message to the criminals and mafia-style dictators within their midst - get off the community’s back, end your smuggling, (whether fuel or otherwise) cease your extortion rackets, end your barbarism and violence and remove your stranglehold from the community and earn your living, instead of stealing from others.

“The community must come forward and support the PSNI and Garda’s efforts at bringing those responsible for the death of Paul Quinn to justice.

“I would also appeal for calm in the South Armagh area. Now is a time for reflection, South Armagh is at a cross-roads and good must prevail, people must consign from within their midst, the evil that has plagued this area and its’ people.
“In the early – mid nineties and thereafter, terrorism has been all but banished from our Country, now is the time to give the boot to criminality and any lingering trappings of paramilitarism also.”

Mr President, Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Can I say a very big thank you to our panellists here this afternoon who have given us much to think about on the back of their own personal experiences with the National Health Service. To Brian, Patricia, Paula and Mary my sincere thanks and appreciation for giving up your time.

And a special word of thanks to Robert Coulter who chaired the session. Robert is our spokesperson on health matters at Stormont and together with John Mc Callister our Party voice is always heard at the Health committee and in the chamber during the many health related debates. As Minister, I want to thank them for their support.

As we have been hearing the National Health Service has come a long way since its inception in 1948. Sixty years ago times were very different. Our country was emerging from six years of world war and had just elected a new government. The concept of a national health service free at the point of delivery to all may have been viewed as a bold step at the time but one we give thanks for today.

So whilst a Labour Government may have been responsible for one of the greatest political achievements in the twentieth century, let’s not forget that our Party, the Ulster Unionist Party, played a key role in creating the National Health Service in Northern Ireland. It was William Grant MP who was the first Minister for Health in Northern Ireland and over the last sixty years many other people, including William Morgan and William Craig followed in his footsteps. Today, I stand here as the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety – a position I am very honoured to hold. I have greatly enjoyed the last five months in office. There have been many challenges but we are already making a real difference.

In June, I confirmed the siting of the new acute hospital for the South West in Enniskillen which will be open in 2011. I also confirmed that a new enhanced local hospital will be built in Omagh and open in 2012. Now I recognise that there has been concern around Omagh over the future of health services in the town so to avoid any confusion let me reiterate my commitment that there will be a 24 hour Doctor led Urgent Care and Treatment Centre at the Tyrone County Hospital. I am also confident that in the near future further investment will be made in the Ambulance service in the west and I look forward to the conclusion of the consultation on the possibility of a midwife led maternity unit in Omagh.

Both of these hospitals represent a £450m investment in the South West but I am prepared to venture outside of my ministerial health portfolio. While I may not be in charge of roads, I have a vested interest in ensuring that patients have adequate access to both new hospitals so I will be liaising closely with Executive colleagues to ensure much needed improvements in the South West roads.

Mr President, within the first few weeks of taking office a number of issues landed on my desk which had the potential to cause problems.

Following negotiations I was delighted to be able to award the pay uplift to our Nurses and I want to thank those people who worked with me, including the Royal Colleges and the Trade Unions, to deliver this successful outcome. In listening to these bodies I also gave an undertaking that I would look at the Agenda for Change process and today I can state that all grades will be matched by December of this year with all pay uplifts being met by March of next year.

Mr President, Junior Doctors are the backbone of our acute health service and it became clear early on that there were real problems around recruitment issues. Thankfully on 1 August, through appropriate planning we were able to overcome these hurdles and made sure that virtually all places were filled., thus avoiding the predicted crisis within our hospitals.

However I wanted to ensure that such scenarios would not be repeated locally in the future. I asked Professor Randal Hayes to review the process for Northern Ireland and I am indebted to him and his team for reporting back to me so swiftly with excellent recommendations which I have already set in motion to implement.

Undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges that I have faced has been in the area of mental health. Frankly I have been appalled by the lack of investment over many years but heartened by the dedication of so many people who work at the front face of mental health. I am committed to seeing the full implementation of the Bamford review but if we are serious about meeting the need then we need the money. I am grateful to Executive colleagues for working with me but I say to the Minister for Finance that paltry sums for mental health in the comprehensive spending review are indefensible.

