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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”.

Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA, Ulster Unionist Assemblyman for North Antrim, said today that the news that the EU Commission had agreed a 6 year scheme backed by £200 million inter-reg money was “great news for North Antrim .”

“The funding is designed to encourage closer co-operation in research, development and promoting tourism and aims to develop a sustainable cross-border region across Northern Ireland and south western Scotland . The historical links between North Antrim and South West Scotland are deep and strong. This will give muscle to the many plans we in North Antrim have been pushing for over a number of years.”

“I want to see the ferry service between Ballycastle and Campbelltown become the anchor for a joint tourism initiative which will target the English midlands car tourism family market which is 43 million strong and will create a tourist routes incorporating North Antrim with the Giant’s Causeway and the Glens and the highlands of Scotland accessed through Argyll.”

“This would bring a lot of tourist spending to North Antrim and make a real difference to the local economy. It would also spread that money across the whole area, creating prosperity in every part of North Antrim .”

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.”

Mr Robin Swann, the Ulster Unionist Party’s Spokesman on Social Economy, Energy and Consumer Affairs, has called for the Assembly to support the Northern Ireland Energy Agency to allow it to develop an electricity service based on wind and wave power, and further develop the province’s energy security.

And Mr Swann, who is a senior member of North Antrim UUP Association Management Committee, said the main challenge the energy agency will face will be to bring a joint approach between the Stormont Executive’s various departments.

He added: “I warmly welcome the announcement under The Programme for Government the Executive has set a firm target that 12% of our electricity must be generated from indigenous renewable sources by 2012.

“However, this is not a new target as Northern Ireland was previously set these targets as part of the UK’s overall Koyto agreement, but what is more worrying is that we are currently only at a level of 3.8% so we still have a long way to go.

“So to achieve these targets, it will take a cross-departmental approach from the Northern Ireland Assembly, as the current fragmented system is not achieving the required progress.

“In this respect, I would urge the Assembly to support the Northern Ireland Energy Agency to act in this capacity and bring a joint approach to the co-ordination of energy efficiency, renewable energy and reduction of Carbon Dioxide, across all sections of our society.

“To this extent, it is vital to realise the importance of the Northern Ireland rural and agri community’s engagement at all stages in any proposed energy development stragety.

“This was also recently highlighted at the North Antrim Agricultural Association’s very successful centenary conference, which had as a theme Developments in Renewable Energy.

“At this conference, Sir Ben Gill, a past president of the National Farmers’ Union clearly demonstrated the importance of energy security to the Ulster agricultural section when he gave a presentation on Renewables - Food or Fuel; Facts or Fiction!

“If Northern Ireland is to achieve it’s 12% target from indigenous renewable sources, then it is important to look towards wind and other non-crop based energy sources.

“As the rest of the world moves in the same direction and away from its reliance on fossil fuels, we must also look to make the best use of our land base for food crop production so that we do not become completely dependent on imported produce to sustain our agri industry, and that it why it is cruicial that we harness the readily available energy source that is within our own tides and wind,” said Mr Swann.

Ulster Unionist Chairman of Regional Development Committee and North Belfast MLA today said that no green light could be given to the Regional Development Minister’s report advocating water taxes while so many fundamentally important questions remained unanswered.

Mr Cobain also re-iterated his personal opposition to taxing people for water.

In an Assembly speech during a debate on the Independent’s Water Review Panel’s Strand One Report, Mr Cobain said,

“I represent a large, working class constituency in North Belfast, where thousands of families fall within the economically challenged bracket. At the last Assembly election, like many other MLAs in the House I gave an undertaking that I would not support the introduction of a water tax in this mandate, for precisely the reasons that I have just outlined: I refuse to make ten of thousands of people poorer than they already are.

An acceptance of this tax, even with a substantial affordability tariff, will do just that.

Until we establish the most basic of facts on who would be taxed and who won’t be, what provisions are being made to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society are offered protection from falling into further debt, how any bills will be handled, who will be responsible for collection and the method of assessment whether it be based on rateable values or not, it would be madness to proceed.

At the moment we don’t even know the answers to these most basic yet fundamentally important questions. Until these questions are answered fully and comprehensively we would be doing a disservice to the people of Northern Ireland by giving any approval or giving the impression that this Report is a basis for a fair and equitable charge on water.

So it is clear that there are still huge questions to be answered and much more work to be done before those that are advocating a water tax can be given the green light to do so.”

Ulster Unionist Member of the European Parliament Jim Nicholson MEP has said that there is no new money in the European Commission’s announcement today on future European funding for Northern Ireland.

Mr Nicholson made the claim as the European Commission announced that it has adopted three programmes involving Northern Ireland as part of EU Cohesion policy for 2007-2013.

Speaking from Brussels Mr Nicholson said,

“I want to make it absolutely clear that there is no new money in this announcement made today by the European Commission. The public should not be misled into believing that Northern Ireland has earned some massive cash bonanza from Europe.

