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The Equality Commission has published a report into the effectiveness of the law on equality of opportunity. The UUP met recently with the Commission and expressed grave concerns at the Report’s contents.

The UUP concluded in its submission to the Commission that while it noted some positive statements in the Review relating to future developments of effectiveness measures, “its overriding conclusion is one of acute disappointment with the contents of the Commission’s Review of the law (Section 75). To know that such a Review cost £75,000 heightens the party’s disappointment. This situation represents an appalling indictment of the lack of regard given by the Commission to demonstrating whether or not the law has been effective.”

The UUP submission continued: “We fully accept that: it is not solely the responsibility of the Commission to ‘deliver’ equality of opportunity; and that it relates to much more than employment opportunity. Nevertheless the Commission should have been in no doubt as to: the significance of the law; the aspect of equality of opportunity with respect to employment; the duty and associated responsibility placed upon the Commission by law; and the clear targets that were requested by Government in early 1999 to be developed by the Commission in order to assess the impact of the law on the employment market.”

The UUP submission noted that: “The above is against a background of public authorities having made much commitment to the aspect of equality of opportunity, not least in the annual employment monitoring returns forwarded to the Commission together with three-year employment reviews. This hidden cost has not, as far as the UUP is aware, been quantified: such quantification may make for interesting reading.”

It added that “it is totally unacceptable to the UUP that the Commission has made no comment at all in this Review of effectiveness regarding labour market equality of opportunity. No amount of words could justify this silence on the part of the Commission.”

Dermot Nesbitt, UUP Rights spokesman commented on the party’s submission:

“Only last month the Secretary of State said in Parliament, concerning all the expensive public enquiries, that there is no question but that we must continue to discover the truth about the past. All the UUP asks, and it will cost little or no money, is to discover the truth about the present - concerning effectiveness measurement techniques for employment in NI? The Commission was tasked to answer this question and has completely failed. This question remains, as it has done for some time, but when is it going to be answered?”

Dermot Nesbitt indicated to the Management Committee of South Down Constituency Ulster Unionist Association last night that he would not be going forward as a candidate for the forthcoming Assembly Election. The meeting was in order to make preparations for the forthcoming election.

Dermot Nesbitt said: “It has been a privilege to have been involved in politics for the last almost 40 years from the time as election agent for the late Brian Faulkner to Reg Empey. I believe that each leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, in his own time, was and is endeavouring to do his best for Northern Ireland. As one who enjoys politics, I have indeed been fortunate to have been part of the change in political thinking over the last 40 years.”

Dermot Nesbitt continued: “I especially thank the many workers within South Down who by their efforts enabled me to participate in politics. We together, especially over the last 8 years, had many difficult moments. Politically, we were storming the beaches and taking the ‘hits’ - in the vanguard of political thinking that was so necessary in order to deliver a better future for all in Northern Ireland. Those who now presently lead unionism have an easier task because of what my party did, particularly under the leadership of David Trimble.”

“Personally, I believe that when you reach a position of knowing that it is time to step aside that you actually should take that necessary decision. The difficult bit in standing down was in telling my Management Committee last night of my decision. South Down will now select a new candidate and we will go forward championing, as always, as progressive modern unionist image. As a continuing member of South Down I shall play my part.”

Dermot Nesbitt concluded: “My one major regret is that it has taken so long for all unionism to fully accept the requirements necessary for a politically stable Northern Ireland. Indeed, those so vehemently opposed to cross-party government in the 1970s are now its champions. What a change, but what a price to unionism and Northern Ireland for this delayed conversion”.

Senior Ulster Unionist Dermot Nesbitt today rebuffed DUP MLA Mervyn Storey who claimed that the DUP was not ‘bound’ by the St Andrews Agreement.

In a statement Mr Nesbitt said,

“In the Fairmont Hotel, the governments had their rooms on the third floor, where both Ministers and officials had bedrooms converted into offices. Indeed one room was marked by the NIO ‘Systems operations room’ whatever that meant!

It was along these corridors that officials and Ministers from both governments were scampering and exchanging drafts of the final communique and probably the various side deals as well.

Certainly on the 13th October the DUP had the use of a room on this corridor, a facility not available to other parties. They were right at the heart of this deal as it was being finalised. It is therefore disingenuous in the extreme for Mr Storey to suggest that the DUP are not bound by the St. Andrews Agreement contents.

There is no backing out now for either Sinn Fein or the DUP. A week ago Sammy Wilson said that they were ‘intermeshed’, referring to the steps both parties must now take. Perhaps a better phrase would be ‘inextricably linked.’

Responding to the publication of the DUPs road map for progress today, UUP South Down MLA Dermot Nesbitt said a road map was useless when those driving couldn’t even agree on the road to take.