This issue has been forgotten about for too long. I am not prepared to countenance that any longer.

So I have established the board of experts under Professor Roy Mc Clelland who will champion mental health and learning disability issues. One of their first actions has been to look at the area of suicide.

Last year alone there was a 36% increase in the number of people who took their own lives and I know, having met with bereaved families just what an impact suicide can have upon so many families and communities. So I want to see adequate resources being directed towards suicide prevention. Already, through a range of initiatives we have hit the ground running. Numerous engagements and meetings with a range of interested parties have been held including significant engagement with representatives from the internet providers. There will be a region wide telephone helpline across Northern Ireland in addition to a further 350 GP’s undertaking awareness training before January 2008. A public information campaign has been launched and I have commenced an engagement process with the media to ensure sensible reporting continues.

Mr President, no member of the health service should have to endure abuse or the possibility of assault. In July, I launched the Zero Tolerance campaign against staff and I am considering introducing similar legislation to that which exists in Scotland to deter attacks on emergency staff and have asked for assaults on Health Care Workers to be included in the Criminal Justice Bill which is soon to go through Westminster. Let me be clear anyone who assaults a member of staff will be treated within the full rigours of the law.

And in dentistry I announced earlier this month that I was investing £4.4m to help in resourcing overhead costs, purchase new equipment and to assist Boards by plugging the gap through the growth of the salaried dentist sector.

So whilst we’ve hit the ground running there is much more still to be done.

My overriding principle at all times will be ensuring that we put patients first.

And this principle will be at the core of my deliberations around the Review of Public Administration.

On my first day in office, I was presented with a plan for the future of our health service in Northern Ireland that had been dreamt up by Direct Rule Ministers to suit Direct Rule Ministers. Upon initial reading I had concerns and so I have spent the last five months looking at the plans in depth.

As you will be aware I recently wrote to all staff informing them that it was highly unlikely that any further structural changes would be completed before April 2009.

I make no apology for taking a little extra time.

Peter Hain and the direct rule administration took five years to come to a conclusion. I have been in office five months. It is imperative that we get the new structure correct for everyone.

In planning for the future I will be focusing around three core functions; stringent performance management; sound financial control; and commissioning. And I have no hesitation in saying that I want to see much more input in the new structures from local representatives too.

We have to remember that we are a small nation but one that has growing health needs. Whilst spending in Northern Ireland per head is higher on health care, our need is greater compared to Great Britain. This fact has been in my mind over recent days as the budget has been dominating the news.

So let me say a few words regarding health care spending.

Let me be clear I have agreed a draft budget as the basis for consultation with the Assembly and the general public. I have not agreed a final budget.

So despite the spin and hype that has been emanating from Stormont Castle and some naive comments from DUP representatives, the reality is that for health the current proposals represent a standstill budget, particularly in years one and two that barely allows a creep forward in terms of new or improved services. The draft budget proposals as currently presented will do nothing to help in driving down waiting lists further. And frankly, people deserve better.

Yes, it is correct to state that health has received an extra £450m but our inescapable costs such as salaries and the rising costs of drugs have risen to approximately £700m. Our population is growing and we are living longer. Consequently our Health Service is treating more people. So dabbling with the health service budget in a manner akin to Thatcherism is a dangerous step.

We are no different to our fellow citizens in Great Britain. We pay our national insurance contributions and are entitled to the same levels of treatment. Yet healthcare spending in Northern Ireland has been behind England and will be even further behind if the current draft proposals are anything to go by. This is a grave injustice and equality issue. We should not be treated as second class citizens within the Kingdom.

So as we reach the consultation phase, I want to hear the views of those in the front line and on the ground within the health service including the patients. These are the people who face reality on a day and daily basis.

The service has already contributed £140m efficiency savings and we will meet our target of a further £340m in efficiency savings over the next three years.

