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South Belfast UUP MLA Michael McGimpsey today said that the current negotiations were turning into a farce and that government needed to copper-fasten a guarantee on excluding those not committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means to help unlock the deadlock.

The UUP MLA said that the government was refusing to face up to the quandary they are in.

In a statement Mr McGimpsey said,

“Nobody should be surprised by the events of last Monday. What happened was entirely predictable. No Unionist politician would have dreamt of accepting the Adams proposal. There is the quandary the Governments need to get their heads around – There is no support within Unionism for a power sharing government that includes Sinn Fein for now.

This is the settled view and it has been settled for a number of years. Why is this the case? Unionists have been disappointed by Republicans on three occasions and are not currently prepared to accept another government foisted settlement. They took a chance on the Agreement as a way of testing bona-fides. Unionists on three separate occasions delivered what government wanted which was a devolved executive. On each occasion the IRA moved to destroy the executive and on three occasions the government was not prepared to defend the executive. Tony Blair continually ran away from the IRA

As a result, an entire swathe of public opinion is understandably dis-believing. Unionists are pro-devolution and want to see local control over local affairs, but if this means Sinn Fein in government without safeguards then devolution will be rejected in the short to medium term.

Unionists need a copper fastened guarantee and an unalterable statement by government that if the executive is set up and the IRA move again to destroy it, those who are not committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic means will be excluded from any Executive until they are deemed fit for government. The rest of us could get then get on with the job of making Northern Ireland work and tackling the hard policy choices in front of us. Without the constant stalling of devolution.

This guarantee would also help alleviate genuine grass-roots unionist concerns. The government must focus on Republicans.”

Ulster Unionist South Belfast assembly member, Michael McGimpsey, has voiced his concerns over the “unilateral decision” by school governors to close Balmoral High School.

In a statement, Mr McGimpsey said: “As I understand it, the board of governors at Balmoral High School have proposed unilaterally to close the school next year.

“I am absolutely amazed by this decision. It seems that neither the Department of Education nor the BELB were involved or even informed in the run up to the governors’ meeting.

“How can the board make such a decision through a flawed process? There are many questions that demand answers – and I have arranged a meeting with the headmaster to discuss this issue further. I will want to know for example, were all the governors present at the board meeting; and was the matter on the agenda?”

He added: “Following its decision, teachers were informed and told to send letters home with children. Is that really the best way to communicate the board’s intentions? A lack of consideration for the needs of both children and parents permeates this whole episode.

“In my view this is no way to treat children, and no way to treat parents who are understandably outraged at this development.

“A lot of stressed out parents have been in contact with my constituency office, and with my council colleague Bob Stoker, voicing their upset at the closure proposals and wanting to know: what will happen to pupils; why was there no consultation; why are parents and pupils being treated as an afterthought in this way?

“The pathway to employment is education. It’s just too important to treat in such a cavalier fashion.”

The upward trend in houses of multiple occupancy is “smothering communities in the south of the city” and pushing house prices beyond the average family’s budget, according to UUP South Belfast MLA Michael McGimpsey.

In a statement, the South Belfast MLA said: “We need to look at this issue again. The spread of HMOs is a cancer that’s spreading through inner city south Belfast and there appears to be no long-term solution to address it.

“Assuming the Belfast Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Subject Plan, which is due for publication next month, comes back with appropriate controls, I would call for a Ministerial statement pledging to immediately adopt it as policy.”

The Housing Executive’s recent ‘South Belfast Housing Study’ found that:

* the most recent figures suggest that there are more than 10,000 HMOs in Northern Ireland, half of which [4,806 properties] are in South Belfast alone

* in South Belfast, traditionally the least affordable area of Belfast, the affordability gap has increased year on year to such an extent that only 4% of dwellings were affordable to a household with a median income in 2004

* co-ownership has had little impact on South Belfast as the price limits are too low for the vast majority of properties on the market

* first-time buyers have been excluded from most South Belfast markets, accounting for less than 10% of total transactions according to estate agents.

Mr McGimpsey added: “I have secured a meeting with the Planning Minister for the beginning of June in order to raise my concerns.

