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Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has said he hopes that the First and Deputy First Minister’s trip this week to the USA is more successful than the duos dealings so far with Europe or with the Prime Minister over securing a financial package for Northern Ireland.

Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,

“The First and Deputy First Minister’s visit to the US is to be welcomed but my only hope is that more is achieved on this visit than been has achieved so far in their dealings with the Prime Minister on a financial package or with Europe in their efforts to deliver improved European financial support. These two areas still require the First and Deputy First Minister’s attention because as of yet they remain unresolved.

“Northern Ireland will seriously lose out on any extra European funding because the First and Deputy First Minister’s case has not been made forcefully enough by them in Brussels. They still haven’t managed to visit Brussels despite being in office for over 6 months. The financial package promised by the DUP and Sinn Fein has yet to materialise, despite strong assurances that it would. It should not be brushed under the carpet and forgotten about.”

Ulster Unionist Police Board Member Basil McCrea, speaking ahead of a Police Board meeting with the Chief Constable to discuss the implementation of a Taser pilot scheme, said that while it was right and proper to hold Policing matters to account, the Board’s function was not to tell the Chief Constable what to do as this would amount to political policing.

In a statement Mr McCrea said,

“The introduction of the Taser has raised many questions amongst board members and as Chair of the Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee i will be asking the Chief Constable questions about operational guidance and procedures for deployment of the Taser units, the procurement process and what training will take place.

In addition we want the ground rules for use firmly established and call on Taser use to be justified where the officer honestly and reasonably believes that it is immediately necessary in order to prevent a real risk of death and serious injury.

These are sensible questions to be raising. What we cannot and must not do, particularly from quarters whom have called for an end to perceived political policing, is interfere or seek to make political decisions for the PSNI. My own personal view is that the Chief Constable’s operational independence must be safeguarded at all costs and at all times.”

Ulster Unionist Finance spokesman and East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs today called on the DUP to acknowledge that they have not delivered a Billion £ peace dividend for Northern Ireland nor have they secured a meaningful fiscal package following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday night that he will not cut the corporation tax to 12.5% in Northern Ireland to stimulate growth in the economy. In a statement Mr Beggs said,

“First the people of Northern Ireland were promised a £1Billion package from Ian Paisley as a pre-condition to devolution. When this was not delivered the DUP smoke and mirrors department shifted to securing a fiscal package with a reduction in corporation tax as a central plank.

The Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday that he will not cut Corporation Tax to 12.5% has nailed yet another false promise from the DUP.

I am calling on the DUP to acknowledge that not only have they failed to deliver on both a financial package and a decent fiscal package, but the problems being faced by all departments in the draft budget have been exacerbated and aggravated by this building up of false expectation.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has highlighted his support to the 2007 Christmas Family Appeal, run by The Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul which aims to provide gifts to over 12,000 children across Northern Ireland.

Tom said: “I have seen at first hand the difference this appeal can make and it really makes a world of difference to so many families throughout Northern Ireland. It is a cruel fact that without this appeal many children would receive very little at Christmas. At a time whenever those more fortunate are rushing around buying family and friends presents, spare a thought for the many children who will receive nothing! By simply buying an extra present and leaving at one of the many collection points ( all Tesco & Asda stores ) before Wednesday 13 December 2007, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have made a difference in some home in Northern Ireland.

It is a sad fact that there is an increasing number of families in Northern Ireland that have no money for the basic necessities and as Christmas approaches life becomes even more stressful as they want to give their children the gifts they deserve but don’t have the means by which to do it. If any family feel they could benefit from the Family Appeal contact your local social worker or health visitor or The Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul for an application form which must be returned by Friday 7 December 2007. The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul and all the many volunteers deserve great praise for their efforts throughout the year but the Christmas Family Appeal in particular can make a tremendous difference for so many families across Northern Ireland and would ask the public to support this worthy cause.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has welcomed the decision by Dungannon PSNI to organise an information event at East Tyrone College, Circular Road, Dungannon at 10.00am on Thursday 6 December 2007 to promote a better understanding of road safety by foreign workers in the district.

Tom said: “There has been a rapid increase in the number of migrant workers coming to live and work in Northern Ireland and none more so than in Dungannon which has probably the highest and most diverse range of nationalities. Many of these migrant workers have many problems to face, housing, employment and language but another problem is the soaring number of accidents / offences involving foreign motorists on Northern Ireland roads.

This event will offer practical advice and help on a wide range of issues, road safety, MOT certificates, speeding, drink driving, insurance, driving licences and fixed penalty offences, interpreters will be in attendance. I would encourage as many people as possible to attend this event.

The most critical time on our roads for many migrant workers is the first few weeks after they have arrived in the UK, as they adapt to the different motoring conditions and I believe it would greatly assist migrant workers if, when they apply for a work permit that they should have the necessary information available to them on road safety / laws that operate in Northern Ireland before they arrive in the country. We have already experienced a number of foreign workers being killed on our roads and anything which can be done to reduce road fatalities should be considered. There is a worrying upward trend in the number of accidents and offences involving migrant workers in the district and the message are not reaching all the different nationalities on the importance of road safety.

After such an appalling weekend of road traffic accidents, which resulted with 6 people being killed, anything that can halt the number of deaths should be considered. The standard of driving by some of our own nationals leaves a lot to be desired and anything which can be done to assist foreign nationals aware of the importance of road safety and laws is very welcome”

Ulster Unionist Education spokesman Basil McCrea said Education Minister Catriona Ruane’s announcement today was made without Executive approval, without proper debate in the Assembly and was consequently a unilateral decision that flew in the face of DUP Manifesto commitment that:

“The DUP forced the Government to back down on its plans to scrap Academic Selection. We will ensure that pupils still can be placed at schools on the basis of aptitude and ability”, and ”The DUP made the retention of the transfer test a precondition for the return of devolution.”

In a statement Mr McCrea said,

“It is my understanding that even senior officials in the Minister’s department were not consulted on this statement, nor were her colleagues around the Executive table. This statement today is also sneakily and deceptively contrived to avoid proper debate on the floor of the Assembly.

This is no way to do business on such an important matter for the parents and children of Northern Ireland.

This announcement also puts paid to the ridiculous assertion from the DUP post St.Andrews and in their 2007 manifesto that Ministers would not be able to act unilaterally.

I pressed the Minister if any of these proposals would require cross-community support, despite repeated attempts to get a definitive answer, none was forthcoming indicating that the Minister does not consider cross-community support either necessary or desirable. So much for democratic Ministerial accountability”

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey today called on Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to disassociate himself from the IRA calendar on sale in Sinn Fein bookshops if a serious attempt was going to be made in the USA to present a united investment front.

In a statement Sir Reg said,

“While I welcome any united front of behalf of OFM/DFM to attract investment and that this visit to the United States is a curtain-raiser for the massive investment conference scheduled for the summer, I think it is important for the Deputy First Minister to send out a strong message and disassociate himself from the IRA calendar on sale in his party’s bookshops.

For a Deputy First Minister, representing all of the people of Northern Ireland and lobbying on our behalf on the benefits of a peaceful Northern Ireland for companies to invest in, it is unacceptable and a clear mixed message to be a member of a party that glorifies terrorists by selling calendars of armed gunmen in their party shop.

Martin McGuinness should call for the removal of this calendar from his party’s shops.”