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Upper Bann Ulster Unionist Assembly Member, George Savage MLA today, in conjunction with fellow MLA’s Danny Kennedy, David McNarry and David Burnside lodged the following motion for debate in the Assembly,

That this Assembly believes, following devolution in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, that a Royal Commission should be appointed to review the steps that need to be taken to maintain the unity of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.

Speaking from Stormont, George said,

“It has come to my attention that Government in Westminster has tasked the Minister for Justice and Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw to consult with regard to a new written constitution in the United Kingdom. This raises a number of important issues for us here in Northern Ireland and that is why in our 2007 Election Manifesto, my Party called for a Royal Commission to be appointed”.

“It is deeply concerning that at the present time, every devolved government in the United Kingdom is headed by nationalists of some sort. In Wales, Plaid Cymru are in coalition with Labour, in Scotland the SNP are the minority government and in Northern Ireland, the Executive is an uneasy coalition of the Ulster Nationalists of the DUP and the Irish Nationalists of Sinn Fein.”

“for this very reason, we want to ensure the continuance of the Union because that lies at the very core of being a Unionist and that is one of the central aims of the Ulster Unionist Party – to promote, strengthen and maintain the Union. I am concerned that this proposed codified UK Constitution will lead to the beginning of a federalized United Kingdom. I am also keen to ensure that the position of Northern Ireland, her citizens and her interests are protected within this document.”

“We, here in Northern Ireland are an integral part of the United Kingdom and this motion which I have lodged today, to all intents and purposes, is concerned with the future constitutional make up of the United Kingdom”

“I look forward to the debate in the Assembly where it will be most interesting to see and hear the viewpoints of both the Irish and perhaps more importantly and interestingly, the Ulster Nationalists.”

The Officers of the Ulster Unionist Party note with regret the death of their esteemed colleague, Lord Cooke of Islandreagh (Alec).

Alec was above all one of nature’s gentlemen, a dedicated family man who was always concerned about the welfare of others. He led a productive life, starting his career as an Engineer Officer in the Royal Navy and later served as Chairman of Henry R Ayton Ltd., the Belfast Savings Bank, Springvale EPS and Harland & Wolff of which he later became a Director. He was also Director of Northern Ireland Airports and a Senator in the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1960-68 before being appointed as Deputy Lieutenant for Country Antrim from 1970 -1996 and received an OBE in 1981.

Alec Cooke was elevated to the House of Lords as Baron Cooke of Islandreagh in 1992 where he served the Party well until his recent lengthy illness which he bore with great fortitude and was deeply respected across all sections of the community both at home and on the mainland.

The Party Leader, Officers and members of the Ulster Unionist Party extend their deepest sympathy to Lady Alison and the entire Cooke family at this sad time.

Ulster Unionist Party Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy met with IFA Chief Howard Wells today to discuss the on-going campaign to overturn a FIFA proposal that could allow people born in Northern Ireland to play for the Irish Republic team. Mr Kennedy has concerns that the proposal, if ratified, could put the very future of the Northern Ireland squad in jeopardy.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Kennedy said,

“The meeting with Mr Wells was very useful and the UUP remains fully supportive in the stand that the IFA is taking against this proposal.

It appears that the critical FIFA meeting to decide on the proposal will be on the 12th December in Japan but we are hopeful to have matters resolved with FIFA before then.

We will continue to stay in touch and we lend our full support to the IFA and have pledged to do all we can to see this proposal scrapped.”

The Ulster Unionist Party won support for an amendment to a Ministerial motion seeking to transfer ‘meaningful powers’ to Councils in the review of the RPA. Lagan Valley UUP MLA Basil McCrea led the debate for the Party.

In a statement Mr. McCrea said,

“For local government to have real significance it needs to have responsibility for meaningful functions. This is the case throughout the rest of the United Kingdom – but not in Northern Ireland. The last Executive initiated the RPA in order to restore real local democracy in Northern Ireland. It is commonsense that local voters and local councillors are best placed to make local decisions on a wide range of service delivery and planning issues.

Unfortunately the DUP Environment Minister’s review of the RPA has decided to keep power at the centre – rather than to devolve it to where it belongs, to local councils. Is it any wonder that the local government association, NILGA, has said that the Minister’s refusal to give real power to local councils “calls into question the value of reorganising councils”?

The Minister’s complacency and inertia with regards to the need to revitalise local government in this part of the United Kingdom – and her desire to keep power at the centre rather than return it to local communities – is a disappointing, if unsurprising, development. Accountable regional government at Stormont needs to be complemented by strong, robust local government – not least because local government is best placed to deliver services effectively and efficiently to local communities”.