“Government recently looked at rural planning laws. Yet loopholes continue to remain over inner city development – why should that be treated any differently? The planning department is seemingly incapable of dealing with the issue. New thinking has to be brought to the deal with the spread of HMOs in South Belfast.”

Ulster Unionist’s have slammed a Chicago Community Group, ‘The Committee Chicago Irish Against Sectarianism’, after they tried to thwart the visit of the Irish Football Association and Northern Ireland team at the grounds of Chicago Gaelic Park.

The IFA, who are currently on their American tour, are set visit the grounds for a reception, with speculation that they might use the facilities to train in preparation of their match against Romania this Friday, but received a less than lukewarm welcome from a ‘committee’ who described the IFA as ‘an organization with translucent sectarian persuasions, and blatant unilateral partisan ties’.

The committee, said they felt both ‘betrayed and angered’ by the prospect of the IFA using the Gaelic grounds for practice, despite the IFA having no intention to do so. The committee go on to condemn the IFA as a ‘polarizing political organization’ who ‘chose not to act in a manner consistent with protecting their charge, and renouncing acts of sectarian aggression’ and refer to the ‘IFA’s indifference to the sectarian subtext underlying their organization’.

Former Sports Minister and UUP MLA for South Belfast Michael McGimpsey said:

“The comments made by this group are utterly appalling and any supporter or associate of The Committee Chicago Irish Against Sectarianism should hang their heads in shame. The IFA is the fourth oldest football association in the world with a fine sporting tradition, who uphold a zero tolerance approach to bigotry of any kind.

“The IFA’s track record in tackling sectarianism has been an excellent example for society. The IFA have embarked on a long list of campaigns, including such initiatives as Sports For All, Show Bigotry the Red Card and Kick Racism out of Football. If The Committee Chicago Irish Against Sectarianism would have completed any valid research at all instead of firing some cheap, unsubstantiated shots, they would better appreciate the IFA’s commitment to tackling this wide spread problem”.

Mr McGimspey continued:

“At the end of the day these views are certainly not representative of the Chicago Irish community, reflected in the fact that the Chicago Gaelic Park Board of Directors voted to invite the IFA to a reception, recognizing the IFA’s policy which ‘condemns all things sectarian’.

“I anticipate that the Gaelic board is not prepared to be blackmailed by a bunch of bigots who were nakedly flaunting their sectarian agenda, whose mentality is reminiscent of those who historically armed and supplied the IRA”.

Mr McGimpsey’s colleague, West Tyrone UUP MLA Derek Hussey added:

“I was absolutely amazed at the bigoted diatribe which has emanated from the Chicago Irish Against Sectarianism Group, who has vilified the Irish FA and the Northern Ireland football team by their naked hatred.

“I read in disbelief the pure bigotry which flowed freely when speculation arose that Northern Ireland may use the training facilities in preparation for friendly match against Romania this Friday, as well as being invited to a reception to be hosted at the same venue. The name of this group ‘Against Sectarianism’ certainly belies their title with their free flowing blatant sectarianism.”

Senior Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey has voiced his dismay over media coverage of the hunger strikes and has said that the victims of the IRA should be uppermost when considering this period in Northern Ireland’s history.

In a statement, the South Belfast MLA said:

“There is a fine line between reporting and glorifying this event. In some instances this line has been crossed.

“You can’t refer to the hunger strikes without referring to the victims.

“The hunger strike was a moment in history which saw a massive increase in violence. Republicans killed nearly 60% of the total number of people who died during the Troubles. The IRA killed more Catholics than did the UDA, and killed more Catholics than did the UVF. We must put the hunger strikes into context.

“To try and report this as some sort of standalone event rather than what it was – a key element of a terrorist campaign – is close to validation of what was done by republicans. The IRA never displayed more ruthlessness than when it devised this evil stratagem.

“The hunger strikers ended their lives through their own choice – their victims had no such choice.“

He added: “The hunger strikes were a tragedy for the people of Northern Ireland – if it had never happened we would all have been much better off and shame on anyone who would attempt to glorify it.