Undoubtedly there have been significant improvements in healthcare in Northern Ireland over the last five years but such advances will not continue if we are not prepared to invest.

I want to see further investment in screening for Bowel Cancer and Cervical Cancer. We are fortunate to have leading cancer specialists such as Professor Paddy Johnston working within the NHS in Northern Ireland and their work must be supported. Funding for screening, in essence, means saving lives.

Tackling the growing problem of obesity is one which I want to see being taken much more seriously. So I will work with colleagues across the Executive to identify a more effective focus on this issue.

Children play an important role in our society. Currently spending in Northern Ireland on children’s issues is nearly a third behind what is spent in England. This must change going forward.

Alcohol accounts for upwards of 40% of admissions to the average accident and emergency unit on every Friday night in Northern Ireland. Too many people are being referred to mental health specialists as a result of alcohol and too many young people are experimenting with binge drinking. I am prepared to look at a local tax but taxation alone will not solve this problem. Supermarkets and off licences have a role as well and I will be engaging with them to see what measures they are prepared to adopt. The days of the blue bag syndrome must be over.

In social policy I look forward to the speech and language task force report which is expected in December and I am indebted to Lord Maginnis for investing so much time in leading the panel of experts around Autism. But to see real change in these important areas further investment will be required.

I have already stated that I intend to strengthen the process to identify victims of domestic violence so that anyone who attends an A&E unit or doctors surgery with a physical injury is asked about domestic violence.

Under infection control, I am determined to crack down on the high levels of MRSA and C-difficile. This is an issue that I am not prepared to compromise on. Patients demand clean hospitals and I agree with them. So whilst there has been some progress in recent years much more is required. I will be looking at all options including screening patients for MRSA and the regulation of visiting and movement of the public within hospitals. If necessary I will introduce independent, unannounced inspections to ensure standards are met and maintained.

So fellow Unionists, my half term report can be summarised as much done but much more still to be achieved. But for real change to be effective further investment is required.

I know that many people within the Health Service are up for the challenge and together I know that we can make a real difference. I want to see a local health service for a local community.

Mr President, putting patients first is my priority. So as we embark on delivering this task, I ask you to join me in standing firm for patients. Standing firm for health workers and standing firm for our health service.

Together I know that we can deliver.

Thank You

It’s a real pleasure to be addressing an EGM which has been summoned for a positive purpose rather than for a showdown.

Tonight is about the way ahead.

This is a very important meeting for our party—arguably one of the most important in our history.

It’s about rebuilding ourselves as a party and then replanting ourselves at the very centre of everyday life in Northern Ireland.

It’s about laying down the foundations upon which we will prepare ourselves for the new challenges which face us in these early years of our second century.

Reform has been talked about for years. Reform has been sidelined for years.

But one thing is clear: we really do have to reform.

Election results, media coverage, internal weaknesses and difficulties all tell the same story: as a party we have been getting a lot of things wrong.

As Leader, I am determined that the primary contribution I make to this party—although hopefully not the only contribution—is to push through the reform that we have needed for decades.

I am determined to leave this party in a better shape than I inherited it.

At our AGM in April, delegates unanimously endorsed a resolution committing us to that reform: and instructing me, as party leader, in conjunction with the Executive Committee, to urgently review and bring forward proposals.

Part of that resolution stated that the UUC “Determines that it must now become a modern political party, organised, financed and represented in a manner that again attracts the maximum of electoral support.”

To assist me in what I knew would be a massive task I sought the help of four convenors—David Campbell, Danny Kingahan, Terry Wright and Alex Kane—and issued a series of invitations to other party members to join them on four review committees.

They were tasked with looking at the specific areas of finance, constituency organisation, communications and the party constitution.

We have made every effort to reach as many members—particularly UUC delegates—as possible. There have been two rounds of roadshows, in Banbridge, Omagh, Coleraine, Belfast, Armagh and Enniskillen. There have been meetings in every association. There have been special meetings of the officers and the executive committee. Tonight’s meeting is the culmination of that consultation process.

