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Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader, Danny Kennedy, has welcomed the admission today by Ian Paisley during First and Deputy First Minister’s Question Time that the Office is a joint one, with Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness fully co-operating in all their decisions.

Mr Kennedy said: “First Minister Paisley’s answer is to be welcomed - that the OFMDFM arrangements agreed between the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP during the first period of devolution will and are now being carried on by the DUP and Sinn Fein. Admittedly many of us who experienced DUP insults for working with the SDLP in OFMDFM are somewhat surprised at the enthusiasm shown by Ian Paisley for working with Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness. However it is now clear to see that Ian Paisley and the DUP have fully accepted the institutions of the Belfast Agreement – and have, in fact, intensified them through a close working relationship with Martin McGuinness in OFMDFM.

“Continually throughout today’s Question Time, the First Minister stated that he was answering questions on behalf of himself and Martin McGuinness in their joint office of First and Deputy First Minister. This being so, many within Northern Ireland will be asking what exactly was the purpose behind the DUP’s destructive and divisive campaigns of recent years.

“It does, of course, remain to be seen if the close working relationship between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness will deliver for all of us in Northern Ireland. This underlines the crucial importance of the Assembly and its Committees carefully scrutinising the DUP-Sinn Fein led Executive and holding it to account.”

Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader, and Chair of the OFMDFM Committee, Danny Kennedy, has said that comments made by Senator Maurice Hayes at the University of Ulster’s Tip O’Neill Lecture last night are a welcome contribution to the ongoing debate.

In a statement, the Newry & Armagh MLA said: “I very much agree with the courageous assertion made by Dr Hayes – who honestly pointed out the huge cost to the taxpayer of the Savile Inquiry – that it is very unlikely that the outcome would receive widespread acceptance or resolve all the controversies.

“Senator Hayes has made an important contribution to the debate as to how we as a society move forward together. Indeed, this is an issue that my committee plans to focus on after the recess in the early autumn.

“This is a debate that must be conducted with the utmost sensitivity. As Senator Hayes stated it is in everyone’s interests that we encourage mutual trust and ensure that we build a future based on peaceful co-operation.

“I trust that the OFMDFM Committee can play its role in creating a positive and constructive environment so that the fullest and broadest exchange of views can occur.”

Ulster Unionist Newry & Armagh MLA, and Chair of the Committee of the Centre, Danny Kennedy, has described recent comments by OFMDFM Junior Minister Ian Paisley Jnr to Hot Press Magazine as “ill-judged and unwise”.

He emphasised that great care should be taken when personal views are being expressed, given the responsibilities of public office and service to the entire community.

Mr Kennedy said: “It is highly regrettable that one of the Junior Ministers in OFMDFM has spoken in a manner which undermines the dignity of his Office and appears to suggest that he is less than committed to treating all citizens equally and fairly. The reported comments would not be acceptable anywhere in mainstream British political life.”

He continued: “All of us in public office have a right to hold views on the basis of conscience and religious convictions, but we also have a duty to promote equality and fairness for all. The Junior Minister should urgently rectify the situation and in future ensure that he speaks in a manner which does not discredit his Office, the devolved institutions or Northern Ireland.”

Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader and Member of the Executive Review Committee, Danny Kennedy, today said premature speculation about the demise of departments to make way for a Department of Policing and Justice was “unwise, unhelpful and unsettling to officials employed in the departments”.

Mr Kennedy also stated that it remained the UUP’s view that devolving Policing and Justice Powers by next May was premature and the public was not ready for such a move.

In a statement Mr Kennedy said,

“The Committee met yesterday and will be looking at making room for an eventual department of policing and justice. The UUP remains to be convinced that devolving policing and justice should happen by May 2008. We feel it is very premature and public confidence is not high enough to permit such a move.

Any move carries with it an adjustment to the current departments. The Committee will no doubt be looking at a number of significant options, some of these include DCAL and the DOE which is finding much of its remit being devolved to local councils. Both of these departments also have relatively small budgets when compared to other departments. The Committee might also consider the amalgamation of the DFP into OFMDFM. All of these options, and indeed others, will be considered in due course.

Nothing has been set in stone as yet. There is by no means any fait accompli. This is why speculation from unnamed sources surrounding departments is unwise, unhelpful and unsettling to officials within those departments.”

Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy has voiced his hope that the new Southern Health and Social Care Trust will hit the ground running and “bring about many opportunities to work more efficiently”.

Mr Kennedy was speaking at a reception for Southern Health and Social Care Trust at Parliament buildings on Monday afternoon. This introductory event was attended by MLAs from across all political parties and was designed to raise awareness of the work of the new trust.

In a statement, the Newry & Armagh MLA, who sponsored the event, said: “We are all familiar with the unprecedented change which is currently underway in health and social services as a result of the Review of Public Administration. Inevitably this will bring about many opportunities to work more efficiently but will also present new challenges to overcome.

“The UUP’s new Minister for Health, Michael McGimpsey, has taken on this portfolio and is well aware of the demands as well as the exciting times ahead.”

He added: “The new senior team in the Southern Trust has stressed they will operate an open-door policy to facilitate what is hoped will be the beginning of good working relationships. This is to be welcomed. I look forward to working with the trust toward ensuring a more efficient and effective service is delivered within the area.”

At the reception, Health Department Permanent Secretary Dr Andrew McCormick outlined his views on priority areas. Chairman of the Southern Trust Anne Balmer and Chief Executive Colm Donaghy also highlighted challenges and developments specific to the Southern Trust.

