Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the DUP on 19 October 2022.

DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP led a Party delegation to meet the Prime Minister in Downing Street on Wednesday afternoon.
Lord Dodds, East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson and Lagan Valley MLA Emma Little-Pengelly were also part of the delegation.

A DUP delegation met this afternoon with the Prime Minister and discussed the current issues related to the protocol.

We welcome the Prime Minister’s ongoing commitment to the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

We reiterated our position on the need to restore Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom so that we can have fully functioning political institutions in Northern Ireland.

The press release issued by the DUP on 19 October 2022.

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson has welcomed the news from Vodafone to offer small businesses a year of free broadband in an effort to reduce rising living costs.

Earlier this year, many major internet providers agreed a social broadband package for those in receipt of certain benefits, to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to be digitally connected.

Commenting on a recent report from OFCOM, Mr Robinson said:

“I welcome the news that Vodafone are providing small businesses with the opportunity to access free broadband. Reliable mobile connectivity is essential and critical to the success of small businesses.

I would also encourage those in receipt of receipt of Universal Credit and Pension Credit to give consideration to the social broadband tariffs provided by a number of internet providers.

The global pandemic and subsequent lockdowns brought attention to the digital gap that exists across households. While many households shifted daily activities including work, school, socialising, and medical appointments online, many low-income homes lacked internet access and were isolated from the digital world.

The UK government reached a deal with major providers like Sky, BT, Virgin Media, and Now to provide a discounted social tariff, which is less expensive than standard broadband bundles, in order to address this issue.

These social tariffs serve as a safety net for homes that might otherwise find it difficult to pay for broadband services. An estimated 4.2 million households in the UK are eligible, according to research by the telecoms regulator, Ofcom.

In my constituency of East Belfast, there are over 6,500 claimants of Universal Credit, many of whom may not be aware that they are eligible for cheaper broadband. A reduction in broadband bills could help some of the most vulnerable stay connected during our cost of living crisis.

Access to broadband is vital for learning, for work and for staying connected. I would encourage people who get Universal Credit or Pension Credit to speak with their broadband providers about switching to a more affordable plan.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 19 October 2022.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the assurances given by the Prime Minister that the triple lock on pensions will be retained. Speculation in recent days had suggested the long standing Government commitment on pensions may be ditched.

Speaking from Westminster, Carla Lockhart said:

“The DUP secured the triple lock on pensions as part of our Confidence and Supply agreement with the Conservative Party in 2017. It offers surety to pensioners that their income would increase by a minimum of 2.5% per year.

With inflation now at 10.1%, it is vital that pensions keep in lock step with the rising cost of living to ensure pensioners do not face additional hardship.

It has been deeply concerning in recent days that some have speculated the triple lock may be ditched in the Government’s latest measure to address the economic turmoil we have seen over recent weeks. The DUP opposed any such measure and made our position known to the Government that ditching the triple lock would be unacceptable.

We welcome todays commitment in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister that the triple lock will remain in place. We will continue to stand up for the financial wellbeing of pensioners, protecting them from any attempt to snatch money from them that they need. We are glad the Government has stepped back from pursuing any such proposal.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 19 October 2022.

DUP East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson has said whether there is another Assembly election or not, the problem of the Protocol remains and must be addressed before devolution is restored.

Mr Robinson said,

“An election just a few months ago told us that every unionist MLA is opposed to the Northern Ireland Protocol, yet the EU has failed to respond to this democratic statement. The EU negotiating mandate remains wedded to a Protocol which is unacceptable to unionists. This must change.

It is entirely the Secretary of State’s decision whether there is an election, but London and Brussels must accept, it is the Protocol which is the blockage to devolution being restored. The Protocol is driving up costs for consumers by a 25% tariff on steel used in building schools, roads, hospitals, and houses. It is driving up grocery costs by increasing haulage costs from GB to NI.

We remain absolutely committed to the restoration of devolution once the Protocol is replaced by arrangements which unionists can support.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 18 October 2022.

DUP North Antrim MP Ian Paisley has said that confirmation from the Northern Ireland Secretary of State that only ‘talks’ are taking place between Brussels and London is another reminder that the EU must change their negotiating mandate.

The comments were made at a public session of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in Westminster.