I am grateful to the convenors and the committee members for all the help they have given. And I am grateful to all of those members and delegates who turned up or found other ways of making an input.

I also want to place on record my own thanks—and those of the convenors—to Mark Neale, who has acted as Secretary to the Review. As well as fronting many of the roadshows, he has also been responsible for bringing together all of the material from the various committees

Tonight, I am asking you to ratify and adopt the new Party Rules attached at appendix A; and to endorse the actions and recommendations outlined in appendix B.

Any changes we claim to have made will be utterly meaningless if the electorate in general, and our members and supporters in particular, don’t see evidence of change; evidence of new thinking; evidence of a renewed presence on the ground; and evidence of an effective performance in the Assembly and its committees, in council chambers and in the media.

We have to prove that we are aware of old failings, confident of our underlying virtues, and ready to put things right.

Let me say, too, that these changes will be utterly meaningless if we don’t have discipline in this party.

And the best type of discipline is self-discipline.

The primary task of members of this party—be they ordinary members or elected representatives—is the promotion of the party and the promotion of party policy.

Not the promotion of themselves and their own agenda.

Now, I know that some of you believe that we haven’t yet gone far enough or been radical enough. But this process is ongoing.

There will be more lessons to learn and fine tuning will be required.

But what matters most tonight is that the changes we are recommending are more significant, wide-ranging and sweeping than they may seem on paper. If we get these first stages right and put in place, then the Executive can continue to build and improve as and when necessary.

Regarding finance, we have to live within our means, use our money wisely, not place too heavy a burden on our associations and keep loans and overdrafts to a very bare minimum. But we also have to raise money. Politics is an expensive business.

I know that concerns have been raised about how we handled our financial affairs in the past; and I know, too, that members have worried that quotas—difficult to raise in their own right—haven’t been used to best effect. The Finance Committee has addressed many of these concerns and set out a series of recommendations.

In terms of constituency organisation we have to be seen as an on-the-ground, relevant and active party. Branch and association members are the front-line troops of this party and it is essential that we mobilise and deploy them to best effect.

Also, our internal and external communications haven’t been as effective as they should be or need to be. We will have an uphill task to get the media to take an interest in us again; but it is a task we must set ourselves to.

Just as important is the need to improve the communication structures between the centre and the grassroots; and between the various official bodies and representative groups within the party. We cannot continue with a culture in which are own members believed they were being kept in the dark.

You will note, too, that the rule book has been severely pruned. It is now a more manageable and more comprehendible guide to running our affairs.

The Convenors of the PR/Media and Constituency committees have put together a package of recommendations to address a wide array of problems and those packages will—and quickly—be brought before the Executive Committee for approval and adoption.

I know, too, that there are concerns about selection.

Let me say this to you: If we go into an Assembly, council or general election with a slate of candidates which is overwhelmingly male and overwhelmingly middle-aged, we will have no mission of attracting new or returning voters. We will, in fact and in effect, have made ourselves a very poor choice for women and younger voters.

During the course of the most recent round of consultations, but subsequent to the special Executive on October 6th, a number of issues of concern to members and officers have been aired. The officers met on Wednesday to consider these and decided that they merited further discussion and investigation.

The officers unanimously decided that these issues should be remitted to the Executive for in-depth discussion and resolution.

One of the issues was raised recently by colleagues in Fermanagh/South Tyrone, concerning representation of constituencies on the Executive. The Association feels that there should be a relationship between the memberships of a constituency association and the representation on the Executive.

Another matter was concerns expressed by the UYUC about the method to be adopted for the appointment of a Youth Development Officer. The UYUC feels that they should select this officer in a similar way to the appointment of the Councillor’s Association’s representative on the officer team.

I agree that this matter needs further consideration, and if remitted back, I would be supportive of the matter being resolved by reference to the qualifications for a Youth Officer being defined in Standing Orders to the mutual satisfaction of both the UYUC and the Executive.

