uuptoday.org

Commenting on events this morning in the DCAL Committee, UUP DCAL spokesman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee David McNarry said,

“We will not be endorsing a shrine to terrorists on the Maze site, but if it is the intention of the DUP DCAL, Finance and First Minister to incorporate a national stadium with a shrine to terrorists then we believe there is insufficient public support for it.

We understand that a business study to be given to the Finance Minister extends beyond the Maze site with two options for the North foreshore and two options for existing stadia. We believe these must be explored fully before any decision can be made on the Maze.

At this moment we have not ruled anything in or anything out but until we are in receipt of all information on the matter the matter can only be resolved by the three DUP Ministers before bringing it to the Assembly.”

Mr Robin Swann, the Ulster Unionist Party’s Spokesman on Social Economy, Energy and Consumer Affairs, has said setting up a series of wind turbines along Ulster ’s coasts could finally ‘kill off’ the threat from lignite mining in his native North Antrim .

Mr Swann, a senior member of the North Antrim UUP management committee, made his call as he welcomed the announcement by UK Energy Secretary John Hutton that 7,000 wind turbines were to be installed and operated around Britain ’s coatlines.

The UUP spokesman added: “Such an environmentally friendly move should also see a complete end to any further prospect of lignite mining in North Antrim , rather than just the current extended three-year moratorium, which still leaves the threat hanging over the people of the area, and restricts any further development or advancement.

“I also welcome the launch of the proposed, ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment of the seas around Britain ’, which will identify appropriate sites for the installation and operation of up to 7,000 wind turbines which will have least environmental impact.

“Local Energy and Environmental Ministers in the Stormont Assembly must make sure that Northern Ireland ’s off-shore capacity and capability is not forgotten.

“This step would go a long way to meeting Northern Ireland ’s commitment under the Programme for Government where the Executive has set a firm target that 12% of our electricity must be generated from indigenous renewable sources by 2012.

“Likewise, if this is fully completed, then this initiative could see a major step towards the European Union’s commitment of gaining 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.

“Northern Ireland has a major advantage in being positioned in the North West corner of the European land mass and so our off-shore capacity would be well positioned to boost these developments.

“The Northern Ireland grid and electricity suppliers would also benefit as this would allow us to be an energy exporter and so increase our energy security for the future.

“The use of readily available and renewable energy sources must and should be our only long-term aim,” said Mr Swann.

Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has noted that the Christmas Cards on sale on the Sinn Fein website appear to be a manipulation of a Coca-cola image that includes the famous Coca-cola Santa Claus image so often seen on television.

Mr Elliott said: “At this time of the year Coca-cola adverts are amongst the most watched on television and visible on billboards in the United Kingdom. The vast majority of people instantly recognise the famous image of the Santa Claus with a bottle of Coca-cola close by. It is associated by everyone with happy emotions such as ‘joy’ and ‘surprise’. So for Sinn Fein to so openly manipulate this image simply to promote political idealism just isn’t on. I wonder what Coca-cola think about this abuse of their famous image?”

The Sinn Fein Christmas cards show Santa Claus in a green outfit instead of red and what appears to be copy of the 1916 Easter Rising Proclamation above the fireplace. Furthermore, the original Coca-cola message that Santa Claus is reading in a letter on the fireplace is changed from “Dear Santa, Please pause here” to “Dear Santa, Please free my country.” Mr Elliott calls on Sinn Fein to remove the Christmas card and allow the image to retain its decency.

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA went on to say: “This famous image of the Coca-cola Santa Claus is for everyone. What Sinn Fein have done is changed it to ‘tar’ the image for anybody outside of themselves that has the misfortune to see it. I call upon them to remove it from their website and allow the image to retain the feelings of the ‘magic of Christmas’ and festivity that it is intended to be associated with. I will be getting in contact with Coca-cola to notify them of the manipulation of the image. It will be up to them if any action is taken.

“I know that Santa Claus will have seen Sinn Fein’s actions and I would suggest that for their simple cheek they deserve nothing but Coal. One thing is for sure, they won’t be getting a United Ireland.”

Ulster Unionist Education Spokesman Basil McCrea today created a rare moment of consensus in the Assembly when all political parties declared their support for clarity and a detailed road map from the Education Minister on her proposals.