In a speech last night on a debate following the Queen’s speech in the House of Lords, Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Rogan decried the government’s poor compensation for retired injured and currently serving soldiers and was affronted that soldiers were having to seek additional insurance, paid out of their own pockets, to ensure they and their families are properly covered.

Lord Rogan said,

“Our Armed Forces have been and continue to be a source of national pride. They remind us, and society in general, of the enduring importance of character and duty. We owe much to and indeed expect much from the men and women who voluntarily endanger life and limb for the nation’s benefit. Much has been said today about how the Government fail to reciprocate the faith which servicemen place in them, sentiments with which I wholeheartedly agree. It is to our eternal shame that we fail properly to equip, train and support our Armed Forces. Further, for the Government to break the military covenant reflects poorly on our Ministers.

There have been more than a few disturbing instances of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan being denied the means by which to fulfill their duties effectively. If that was not sufficient dereliction of duty on the Government’s behalf, it has also emerged that not only do troops feel obliged to take out private insurance to top up the meagre compensation offered by the Ministry of Defence in the event of injury or death—or even to cover the loss of kit, an affront in itself—but those insurance premiums are now expected to increase by some 160 per cent. Such fast and loose treatment of those who put themselves forward in the line of fire for our country should burn the conscience of Ministers.

At a time when our military resources are stretched and when uncertainty abounds in various theatres, it is beholden upon the Government to ensure that the Armed Forces have the manpower to undertake all that they lay at their door. This requires practical measures to underpin the service personnel’s confidence that the nation will protect their interests. At present the government is doing little to instill that confidence.”

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Sir Reg Empey today responded to comments made by Deputy First-Minister Martin McGuinness in an interview marking six months of the new power sharing executive. In a statement Sir Reg said,

“There is more to government in Northern Ireland than the egotistical cordial relationship between Martin McGuiness and the First Minister Ian Paisley. I cannot deny that the ‘chuckle brothers’ relationship has come as surprise but Mr McGuinness’ focus on personalities misses the point of why we have reservations and are critical of facets of this new administration. This administration is bigger and about much more than how cosy the relationship between the First and deputy First Minister is.

Already six months in its infancy and we are beginning to see the DUP-Sinn Fein axis at its work, attempting to stymie debate and smother any considered and well intended objections by hiding behind the Ministerial code and corporate responsibility. At its root this is profoundly undemocratic and offers not a working coalition that delivers for all in Northern Ireland but a carve up based on an incompatible Ulster Nationalist agenda as put forward by the DUP and Irish Republican Agenda being pursued by Sinn Fein.

The bottom line is not that we or the SDLP have failed to come to terms with new realities, but that the DUP and Sinn Fein have come to terms with the Institutions and architecture that ourselves and the SDLP sweated blood, sweat and tears over, then offer themselves self-congratulatory pats on the back for doing so. But this is the nature of politics and while hard to stomach, we nevertheless welcome the early stages of normal politics.

But we are not quite at the normal politics stage yet. The DUP and Sinn Fein are more interested in dividing power amongst themselves and polarising our society into DUP and Sinn Fein fiefdoms than building a shared Northern Ireland.

We want to get to the stage where the DUP-Sinn Fein hegemony can be properly and democratically dissected, debated and challenged. A politics where genuine political coalitions can be formed that move away from the tribal, divisive politics of the past that benefits only the two largest parties at Stormont. This is what the UUP is working towards and this is the new reality that both parties will have to deal with. We are not in the Executive just to make up the numbers. The DUP and Sinn Fein better get used to that fact.”

Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, Tom Elliott MLA has again called on the Government to re-examine funding issues surrounding Sinn Fein MP’s after the publication of amounts claimed by the 5 Westminster MP’s including Michelle Gildernew who claimed allowances of £138,779 in the year 2006/2007.

Tom said: “Sinn Fein are sitting in the Assembly and the Sinn Fein Ministers have taken an oath to sit in the Executive but still refuse to swear allegiance to the British monarch in Westminster but still happy to claim massive amounts of allowances. The situation is made even more ridiculous by the decision of the Dail to invite Northern Ireland MP’s to sit on its newly established committee on the implementation of Belfast Agreement.

The Dail has refused to allow Northern Ireland MP’s any right to vote or to move any motions or amendments in this Committee, so what is the point or is it a further concession to Sinn Fein. I don’t expect to see many Unionist MP’s attending this Committee and would ask that the First Minister express his disapproval to his friend, Martin McGuinness and re-affirm our commitment to the East – West framework which is the best way for respective parliaments to examine the Belfast Agreement .