A similar discussion may be necessary with regards to concerns expressed by the UWUC. Furthermore, as representative bodies, the UYUC and UWUC must be fully integrated and involved at all levels within the party.

To ensure this is achieved I think it is timely to review all these matters urgently, and I will bring a proposal to this effect to the Executive.

The officers also identified a small number of alterations that should be made with regard to definitions: and rather than try and bring amendments on the hoof of this meeting, they feel that these should also be discussed at the Executive.

You may well ask that, if further amendments are required, how will they be dealt with? The officers feel that as we work our way through the standing orders in the next few months, other issues could arise. Consequently, a further opportunity will present itself at the AGM in March to bring forward any tidying up amendments that are deemed necessary.

This method would be in stark contrast to our attempts to deal with amendments at our last, yet unsuccessful, attempt at change in the Europa Hotel in early 2006!

Other issues have been raised over the past six months and I know that some of you were keen to table amendments tonight.

Ladies and gentlemen, the decision not to take amendments is a decision I support. We would have ended up with a never-ending series of speeches and votes and few of us would have been any the wiser at the end of the night.

There are issues which will require serious and detailed debate; but that debate can be held within the confines of the Executive Committee, when there will be the time we need.

Colleagues, we have to demand more of ourselves. We, members and representatives, are the public face of the Ulster Unionist Party. If we, ourselves, can’t convince the electorate and the media that we have changed and that we are serious about our own survival and revival, then nobody else will do it for us.

What I am asking you to endorse tonight is not a panacea for all our problems. There is no miracle cure; no instant recovery tomorrow morning. We will still face a daunting and uphill task.

But it is worth doing. The legacy of this party is one of which we should all be proud. We have weathered many storms and faced down many opponents. But we are still here. We are still standing.

And remember this: even with all of our problems in the past ten years in particular, we still managed to deliver a settlement for Northern Ireland which is now accepted by 95% of unionism.

That’s no mean achievement: and we shouldn’t sit back and allow others to take the credit when they themselves did every thing they could to destroy us.

Reform alone isn’t enough. Reorganisation alone isn’t enough. Better communications isn’t enough. A smaller rule book isn’t enough. Financial stability isn’t enough. A wider array of candidates isn’t enough.

Yes, the collective impact of all of these changes will make a difference and it is important that we do things differently and do them better.

But what matters most is that we—as a party—believe in ourselves and are seen to believe in ourselves.

The root of all of this must be confidence in ourselves; confidence in our abilities and confidence in the role that we, and we alone, can play in Northern Ireland.

The message I want to send out tonight—and I want it to be unanimous—is that the Ulster Unionist Party is once again fit for purpose and deserving of votes.

And I promise you this: when we send out that message it will be accompanied by hard evidence of change.

Ladies and Gentlemen: the Ulster Unionist Party is back; back in business; and back to stay.

Thank you.

At long last, after 35 years of assorted negotiations, we have a government with local Ministers representing us at all levels. We must congratulate Dr Paisley on taking the brave and unexpected step to a new era of co-operation in politics. In many respects the St Andrew’s Agreement is indistinguishable from the 1998 original so heavily lambasted by the DUP. He may claim it’s a better and fairer deal—I’m not so sure.

The DUP are purporting that all is rosy for Unionism. The reality is that while the Dr Paisley may seem to have skilfully led the DUP into a deal with which it is not naturally comfortable, he has also taken unionism into a strategic cul-de-sac in which the room for manoeuvre is extremely limited.

Peter Hain’s very personal and very draconian form of direct rule brought political blackmail to the level of an art form, with its threats of increased domestic and industrial rates and the removal of academic selection. Water rates bills were ready to be posted, seven super councils (supported by Sinn Fein) were pending, along with tighter planning rules and tighter funding in all areas. The sole object of this blackmail was to “persuade” the DUP into Government with Sinn Fein. The very fact that the tactic worked, showed just how little influence the DUP could exert; and it also demonstrated the weakened state of the Union itself.