UUP Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy today said the DUP position about Martina Anderson being on the Policing Board was stomach churning.

Mr Kennedy said with Ian Paisley having a former IRA commander as his Deputy First Minister and having to nominate and sign papers to enable Brighton bomber Gerry Kelly to be a Junior Minister in his department, the cries of foul over Martina Anderson were ludicrous.

In a statement Mr Kennedy said,

DUP outrage at Martina Anderson’s appointment to the Policing Board is stomach churning. The fundamental weakness in their opposition to these appointments is that in just over 2 weeks time Ian Paisley will have a former IRA Commander as his Deputy First Minister and will have to sign and appoint Gerry Kelly as a Junior Minister in his own Department.

You can’t have it both ways by playing to the gallery and feigning mock outrage at Sinn Fein appointments to the Policing Board or Parades Commission Review Team while accepting Sinn Fein figures with strong IRA connections to Ministerial positions at the heart of government.

We all want to move on and make the Executive and Assembly a success and working for everyone in Northern Ireland, but we can do without this kind of stomach churning hypocrisy from the DUP. It is transparently obvious to everyone that their position on this matter is ludicrous.”

Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy has voiced his dismay over the DUP’s disdainful condemnation of democratic accountability in Stormont.

Following on from comments made today by the DUP which touched upon the National Stadium, incoming Committee of the Centre chair, Danny Kennedy, said: “The merest whiff of power has clearly made the DUP delirious.

“I spoke of democratic accountability, and effective scrutiny and oversight of major matters of public interest. But this has been labelled ‘pathetic’ by the DUP.

“I, and a great many people, will want to explore issues like the National Stadium more fully. Especially when a Sinn Fein representative has stated that both the stadium and the preserved prison buildings projects are joined at the hip and must proceed simultaneously.

“Of course things can get rushed through a lot faster if decisions are predetermined. So maybe scrutiny is somewhat inconvenient to the DUP, but I think a full examination is reasonable in this instance.”

He added: “My desire to deliver oversight and accountability has everything to do with being a democrat. It’s what people expect of responsible legislators. Why does this so unnerve the DUP?

“Government is there to serve the people of Northern Ireland, not the needs of the Democratic Unionist Party.

“If DUP representatives get so confused over the nature of what’s ‘democratic’, why did they put it in the name above their shopfront door? They ought to be more familiar with the concept.”

Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader, and chairman of the powerful Committee of the Centre, Danny Kennedy, has warned that the decision over the location of the National Stadium cannot be rushed.

In a statement, Mr Kennedy said: “Ian Paisley Jnr wants to rush this controversial issue and perhaps spare his colleague at DCAL a difficult bedding in period.

“But hastily made decisions are potentially reckless decisions. So while a quick result on the stadium benefits the Democratic Unionist Party, it doesn’t benefit Northern Ireland as a whole.

“Committees are there to ensure proper oversight on departments and on major issues of public interest. As chairman of the Committee of the Centre, I intend to examine all aspects of this proposal.

“Tens of millions of pounds from the public purse are at stake. There can be no question of rushing through any plan of this nature.

“The DUP may be more interested in addressing their own internal party concerns on this controversial matter. But the concerns of the community, of football supporters, and of sporting organisations take precedence.”

Ulster Unionist Newry & Armagh assembly member, Danny Kennedy, has strongly condemned those behind attacks on police and ambulance service personnel at the scene of the helicopter crash in Crossmaglen.

In a statement, Mr Kennedy said: “There is simply no excuse for any member of the emergency services to come under attack at any time. In this instance, police were acting for the public good by safely preserving the crash site.

“I also understand that ambulance crews were similarly targeted by stone-throwers. It is completely unacceptable for ambulance crews to be harassed in this way.

“Those behind these attacks, who were engaging in mindless, destructive behaviour, have nothing to offer the people of Northern Ireland.”

He added: “Regrettably there is considerable difference between resolutions passed at the Sinn Fein ard fheis and practical support for law and order on the ground in republican areas. Clearly much progress remains to be made.

“I would wish those injured in the crash a full and speedy recovery. I would also urge anyone with information on the subsequent violent attacks to contact police. The emergency services do a vitally important and difficult job. That job must not be made more difficult by the actions of an idiotic minority.”

Responding to comments made by DUP President James McClure in which he called the UUP a spent force, UUP Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy said,

“The DUP can keep wishing that the Ulster Unionist Party would disappear but Mr Clure would do well to remember that his Party spent many years as the second largest Unionist Party.

During those years he never wrote his party off nor suggested they were a spent force.

With 18 seats and a potential 2 ministerial positions, the Ulster Unionist Party is very far from being a spent force.  We remain, and intend to build upon, our position as a significant force in Northern Ireland politics.

Our commitment to devolution and a functioning Executive has been made clear in the election campaign. We respect the decision of the electorate who want to see the outworking of the last stages of negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Fein. The ‘battle a day’ scenario that parties at opposite ends of the political spectrum offer is, however, likely to further alienate a vast swathe of the general public.

Mr McClure’s time would be better spent on tackling the real concerns of the majority of people in Northern Ireland rather than blowing his own trumpet.

The Ulster Unionist Party will be holding the DUP to account in the weeks and months ahead so Mr McClure and his party colleagues needn’t rest on their laurels just yet.”