“The victims of the IRA must come first and the damage this organisation caused cannot be forgotten.”

UUP South Belfast MLA Michael McGimpsey today asked the DUP Chairman of the Maze panel how an annual commemorative site for the hunger strikers could be allowed on the same site as a proposed national stadium.

Mr McGimpsey had been warning that the site of the hospital was being earmarked as a ‘shrine’ by Republicans and recent news points to the fact that the site will be allowed to be used for commemorative purposes.

In a statement Mr McGimpsey said,

“It is ludicrous that on the same site as a national stadium there can be a shrine to the Hunger Strikers. I had warned that Republicans were keen to secure a part of the maze where they could glorify, validate and attempt to vindicate the actions of the IRA . Now it seems they have got their wish.

The DUP’s Edwin Poots is the current Chairman of the Maze Panel and the most obvious question is how he, and indeed the sitting MP for Lagan Valley, have allowed this to take place?”

UUP South Belfast MLA Michael McGimpsey said decision time was approaching for Unionists in the coming weeks.

In a statement Mr McGimpsey said,

“The Assembly as it is to be reconstituted is toothless as an institution. The UUP is adamant that it should not become a talking shop.

While a talking shop may suit the DUP in putting off tough decisions, we will not be endorsing this approach as anything other than a short term measure.

What is on offer to Unionists represents a very real dilemma. We can see the continuation of Direct Rule where decisions are being taken against the will of the people on issues such as education, water charges and rates and where, should we fail to reach agreement, the threat of joint authority hangs over us.

The DUP need to wake up and smell the coffee, the prevarication and failure to face down Sinn Fein means, in plain English, that the London Ministers will continue to sell the country out from under us. Look at the Review of Public Administration for example, it gives Sinn Fein effective power over half of Northern Ireland.

The shadow boxing needs to stop. Things are getting far too cosy for the Direct Rule Ministers. They need to be brought to account out and Unionism as a whole needs to be exerting some much needed influence in Northern Ireland.”

South Belfast UUP MLA Michael McGimpsey said the expected government announcement of a £30 Million package for Loyalist areas was a drop in the ocean.

Mr McGimpsey said that in the Village area of South Belfast alone there were 1300 unfit houses. The costs to redevelop this area have been calculated at £180 Million. He added that Angela Smith’s plans to cut back drastically on the Belfast and Education Library Board’s funds coupled with the fact that over 70% of schools in Belfast were over 50 years old and in need of rebuilding pointed to a topsy-turvy approach in tackling one of the biggest problems affecting loyalist areas.

In a statement Mr McGimpsey said,

“While any government package to alleviate some of the problems endured in loyalist areas is a welcome development, I have to say that the speculated amount of £30 Million is only a drop in the ocean. In the Village area of South Belfast there are 1300 unfit houses. The costs to redevelop this area has been calculated at £180 Million alone.

£30 Million would not begin to deal with the levels of neglect that have been allowed to develop in these areas.

A major part in any initiative designed to tackle problems in loyalist areas must be to address the chronic gaps in educational standards and qualification attainment. While government talks up education, their Minister in Northern Ireland, Angela Smith, is hell-bent on making cuts in spending for the Belfast Education and Library Board.

This is completely at odds with the need on the ground. In Belfast most of the schools are over 50 years old and in urgent need of rebuilding. Making swingeing cuts to education when raising educational standards has been highlighted as a top priority in tackling disadvantage in loyalist areas points to a topsy-turvy approach by government.

It is clear that the overall package will fall well short of what is required.”

Senior Ulster Unionist and former Sports Minister, Michael McGimpsey MLA, today criticised Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern over his ill-informed criticism of Irish Football Association procedures.

“Football is a cross-community sport here and the Northern Ireland team is supported right across the community in Northern Ireland. It is most regrettable that Dermot Ahern has sought to politicise it in this way.”

UUP MLA for South Belfast Michael McGimpsey today said the Irish Government were making the most of direct rule and pushing ahead with the promotion of cross-border activities.

This new beginning by Dublin proves conclusively that claims by other unionists that they are setting the political agenda are groundless.”