We now have an added threat posed by the rise of nationalism in Scotland and Wales. Dr Paisley seems remarkably comfortable with the leaders of nationalist movements across the United Kingdom and Ireland. He is also comfortable with his own version of little-Ulster nationalism, happier to promote the “ourselves alone” version of unionism rather than an overarching pan-UK unionism.

It all begs the question why could we not have had power sharing 33 years ago with constitutional nationalists, a question Dr Paisley has yet to answer? It was Paisley himself who fanned the flames on numerous occasions, encouraging increased divisions and sectarianism. Bigotry remains endemic in Northern Ireland due to a process of polarisation of politics practiced by both the DUP and Sinn Fein for their own party political ends. Hardly surprising, I suppose, that they are now top dogs in their own packs and able to bark their supposed triumphs to their own followers. They may have done well from the spoils of office; sadly though, the same is not true for the province as a whole.

And what happened to the financial package promised by the tough, “no push-over” DUP? Newly appointed Finance Minister, Peter Robinson, is preparing a budget that will impose cuts across most departments and put many projects on the back-burner.The DUP’s relative failure to obtain a substantial financial package linked to the return of devolution highlights their impotence when faced with the political clout of the Sovereign government.

But times change, that’s politics, and we must move on,we in UUP welcome the DUP’s conversion to real politics. In their ministerial roles we see them working the system ,let’s hope that with no extra money available they can make the departmental efficiency savings necessary to release funds to other priority areas.

Meanwhile,the UUP’s new objectives clause includes the objective to promote and strengthen the Union. It is vital we ensure that the fundamental principles and philosophy of Unionism are not threatened further. We fought successfully for parity with equal rights as equal citizens in the United Kingdom. We will continue to press for a Royal Commission into the future of the Union, for above all else we must participate and contribute to the Union and gain and build friendships within and throughout the United Kingdom.

Under DUP /Sinn Fein rule I fear that the true principles and philosophy of Unionism are under threat. The principles upon which the Union itself was founded are under threat. We now have an Ulster-centric, Ulster-nationalist style of Unionism developing under the DUP, with increased reliance on the state in all walks of life. This fits well with Sinn Fein’s centralist socialist economic policies, a public sector dependent economy and a decimated private sector following the years of violence. We see DUP and Sinn Fein Ministers on TV espousing similar policies based on state intervention and control over our lives.

The UUP’s founding principles were based on the freedom of the individual, free from state control and underpinned by the promotion of science, industry and enterprise within an open and free economy, following the traditions of the Scottish enlightenment.The UUP once again needs to grasp the true principles of Unionism.We need real practical cross-community politics rather than subsidise sectarian politics through DUP and SF’s axis of state interference.

The DUP has fallen into Sinn Fein’s trap with their joint campaign for equal rates of corporation tax and more state control over our lives. This is diametrically opposed to the principles upon which Unionism was founded ie parity of taxation and welfare rights within the UK. Sinn Fein is trying to create an all-Ireland economy with a socialist agenda while the DUP acquiesce in the comfort of their new found power and multiple mandates.

Instead we in Unionism should be arguing for lower Corporation Tax rates within the whole Union. Gordon Brown has already signalled lower rates in the future for the whole Kingdom with a reduction from 2008 to 28%. This is an example of how Unionism must learn to engage with our partners in the Union and contribute to the Union.

The UUP is committed to ensuring equal rights to quality public services within the Union and to ensure a successful market economy where the freedom of the individual is paramount. The individual needs freedom from the shackles of state control and public sector domination and its ‘crowding out’ of talent from the private sector; otherwise we will be outgunned by the dynamic free market capitalist economy of the Celtic Tiger and some newly emerging economies. All Unionists need to work out what the Union is about, promote its’ principles, contribute to it and ensure that it not only survives but also thrives and with Northern Ireland an integrally working part.

Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has launched a blistering attack on the First and Deputy First Minister this morning over their failure to secure a financial package for Northern Ireland.

