uuptoday.org

After meeting with Orange Order Leaders last week on the on-going campaign against Orange Halls and following attacks on Friday evening and Sunday morning, Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey today called for Security Minister Paul Goggins to hold a ‘summit’ meeting with the Police with a view to tackling the escalating problem.

Sir Reg said the government has been too complacent in their approach to the attacks. In a statement Sir Reg said,

‘I met with Orange Order Leaders last week to discuss the ongoing campaign against halls owned and operated by the Loyal Orders. Following this meeting, at which compelling evidence of a ‘campaign’ was produced, I wrote to both the Secretary of State and the Chief Constable.

It is now clear that what has been happening, especially this year, constitutes a deliberate and orchestrated campaign, whose motivation is blatantly sectarian. No other explanation is credible. Despite this evidence, the Loyal Orders face obstacles in obtaining compensation for these attacks. I have called on Shaun Woodward to change the law immediately to make it easier for claims to be paid for this destruction. So far the NIO has taken no action.’

I also called on the chief constable to take a more sympathetic approach to issuing Chief Constable’s certificates, which are essential if compensation is to be forthcoming.

The events over the weekend illustrate that there are still those out there who still feel that they can cause trouble and hope to provoke retaliation. There is far too much complacency about the government’s response to this ongoing threat to stability. That is why I am issuing a call for Security Minister Paul Goggins to call a summit meeting with the Police and the Orange Order to effectively tackle this problem which has the potential to destabilise communities in Northern Ireland.

It’s time for action by the PSNI and the NIO to bring this campaign to an end.”

Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA, the Ulster Unionist North Antrim Assemblyman, has called on the Prime Minister to lift his ban on a Government £725 million bail-out plan for pensioners who lost out when their employers went bust.

“It is widely known that Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain has set this money aside in his departmental budget to pay for this bail-out plan. Blocking a scheme which the relevant Minister has already planned to fund, is a Scrooge-like thing to do in the mouth of Christmas. It only goes to confirm the Prime Minister’s reputation as what the Americans call a tight-wad.”

“Apparently work on this project is well advanced with both a £725 million package and a scaled-down £350 million package under consideration. It is terrible that the Prime Minister should pull the plug on this at this late stage. It sends out a terrible message to pensioners who were unfortunate enough to find themselves in this position through no fault of their own. It will be a pretty miserable Christmas for many of them.”

“The tight fistedness of the Prime Minister is legendary. It is also very short-sighted. His meanness is also hampering the work of our own Ministers in the Executive who have been denied the peace package on a scale they might reasonably have expected after the remarkable achievement of making peace in Northern Ireland. It takes no account of the disgraceful under-investment in our infrastructure by direct rule Ministers over thirty five years and in the way European Union funds were retained at Westminster.”

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 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, 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.

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey today called on the First and Deputy First Ministers to convene a meeting of Party Leaders to discuss the critical issues of the forthcoming economic conference, the Budget/Programme for government, and operation of the Executive. Sir Reg said only a united front would maximise potential investment. In a statement Sir Reg said,

“Northern Ireland has a window of opportunity lasting for the next six months, to secure meaningful investment from US based companies. After the Economic Conference in May 2008, US attention will switch to the Presidential election next November and the economic consequences for the US domestic economy. The Ulster Unionist Party wants the economic conference to succeed and deliver real and tangible investment. My own Department of Employment and Learning will be central to help deliver the skilled personnel investors will need, so I have every reason to work for a successful outcome.

This atmosphere will not come about naturally however, as recent events have demonstrated. The Executive must be a real coalition between parties and not just a collection of individuals there as of right. If some parties resort to riding roughshod over other parties then it is not a proper coalition in any meaningful sense of the word. Leaving aside the row over Margaret Ritchie’s decisions on the CTI money, the developments of last week, when Sinn Fein decided to ignore the Executive and press ahead with a statement on education from Caitriona Ruane, 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.

The next few months may well be the last chance for Northern Ireland to achieve the economic kick start that we so obviously need, given that the so called economic package from London has failed to materialise. While we await the outcome of the Varney Report and the outworking of the EU taskforce on Northern Ireland, it seems to me that the spring economic conference takes on even more importance.

I repeat my call to the First and Deputy First Ministers to start a process of consolidating the Assembly by convening a meeting of the Party Leaders to discuss the critical issues of the economic conference, the Budget/Programme for government, and operation of the Executive.

The presentation of a ‘united front’ by the Assembly next spring would be an excellent background against which to attract and persuade potential investors that Northern Ireland really does have the skills and business friendly environment to maximise their investment.”

Iris Robinsons recent outburst concerning our much loved, highly respected and extremely hard working health professionals really does provide conclusive proof of just how arrogant she has become. We should all be looking for efficiencies within the management of our NHS infrastructure but to lecture some of the most dedicated vocationalists in our province and tell them that they are inefficient compared to their colleagues in Great Britain is down right insulting and this point has been made to me when I have been out and about in the days since her comments were made.

Does she really dislike her husbands ministerial colleague that much to show such arrogant contempt for the magnificent people that have helped us all over the years of the troubles and beyond without fear or favour regardless of our political or religious beliefs? It was also nice to hear Iris quoting from our recent Party Election Broadcast with regards to our pledge to represent the people of Northern Ireland and form an executive after the election.

This was at the same time that many within Mrs Robinsons party were still conning the electorate with visions of “Over My Dead Body” or the liberal wing saying “When they disband the IRA Army Council”. Once again the UUP led the way and the DUP followed, which we all new they would, they just did not have the nerve to tell the people prior to the election. We will be operating an opposition from within the Executive which as Peter Robinson reminded us during the last period of Devolution is our right when the interests of our people is to do so.

We will be holding Sinn Fein/DUP to account when they short change our Health Service or fail to get the balance right between much needed economic provision and equally important social needs. We have not gone away you know, and for Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom sake, I hope we never do.

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 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.”