“As I recall this is probably the fourth or fifth time in a 2 year period that an announcement has been made regarding this funding. It seems that yet again this money has been recycled, repackaged and made to appear like it is new money.

“Back in July I met with the First and Deputy First Minister where I told them they had seriously undersold Northern Ireland in Europe and that it was vital for them to visit Brussels as soon as possible. I am still waiting for that visit. In terms of investment Europe is just as important as any other region in the world.

“It is almost 6 months since devolution was restored and yet we are still waiting for the First and Deputy First Minister to work out how they are going to deal with Europe.

“Whilst I am disappointed that the European Commission and others have attempted to portray this as new money I do welcome the impact today’s announcement will have for the many groups on the ground who have been waiting for the European Commission to approve this money. Hopefully, Intermediary Funding Bodies should be able to start funding projects by the New Year.”

Ken Robinson MLA, Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for East Antrim, has called for a comprehensive review to be undertaken by the Department of Regional Development into the province-wide establishment of 20 mph zones in built up areas.

“I recently asked the Minister for Regional Development if his department had the power under current legislation to introduce 20 mph speed limits in towns, villages, cities and built-up areas, particularly near schools. He has now confirmed to me that his department already has the power to do this.”

“Now that he has confirmed to me that he has the power to do it, I am calling on the Minister to act. To begin with, he should set up a province-wide review of potential 20 mph zones in our most heavily populated areas. Speed kills and only a 20 mph limit enforced across the entire province in what might be called black spots in heavily built up areas will get the message across.”

“A survey by the Transport Research Laboratory of 20mph zones across the UK and in other European countries found child road accidents fell by 67%, cyclist accidents by 29% and traffic flow by 27%. It has also been shown that a driver travelling at 20mph is able to come to a sudden stop in about half the time of one driving at 30mph.”

“This is Road Safety week and it would be a good time for the Minister to act or at least declare his intention to act. It would help increase the profile of the decision and it would show that the Executive cared about this issue, given our appalling road safety record.”

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has said that Love Beef Week – an initiative by the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) to highlight Northern Ireland’s exceptional Farm Quality Assured (FQA) beef – reminds us how important it is to support local farmers by buying local produce first. Northern Ireland’s first Love Beef Week has been running from Monday and ends this Saturday (3rd November).

Mr Nicholson also called for more transparent and rigorous food labelling, which shows clearly where the origin of the produce is.

In a statement Mr Nicholson said,

“Over the past year I have been campaigning hard to get the European Commission to ban imports of Brazilian beef to the EU. Time and time again, it has been independently proven to be of a sub – standard nature. Cheap imports of food from South America and South East Asia, which are not produced to the highest of European standards, have done tremendous damage to the local beef and lamb industry.

“However, the Love Beef Week campaign, which has been running all week, provides all of us with a stark reminder of how important it is to support local farmers by purchasing local produce first.

“The long term interest of the agri – food industry is best served by Northern Ireland’s consumers demanding quality local produce. Buying local first strengthens the local economy and also helps the environment. When moving produce around the world we must consider how many food miles the produce has travelled and the environmental impact of moving produce such a large distance.

“To help consumers make an informed choice to buy local produce first, they need more rigorous and transparent food labelling. Inadequate and misleading labelling prevents consumers from being able to make that informed choice.

”In many cases food can be imported to Northern Ireland, processed here, and then labelled in a way that suggests it is genuinely British. This misleading practice must come to an end.”

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.”

Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has warned the community could suffer because not enough money has been earmarked for health in the recently unveiled Programme for Government spending proposals.

Assemblyman Dr Coulter, who is also UUP Health Spokesman, made his remarks after chairing a health discussion panel at this year’s party conference in Belfast.

He added: “At first reading the full Programme for Government package runs to some £5.6 billion on schools, roads and hospitals – but the contribution for the health department is lower than the other departments in needs terms.

“The Ulster Unionist Party is disappointed with the proposed spending on health. It needed to be much higher given the fact people in Northern Ireland are living much longer.

“We required a radical budget for health; one which had quality as a central theme. Instead, the people of the Province have been allocated a budget which won’t do what those people require.

“The health budget for Northern Ireland is being seriously underfunded. We are between 25 per cent and 30 per cent lower than our counterparts in Great Britain.

“In practical terms, the draft budget will do nothing to drive down the waiting lists. Some £450 million has been allocated to health, when in reality, around £750 million is required because people live longer.

“The cash allocated to health in the Programme for Government is only dabbling with the health service. Being behind in health spending is one of the great injustices of Northern Ireland politics and makes our people second class citizens within the United Kingdom.

“As people live longer, we need to recognise that older people would like to be cared for at home – not in hospitals.

“The Programme for Government also needs to recognise that Northern Ireland will not be able to look after the most vulnerable groups in our society, especially the elderly, by cutting back on nurses.

“At one time, Northern Ireland had some of the worst waiting times in Western Europe. The Programme for Government budget should have addressed the urgent issue of investing in health. You can’t have wealth without health,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.