Mr Nicholson was speaking as the Executive’s Programme for Government and budget was being presented to the Assembly. The UUP MEP has accused the DUP and Sinn Fein of brushing the issue under the carpet.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“Today’s announcements in the Assembly on the budget and the Executive’s programme for Government have reminded people of the DUP and Sinn Fein’s utter failure to secure a financial package for Northern Ireland.

“During March’s Assembly election campaign both the DUP and Sinn Fein made great noise about the need for a financial package from the Treasury to underpin any return to devolution in Northern Ireland. It was a make or break issue for the First Minister who even threatened that he wouldn’t consider entering an Executive until he got a financial package from the Treasury.

“Instead of explaining to the people of Northern Ireland why they haven’t delivered the DUP and Sinn Fein have conveniently tried to brush the whole issue under the carpet. It is almost 6 months since devolution was restored and yet the mysterious financial package talked about so loudly by the DUP and Sinn Fein during the Assembly election campaign remains beyond the grasp of these politicians.

“From my perspective in Europe I still remain deeply sceptical of the First and Deputy First Minister’s commitment to engaging with Brussels in financial terms.

“After decades of the Troubles and years of underinvestment in our infrastructure, Northern Ireland needs and deserves an economic package from the Treasury that will enable a new Executive to invest in growth, innovation and enterprise.”

Following today’s publication of the Draft Budget, Ulster Unionist Finance Spokesperson Roy Beggs MLA has questioned the Finance Minister’s decision to give a much greater increase to the budget of the DUP-Sinn Fein Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister than that given to the Department of Health.

Mr. Beggs said, “Today’s Draft Budget follows the Finance Minister’s recent statement in which he warned of the need to take ‘difficult and challenging decisions’. Now we know what he meant by difficult and challenging decisions – increasing the budget for OFMDFM by 5.9% over the next 3 years, while giving the Department of Health a mere 3.8% increase. It is staggering to think that the DUP-Sinn Fein Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is receiving greater priority than our National Health Service. That this is occurring at a time when health expenditure in the rest of the UK is rising at a significantly greater level will only increase the unacceptable disparity between health care in Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK.

“It is also puzzling that the Draft Programme for Government says that it is giving priority to ‘personal health and well-being’ and goes on to recognise that a ‘strong economy requires a healthy … population’. If this is so, why has OFMDFM received a much greater budget increase than our National Health Service? If the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, and the Finance Minister, had a genuine commitment to our National Health Service it is obvious that they would not have made the choice to pass by the NHS and increase the budget of their favoured department – OFMDFM.

“Under the last Devolved Administration, the OFMDFM budget was £32m – now, under this Draft Budget, it has become £73.9m. Quite clearly, the Finance Minister has judged that the ‘difficult and challenging decisions’ do not apply to OFMDFM – and that it is much more appropriate for the consequences of difficult decisions to be experienced by the NHS.

“Over the coming weeks both in the Assembly and in its Committees, the Ulster Unionist Party will continue to subject this Draft Budget to careful scrutiny. A budget that gives priority to OFMDFM over the National Health Service is not a budget that puts the needs of Northern Ireland first”.

UUP MLA Billy Armstrong today extended his condolences to the family of Conor Devlin, the Randalstown teenager who was killed in a road accident near Bellaghy last Saturday.

The Mid-Ulster representative said;

“I was shocked to learn that yet another life has been lost on our roads and I wish to extend my condolences to the family of Conor Devlin.

The toll of death and destruction on our roads is horrific, and I urge all road users, particularly drivers, to heed the warnings from the DoE Road Safety unit and the PSNI Traffic Branch.

Tragically, this young man was the 80th victim of our roads this year. One death is one too many, and we must all do more to reduce the casualty rate on our roads in order to spare other families the heartbreak and anguish caused by the loss of a loved one.

The Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident to come forward, and I would re-iterate that appeal.”

Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy MLA, has said that “though today’s Programme for Government, investment strategy and Budget represented a major effort for Dr Paisley and his partner, Martin McGuinness, they must both share a deep sense of disappointment that they were unable to get more money from Gordon Brown.”