Mr Nesbitt was referring to Deputy Leader’s Peter Robinson’s suggestion that the DUP might be prepared to enter a mandatory /enforced D’hondt style coalition. The DUP MEP Jim Allister on the other hand and in a separate statement noted his party’s 2005 manifesto which declared that an inclusive mandatory coalition with Sinn Fein under D’hondt was out of the question and so it should remain.

In a statement Mr Nesbitt said,

“The DUP blueprint for progress amounts to little more than a stalling exercise to avoid making and taking responsible decisions in the weeks ahead. Despite announcements that they are united and moving forward as one, even at the most basic level of establishing a road map, senior DUP drivers have a different view on which road to take.

Peter Robinson states that a mandatory coalition might be accepted while Jim Allister rules it out completely. So which is the definitive DUP position?

Unionists will have little confidence on any road map when the map readers can’t even agree which direction they are willing to go in.”

Speaking at today’s plenary session in Stormont, Senior Ulster Unionist Dermot Nesbitt has called on government to play by the rules, respect the law-abiding people of Northern Ireland and stand up to Sinn Fein’s brand of “aggressive nationalism”.

The South Down MLA said that despite right-on statements from Gerry Adams about rights and equality, “the core of Sinn Fein’s policy is a form of aggressive nationalism… that has long been rejected by modern democracies”. He went on to hit out at the government for abdicating its responsibilities to the law-abiding people of Northern Ireland and called on Ministers to take Gordon Brown’s advice – and “play by the rules”.

Addressing the Chamber, Mr Nesbitt said: “During the past few months some of the key players in the up-coming talks have been lecturing people in the Middle East on how they must subscribe to international human rights law. Tony Blair said Iran should comply with international obligations: The Irish Government and Sinn Fein state that Israel must act in strict accordance with international law. Only last week in New York Gerry Adams even said that the basis for progress here was a “rights based inclusive dispensation based on equality.”

“I repeatedly challenged Sinn Fein in the Preparation for Government Committee: do you subscribe to all international standards when considering the way forward in Northern Ireland. They refused to give a clear answer.

“Reality is that Sinn Fein, on the world stage, gives the impression of being both modern and moderate. Yet the core of its policy is a form of aggressive nationalism - including non-acceptance of the institutions of the country - that has long been rejected by modern democracies.”

He added: “And what of the UK Government? Peter Hain has suggested that Sinn Fein “draw a distinction between ‘constitutional’ endorsement of the structures of policing, and support for the practical service of policing.” At one stroke the Government has abdicated, not respected, its international obligations to all law abiding people in Northern Ireland.

“The question is stark: how can Government, in the context of democratic values, expect unionism - and nationalism - to form a government with Sinn Fein when Government’s own action has undermined the conditions necessary for such a government to be formed?

“Further, how can Government, in the context of democratic values, penalise unionism - and nationalism - if it is Sinn Fein that is not fully respecting such democratic values?

“And in the context of international standards and democracy I regret very much that the carefully worded statement from Archbishop Brady of yesterday does not live up to such standards.”

Concluding he said: “I note that Gordon Brown in his speech at the labour party conference said that: ‘All in our country are to play by the rules.’ That applies as much to Government as it does to individuals.”

Dermot Nesbitt, Ulster Unionist Party Equality spokesperson, has met Bob Collins the Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission. This follows a meeting already this week that Mr Nesbitt had with the Human Rights Commission.

Both meetings are ahead of the now scheduled debate next week in the Assembly on Equality and Human rights issues.

Dermot Nesbitt said: “I met Bob Collins to press upon him the urgent need to address important concerns about equality such as recruitment procedures to the public sector. The Equality Commission has a clear responsibility to inform the public on these matters and in particular as to whether or not there is equality of opportunity. Having sat through the Assembly’s Preparation for Government Committee on Equality issues, it is clear that Unionists and Nationalists have different perspectives on equality and this requires to be addressed and clarified.”

Mr Nesbitt continued: “I was assured at a meeting with Government in February that it would examine, with the Equality Commission, the issue of recruitment to the public sector. Yet after today’s meeting with Bob Collins I saw no evidence of delivery by Government on its commitment to examine this issue. This non-implementation is appalling - yet another broken promise by Government. It is long past time for Minister Hanson to ensure that his officials deliver on Government commitments.”

Dermot Nesbitt concluded: “The Equality Commission, like the Human Rights Commission, has a duty not to unionism but to all who live in Northern Ireland. I await with interest the outcome of my discussion with Bob Collins and I do hope he will address the concerns that we discussed. All in Northern Ireland would benefit from some clear and simple statements by the Equality Commission on the important matter as to whether or not there is fairness in employment.”