At a time when we are told we must tighten our belts regarding finances, this is a further waste of money. I wonder how Bertie Ahern would react if all Unionist MP’s put their names forward with no intention of attending but lodged claims with the Southern Government for £100,000 expenses. I would expect that the money would be stopped overnight and not be like the British Government and continue to pay people for not attending Westminster.”

Responding to attacks from Sinn Fein and the DUP in the press today surrounding on-going Ulster Unionist discussions on a form of opposition, East Antrim MLA and Finance spokesman Roy Beggs said in a statement,

”Nothing stands still in politics. Ulster Unionists are pleased that the local ministers are taking local decisions. We have taken our ministerial seats and have honoured our election commitment to join the executive.

But we must always strive to improve local accountability. Ulster Unionist will be reviewing our options in light of the decisions that are made by the Executive and the behaviour of other ministers. Opposition is a real option that must be considered in the future. In addition, there is an Assembly review process underway so changes are likely to happen.

Who would have thought the DUP and Sinn Fein would be working so closely together that their leaders are commonly known as “the Chuckle Brothers”. Who would have thought that a Sinn Fein Minister would be able to regularly read out the answer to DUP supplementary answers to which he should be unaware of?

Who would have thought that an SDLP minister, disappointed with the lack of progress by the UDA in ending their illegal activity would have been subject to such abuse by the DUP?

Would it not be even healthier if the electorate had a clear choice in the future with a government and official opposition parties? It would be possible to agree new arrangements whereby the electoral could have a choice between the chuckle brothers who look after their narrow party self interests and those who are content to work together for the betterment of all of NI. With political maturity the option of voluntary coalition would be possible. I am content that at present that the UUP should remain in the executive but we must review this situation in light of the behaviour of both the DUP and SF.

We should be dealing with real political issues. For example how will the recently announced budget effect the under funding in Children’s Services within the NHS. Children services in NI are 30% under funding compared to the rest of the UK. A recent report highlighted that our local Homefirst funding for Children’s services was the lowest of any health region within NI.

Why has the funding for OFMDM continued to increase at a higher rate than health? Is it because the Chuckle Brothers Ian and Martin now control OFMDFM. Would we not be better letting all our children get a better start to life by diverting the increased funding to children’s services? That’s what real politics should be about.”

Commenting after one of the UUP’s most successful and united conferences in recent years, Sir Reg Empey said….

“Bearing in mind that we had called delegates to an EGM the previous evening, I was delighted that so many of them—along with many others—attended our annual conference the following day. I was also struck by the sheer good nature and high spirits of everyone there. The conference is an opportunity for our grassroots to get together and what I saw on the day was a grassroots which was determined to get this party back on its feet and back in business.”

There was standing room only for Sir Reg’s keynote speech and a warm and enthusiastic ovation for his commitment to “re-shape and re-fashion our great party and return it to its role as the primary voice of Unionism.”

Later in the day a packed hall welcomed Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie as guest speaker; and applauded her view that the SDLP and UUP should improve their contacts with each other.

As he left the conference after an early evening reception, Sir Reg commented….

“I think that was one of the most successful weekends that the UUP has had for a very long time. We have dedicated ourselves to the changes needed for the way ahead and proved, both to ourselves and the outside world, that we are still here and deadly serious about the role that only the UUP can play in Northern Ireland.”

Kenny Donaldson, Ulster Unionist Party Officer responsible for Youth Development has today invited our new migrants from Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe to take part in Remembrance Sunday services at cenotaphs and memorials around the country.

In a statement Mr Donaldson said that many migrants had a shared bond of sacrifice during the world wars and other conflicts with the people of Northern Ireland and it would be lovely to see them take part.

“The new migrants from Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe suffered huge casualties during the two world wars and other related conflicts. They, like us in the United Kingdom sacrificed lives and fought for what they believed in.

“We have a shared bond, a shared experience of mourning and of remembrance and I think it would be very appropriate to see new members of our community in Northern Ireland taking part in remembrance Sunday events at memorials and cenotaphs across Northern Ireland.”

Kenny went on to re-issue an invitation to the nationalist community within Northern Ireland and further afield to come forward and join with others in commemorating the supreme sacrifice paid by those who have gone before us.

Kenny highlighted that the wearing of a Poppy was one universal way in which people could show their recognition for those who laid down their lives for the causes of democracy, freedom and liberty.

Kenny added: “Irrespective of perceived or real political or religious affiliation, men and women from both of our main religious and political traditions from Northern Ireland and throughout Ireland fought side by side in many Wars and Conflicts, combating fascism.

“These men and women fought for the causes of democracy, freedom and liberty,” he concluded.