“The First and Deputy First Minister duo may be hyping today’s events up for the media but the real story here is their failure to get more money from Gordon Brown. The Budget statement is only the beginning of a process of consultation and during the next 10 weeks of debates and forensic examination by the Committees at Stormont including the OFMDFM Committee which I chair, the lack of additional money will emerge as the big issue.”

“I am also concerned that the 6,500 jobs they are planning to create is such a long way short of the 140,000 jobs we need to create over the next ten years - just to stand still.”

“So, let us keep a sense of proportion about today’s events. I am glad the Executive is doing something at last and so soon after I put down a motion last week criticising them for doing nothing. I would extend my sympathy to Dr Paisley and his partner Mr McGuinness for their failure to extract a peace dividend from the tight-fisted Prime Minister.”

UUP Deputy Leader and Chair of the Committee of OFMDFM, Danny Kennedy MLA, has expressed his concern at the decision by the Dail to invite Northern Ireland MPs to sit on its newly-established Committee on the Implementation of the Belfast Agreement.

Mr. Kennedy said, “last night’s decision by the Dail is a deeply disappointing move. The text of the motion referred to ‘Members of the Westminster Parliament elected for constituencies in Northern Ireland’. While it is interesting to note that Dail Eireann – in contrast to Sinn Fein Ministers of the Crown in Stormont – can refer to this jurisdiction by its proper title, it is the view of the Ulster Unionist Party that the proper forum for dialogue between MPs and TDs is the East-West framework set up by the Belfast Agreement.

“Although rightly concerned, there is no need for unionists to over-react to this move by the Dail. Despite the ambitions of republicans, the Dail has refused to allow Northern Ireland MPs any ‘right to vote or to move motions and amendments’ in the new Committee. Such a stance is quite understandable – why would citizens of the Republic of Ireland want Members of another Parliament, accountable to another electorate, to have a vote in a Dail Committee? In light of the insignificant role granted to Northern Ireland MPs on the Committee, it is difficult to understand why the Dail supported a mostly symbolic move that nevertheless detracts from the existing East-West institutions.

“The Ulster Unionist Party will strongly urge Her Majesty’s Government and the First Minister of Northern Ireland to express their disapproval of this development and to reaffirm the centrality and integrity of the East-West institutions. Whatever the token participation of republican and nationalist MPs from Northern Ireland in the Dail Committee, the British Isles framework of the Belfast Agreement is the proper forum for the respective parliaments to jointly examine the Agreement’s implementation”.

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has welcomed the commitment from one of the Executive’s junior ministers that a programme of legislation will come before the Assembly “in a matter of days”.

Assemblyman Dr Coulter made his remarks after supporting a successful Stormont motion calling on the Executive Committee to produce before the Hallowe’en recess, an Executive legislative programme detailing executive business for the current Assembly session.

He added: “The Ulster Unionist Party has called for an improved balance of business in the Assembly and for responsibility in legislation – and I am very pleased about the junior minister’s commitment that a programme of draft legislation will be before MLAs in a matter of days.

“It is imperative the junior minister honours this commitment on draft legislation because failure to do so will only fuel the perception in some public quarters this Assembly is a joke.

“The balance of business is important not only for the work of the Assembly, but also for the respectibility of the Assembly.

“Unfortunately, the current balance is not right as the figures show that non-Executive business, including private members’ business, now accounts for about two-thirds of what the Assembly does.

“One way forward for the Executive would be for past legislation to be revised by the Stormont committees. The UUP has been constantly calling for the need to move the legislation forward.

“In spite of the past summer recess, we would have expected a significant amount of draft legislation to have come before the Assembly. Instead, we have not even had a trickle, let alone a flood. This Executive appears to be suffering from legislative drought.

“The Assembly must begin the proper work of Government and must get legislation on the table – that’s what the UUP has been calling for.

“The two main Executive parties have claimed they needed a number of weeks to hit the ground running once it was formed. The reality is, we are still waiting to get the race started for the people of Northern Ireland,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.