To date there has been precious little detail on her ‘vision’ which has left education professionals, commentators and MLAs perplexed and, in addition, the manner in which she made her announcement without proper Executive consultation may well have broken the Ministerial code.

Mr McCrea, in a bid to avoid confrontation on such an important issue, sought and gained unanimous Assembly support for his amendment which called on the Minister to provide greater clarity on the processes outlined within her proposal.

In a statement Mr McCrea,

“While we still have major reservations about the Minister’s proposals this important debate was being bogged down in political rhetoric. The Assembly, on such a vitally important subject – our children’s education – saw the value of a measured and rational approach and one which the Minister cannot hide behind.

We want the Minister to clear up the confusion she has created. We need to get to the bottom of her ‘vision’ and have a proper debate on the issues and processes. There is little point in the Minister asking the Assembly to share her vision when we can’t get a clear view of what that vision is.

The support given by the Assembly to our amendment should clear up some of the fog. I think the Minister herself realises that she has overstepped the mark and was treating the Assembly and her Executive colleagues with disdain.”

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey has sent an urgent communication to FIFA President Joseph Blatter recording the UUP’s opposition to, and the Northern Ireland Assembly’s majority decision today to object to, the proposal by the FIFA legal Committee. The communication was faxed to the President’s private office at FIFA Headquarters in Switzerland shortly after the vote was taken.

Under the FIFA proposal players from Northern Ireland could chose to play for the Irish Republic team, a move which could place the very existence of the Northern Ireland squad in jeopardy.

In a statement today, UUP Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy, who proposed the motion which was amended but received support in a majority vote, said in a statement,

“The UUP believes that any change in the current arrangements would be detrimental to good relations in international soccer and the Assembly today has endorsed and supported our view.

We are respectfully requesting the President of FIFA to take on board our position and the view of the Northern Ireland Assembly and reject the proposal at the Forthcoming FIFA meeting in Tokyo.”

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has welcomed confirmation today that the First and Deputy First Minister will visit Brussels in the New Year to meet with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.

Speaking from Strasbourg Mr Nicholson said,

“I very much welcome confirmation that the First and Deputy First Minister will visit Brussels in the New Year and hope that they will work in cooperation with MEPs.

“Their visit is long overdue and hopefully is a signal that the First and Deputy First Minister are taking the Executive’s relationship with Europe more seriously. I have been calling for them to get to grips with this area since they came to office. I look forward to them making the case for increased financial assistance for Northern Ireland from Europe.”

Ulster Unionist Education Spokesman Basil McCrea has asked for an urgent answer from OFMDFM as to whether Minister Ruane broke the Ministerial code when she presented her statement on Education without taking it to the Executive. Mr McCrea has received Ministerial confirmation from across departments that Ministers were not consulted on the statement.

After it emerged that Sammy Wilson from the DUP thanked the Minister for advanced notice of the statement, Mr McCrea also said the matter re-inforced the need for a meaningful coalition, not a carve-up between the two parties.

In a statement Mr McCrea said,

“Remember the row over Margaret Ritchie’s decisions on the CTI money? Only last week Minister Ruane decided to ignore the Executive and press ahead with a statement on education. This illustrates the double standard that the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP were referring to in October. There is clearly one law within the Executive for Sinn Fein and another for the SDLP.

I saw no evidence of Ministers jumping from the front benches to the back benches to challenge Caitriona Ruane on her statement, which by any reading of the Ministerial Code was well out of order (her statement being both cross-cutting as well as signigficant). But on an issue as important to the community as education, and the post primary aspect of it in particular, how can it be that Ministers in a government only hear about this either on radio or receive an e-mail a few minutes before the statement is delivered, yet Sammy Wilson can thank the Minister for Education for advance notice?

I have asked for and will receive in the next couple of days an answer from OFMDFM as to whether the Education Minister acted in a manner that breached the Ministerial Code. I believe she has.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone and former serving member of Ulster Defence Regiment, Tom Elliott MLA has welcomed the announcement that a new welfare services worth £2m a year service to help them deal with the legacy of the Troubles.

Tom said: “This is part of the commitment made by Government as far back as 2006 when as part of the redundancy that a welfare package should be established to help full and part time RIR members resettle, retrain and find new employment and help adjust to a civilian life.