Mr Paisley said,

“For more than two years unionism has been pressing for change, only to be told repeatedly told that there can be ‘no renegotiation’ of the NI Protocol. This mindset must change. Fundamentally, without a change to the negotiating mandate in Brussels, there will not be the space to reach an outcome which unionists can support.

Every unionist MLA and MP opposes the Protocol. Powersharing is only possible with the support of unionists and nationalists. The Protocol must be replaced with arrangements that unionists can support if there is going to be a basis to restore devolution.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 18 October 2022.

DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has led a debate in Westminster Hall regarding access to British passports for people born in the Irish Republic but now living in Northern Ireland.

Mr Campbell said,

“This issue unites people of all backgrounds in Northern Ireland with the DUP, SDLP, Alliance, Conservatives and Labour all agreed that it needs resolved. It is uncontroversial with everyone except, the Home Office. It was first raised by me in 2005 via a private members bill which had insufficient parliamentary time but remains unsolved.

People in Northern Ireland can be British, Irish or Northern Irish. Residents in Northern Ireland can apply for an Irish passport with no additional cost or form filling, yet people born in the Republic of Ireland but have chosen to then live in Northern Ireland, cannot have similar access to a British passport.

The law in the UK makes provision for anyone born before 1949 in the Republic of Ireland with associations with the UK to become a British subject.

Those born in the Republic after 1949, even if they have lived in the UK all their lives since, paying UK taxes all their lives, voting in UK elections, sitting in the House of Lords, cannot avail of a British passport without going through the expensive procedure of applying for naturalisation, current cost around £1,330.

It is incredible that no naturalisation fee is required to secure an Irish passport, yet it requires such a fee to secure a British passport. This is a disgraceful position to have left people in who demand to be recognised as British. The Minister needs to reassess the Home Office’s approach to this and remedy a continuing wrong as a matter of urgency.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 17 October 2022.

Following the Chancellor’s statement on Monday, the DUP’s East Antrim MP and Treasury spokesman Sammy Wilson has called for more information on energy supports as well as help for the hospitality sector.

Sammy Wilson said,

“The United Kingdom needs stability. These are serious matters where families are looking at hard-hitting fuel and energy bills whilst also concerned about interest rates and their borrowing commitments.

The mini budget last month was flawed and badly communicated. Whilst it had some positive news for struggling working families, it failed to place a proper windfall tax on energy generators who were making massive profits. Such a windfall tax could have helped pay for some of the commitments being made. It was also a mistake to focus on banker’s bonus changes and cut the 45p tax rate.

Whilst it is welcome that the National Insurance rise will still be reversed, the income tax cut being removed will be difficult news for working families. We will also need to see more detail about how energy supports will be targeted after April 2023.

The widening corporation tax differential between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is also a matter of concern. I am particularly concerned at the impact this will have on investment.

If this budget is about economic growth and stability, then one of the sectors most badly affected by a downfall in discretionary expenditure is the hospitality industry. They are rightly pressing for VAT to be reduced to 5% and we support them in this effort as we see more and more small hospitality businesses close their doors.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 16 October 2022.

DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP will meet Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Belfast on Monday. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Sir Jeffrey said:

“We must lay solid foundations if we are to move forward. We need to clear away the debris of the Protocol years. We need to restore cross-community consensus. No unionist MLAs support the Protocol. Therefore, it must be replaced by arrangements that unionists can support. This is essential if the political institutions are to function and succeed.

Brussels must loosen the guide ropes for their negotiating team so a proper renegotiation can take place. The persistent refusal to change their negotiating mandate has been an impediment over the last two years to securing an outcome that unionists can support.

The Protocol continues to bedevil us, with businesses and consumers reporting further problems each week. A 25% tariff on steel, driving up transport costs by almost 30% and uncertainty over medicine and veterinary supplies. The checks, however, on the Irish Sea border are but a symptom of the problem. They are the product of Northern Ireland being subject to a different set of laws imposed upon us by a foreign entity without any say or vote by any locally elected representative.

In the future, as Great Britain moves in a different direction on aid or taxation, Northern Ireland will face further new barriers because we are tied to a different set of laws.

If we can secure a better way forward, then there is a great prize of stable devolved government but without decisive action in Dublin and Brussels then the Protocol will continue to erode the foundations of Stormont. Devolution requires the support of unionists as well as nationalists if it is to function and succeed.”