Dermot Nesbitt, UUP human rights spokesperson, met today with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The meeting, at his request, was to seek dialogue and comment from the Commission on the current political process and, in particular, the approach by Government to the forthcoming talks. This is part of a party campaign to ensure that the Government lives up to its commitments on democratic values.

Dermot Nesbitt said: “The Commission has a clear obligation to measure Government policy against international standards for the protection of human rights. I made clear that I viewed that Government was not respecting the wishes of the majority in its latest proposals for progress. This is a clear failure on the part of Government to live up to its agreed commitments.”

Dermot Nesbitt continued: “This is not an argument about unionist versus nationalist but rather to do with respect for rights and the rule of law. The UK Government is not acting in a manner consistent with its international human rights obligations. And the Government, in its keenness to get Sinn Fein back into government, is turning a blind eye to its human rights obligations by conceding to Sinn Fein demands.”

Dermot Nesbitt concluded: “The Human Rights Commission has an obligation to all in Northern Ireland to consider the behaviour of Government in the area of human rights. Its duty is not to unionism but to all who live in Northern Ireland. I await with interest the outcome of my discussions today and I do hope that the Commission will make its views known on the up-coming political talks.”

Senior Ulster Unionist Dermot Nesbitt said today that hot political topics such as rates, water charges and policing are symptomatic of a much wider problem: the British and Irish governments continual breaching of international obligations and the Belfast Agreement.

Under its international commitments, the Government is required to not undermine its commitment to international obligations, including the protection of its citizens and the provision of democratic politics in Northern Ireland.

In a statement Mr Nesbitt said,

“Like other countries in Europe and throughout the world, Northern Ireland has a minority within its boundary which identifies with a neighbouring country in terms of nationality and which aspires to incorporation within that country.  Because of this situation in so many nations, the Council of Europe agreed a convention that set an international standard to protect such minorities. The United Kingdom Government has ratified and agreed this Convention, which should ensure that international obligations, in respect of everyone in Northern Ireland, are actually met.

This Convention, while granting rights to minorities, also requires that such minorities respect both the national constitution and the legislation of the country in which they reside.  In Northern Ireland Sinn Fein refuses to give such respect in at least one vital regard - policing.  Peter Hain and the Governments are very understanding of Sinn Fein’s position. Indeed, in a keynote speech in July, Mr Hain tried to help Sinn Fein by suggesting that it should: “draw a distinction between ‘constitutional’ endorsement of the structures of policing, and support for the practical service of policing.”

In other words, he was saying that the minority, while refusing to abide by a key element of the Council of Europe’s internationally recognised convention, should nevertheless be guaranteed a place in government. At one stroke, the Government has abdicated, not respected, its international obligations by lessening the effectiveness of this important convention.

And it doesn’t stop there. On cross-border arrangements, the Belfast Agreement states that any further development of such arrangements must have the specific endorsement of the Northern Ireland Assembly.  But the two governments have announced that, if devolution were not restored, they alone would develop the structures for co-operation including a step change in advancing North-South co-operation. They are breaching a core principle or element of the Agreement.

If our own government and the Irish government are so adept at ignoring and side-stepping international and national obligations that they are bound to, is it any wonder they are happy to ride roughshod over people’s expressed dissatisfaction with rates, water charges and a host of other direct rule policies? No. They can’t even get the basics right.”

The Ulster Unionist Party repeated the challenge to Sinn Fein and the SDLP at today’s (Friday) Preparation for Government Committee to examine objectively the equality issues on employment presented to the Committee last week in a 30-page document.

Dermot Nesbitt said during the meeting that “Sinn Fein state I have a flat earth approach to equality and that Sinn Fein had issued a public statement challenging me on my sectarian comments. The SDLP has also over the years been critical on numerous occasions as to the UUP’s approach to these equality issues.”

He continued: “I made it clear at the Committee that the SDLP has gone as far, in public, as implying that I am being untruthful. These megaphone comments are unacceptable. My party is open about its position on equality – it is available on the Preparation for Government website. I invited last week these parties to engage with the UUP and still today the SDLP remains silent on this invitation. My view is simple; if they haven’t the confidence to discuss the issues then they should have the courtesy to refrain from public insult”

Dermot Nesbitt said: “We put forward the evidence for anyone to read and understand. I believe it refutes the Sinn Fein/SDLP argument about discrimination. Unionism has nothing to hide from and should be confident of its arguments.”

Dermot Nesbitt concluded: “Sinn Fein reported today that its ‘equality gurus’ are on holiday at present but will respond on their return. I do hope that their approach will be one of basing judgment on evidence and not emotion. And, on the wider human rights issue, I look to Sinn Fein abiding by international human rights norms and not, as often in the past, cheery-picking when it suits the Sinn Fein argument.”