Through all the dark days of the troubles the men and women of the UDR and the RIR Home Service, supported by their families, protected our society from those who sought to impose their will through the ways of terror. Many of these soldiers lived in remote border areas and had to remain vigilant 24 hours everyday, just to survive from an ever present threat from terrorists

One of the key elements of the disbandment programme is an after care system that will be available to some 60,000 men and women who served in the UDR and RIR , as well as their families who for many years felt as if their contribution and sacrifices were forgotten. Today our thoughts and prayers are especially with the families and comrades of the 274 serving and former UDR and RIR Home Service personnel who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our society. I feel so often that our Government fail to recognise the huge contribution that our armed forces give throughout the world, whether in Northern Ireland, Iraq or Afghanistan and it is only fitting after all these years that we now have in place a package which can assist former soldiers to treat them and their families with fairness and dignity.”

Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA, Ulster Unionist Health Spokesman, today called for a major pensions review after it was revealed pensioners were better off in 1950 than they are today.

The North Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA said :

“Office of National Statistics figures show that pensioners today receive only 15.9% of average earnings compared to 18.36% in 1950. This is a shocking state of affairs and reflects a general neglect by government of the rights of older people.”

“The government are trying to make out that these figures do not take account of private savings schemes by older people. That might be true but what have people’s private savings to do with the government? That argument cannot be used to let the government off the hook over their responsibilities.”

“In the last 50 years pensions were at their highest in 1975-85 when they were worth between 22% and 24% of the national average wage. Last year the average wage had climbed to £549.80 but the pension was just £87.30. Parliamentary answers also show an increase in the number of the poorest pensioners to 460,000 across the UK which is up 10,000 in just one year and stands at virtually the same level as ten years ago when Labour came to power.”

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has backed a Stormont motion calling on Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to introduce a health and social services reform Bill as a matter of urgency.

Dr Coulter, who is also UUP Health Spokesman, added: “Anyone looking at the monolith of the Health Service will agree that reform is necessary. The Ulster Unionist Party has called for this kind of reform for quite some time.

“My question is: what kind of single health authority do we want? The proposal is for a health and social services authority that will replace the four health boards. Such an organisation has been asked for, through legislation, for some time. It would have an annual budget of £140 million and 1,800 staff.

“People should look at that proposal and see it for what it is: a glorified quango. I am sure that those who propose the motion do not wish to advance “quangoland” in Northern Ireland any further. We have far too many quangos, and we do not want a super-quango that will drain £140 million from the health budget every year and carry a burden of 1,800 staff.

“The Royal College of Nursing has supported Minister McGimpsey’s stance and believes that the Direct Rule proposals now being adopted by the DUP are flawed because they fail to provide for accountability. The health and social services super-quango is to have 11 senior executives on salaries that will be well in excess of £100,000.

“The monstrous and unaccountable health and social services authority was the creature of Direct Rule Ministers. Why is the DUP adopting this further drain on the Health Service budget?

“The recent draft Programme for Government made us all sit up and ask where we had heard it all before. An Ulster Unionist Minister is crying for more money for the Health Service; but what was presented as new was an amalgam of Bills generated by the Civil Service machine under Direct Rule Ministers and rehashed and represented to us.

“In other spheres, a sensible solution would be called for. The one thing that I am afraid of is that, under political pressure, and because he belongs to one particular party, the Health Minister would bring forward something not carefully thought through.

“I think back many years, to the time when we looked for a new hospital in Ballymena. Under political pressure, the location of the new hospital was changed from Ballymena and it was built in Antrim. We were told that that was the right hospital in the right place.

“Looking back over the past few years, some may have commented that it would have been better had time been taken to think the project through properly, in which case the hospital would not have been located in Antrim, but in or near Ballymena, where it would have better served the area to the north-east of our Province.

“The trade union UNISON has said that that model, which some are attempting to rush through the Assembly, was in direct contradiction to the structures-and-reform model that was developed locally in the Hayes Report, and the RPA process.

“UNISON went further, and stated that the draft Order was established without specific consultation or an equality assessment, and replicated the dysfunctional elements of English Health Service delivery, including the purchaser/provider split, and the retention of the trust model.

“Unionists correctly said that they believed that legislation should be drafted in response to the consult­ation and introduced as an Act of the Assembly for consideration in the Chamber, and by the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, as per the normal legislative process.

“The Health Service is not a toy to be played with among political parties; it is for the patients, whom we should put first, rather than our political ideals,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.