Category: Press Releases

The press release issued by the DUP on 24 November 2022.

DUP South Down MLA Diane Forsythe has said the budget process started last October yet Conor Murphy still failed to set a budget and managed Northern Ireland expenditure.

Ms Forsythe said,

“This budget is deeply concerning for householders and the future of our public services not only this year but when we dig into the detail for the next financial year.

Only days ago, Michelle O’Neill said there were millions to “put into people’s pockets” if only Stormont was restored. The NI Fiscal Council soon debunked that idea by demonstrating the budget short-fall and today’s statement from the Secretary of State further demonstrates that Conor Murphy is a failed Finance Minister and Michelle O’Neill is talking baloney.

Murphy can throw blame around other Executive Ministers, but the core element of his job was to manage the money and he failed, and now tough decisions are being made in almost every department. Rather than helping Stromont Departments to deal with the Financial reality, Sinn Fein was feeding and creating a false narrative about our public finances.

Of course, it would be better to have a local Minister setting our budgets but when the Executive was functioning the Finance Minister drew up a Sinn Fein budget and failed to work with the other parties to get an agreed way forward.

Whilst the Secretary of State is swift to blame local politicians, he must consider shouldering some blame as the Trader Support Service set up to manage the NI Protocol paperwork is costing £12m per month. If the Protocol was replaced, then Stormont could be restored and that money would be better being invested in our public services.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 24 November 2022.

DUP MLA Emma Little Pengelly has said Mary Lou McDonald needs to provide answers about allegations made during ongoing criminal proceedings in Dublin that she used the Hutch criminal gang for money and votes.

The allegations are contained within a surveillance recording played to the Special Criminal Court.

The Lagan Valley MLA said, “These claims were made by a former Sinn Fein Councillor, someone we now know gave a personal donation to Mary Lou McDonald. The Sinn Fein President needs to explain why a conversation about her using a criminal gang for money and votes would ever even arise.

This was a conversation between two individuals who weren’t aware they were being recorded or the comments would ever become public. They do however deserve to be investigated by all proper authorities and to be fully addressed by Mary Lou McDonald.

Mary Lou McDonald and other Sinn Fein representatives have often criticised so-called ‘cronyism’ within the Irish political system. People will want clarity now on Jonathan Dowdall’s claim of Sinn Fein’s own alleged cronyism with gangsters. Everyone is aware of Sinn Fein cronyism with IRA criminals over many decades. That wasn’t just some loose association however but represented a criminal gang having oversight of an entire political party.

These latest claims however bring a new focus on Sinn Fein, and particularly given the recent attempts to draw a distinction between gangland criminals and the IRA. People within the Republic and in Northern Ireland have a right to ask whether gangland money is being used to influence politics.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 24 November 2022.

The press release issued by the DUP on 23 November 2022.

South Down MLA Diane Forsythe has called for honesty from Sinn Fein about the financial realities facing Northern Ireland. She said that comments from Michelle O’Neill and other Sinn Fein representatives were offering false hope to people facing a difficult winter.

She said, “Only in the last few days Michelle O’Neill has said the Executive “would get money into people’s pockets”. That is certainly not true in relation to the £400 energy payment and she should explain such claims. The only delay on those payments sits in London and they should be released immediately. This is a scheme which has been administered by Westminster in every other region of the UK and people in Northern Ireland deserve it immediately. The money is there, the systems are there, and the energy companies are ready.

The desire to peddle a myth on this issue appears to mean that Sinn Fein are prepared to make excuses for the Conservative government. Other Sinn Fein representatives however are prepared to mislead people in even more outrageous ways.

Speaking to businesspeople recently I was amazed to hear that even within the last few weeks they were told by a Sinn Fein representative that a restored Executive would have £300 million to distribute which could be used to help them during these difficult times.

This is a complete fiction first invented by Sinn Fein’s failed Finance Minister, who perpetuated this myth for months before he was contradicted by a Fiscal Council he created. Far from the Sinn Fein claims of distributing spare funds, the realities facing Northern Ireland are how to cope with Departments overspending their budgets by £650million. Given the scale of the challenges we face, it is only the Treasury which has the resources to offer any additional support. That again is something that was latterly recognised by Conor Murphy but is ignored by his party colleagues.

All those parties who made reckless claims about money ‘sitting in a Stormont bank account’ bear some responsibility for misleading the public. We are facing a global economic crisis that is not specific to Northern Ireland or even the UK as a whole. We need representatives and parties to be honest with the public about what is available to help and not peddle false hope to people facing a difficult winter.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 23 November 2022.

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has called for a public inquiry to establish the nature, extent and cost of the delays which have beset the A6 road dualling project.

Describing the situation as “a fiasco” the DUP MP said,

“This project, when it is finally completed will be a tremendous asset, but as of today it is an embarrassment. It is time that we learned the full facts about what has happened.

When construction first commenced, we were told the completion date would be Spring 2022. Having made inquiries, I was informed that the Covid pandemic and associated restrictions would not have an impact on that completion date. When the deadline had been missed the then Minister Nichola Mallon visited the site but gave no explanation or apology. Instead, she reported “good progress” when the road should already have been finished.

I made further inquiries from the most recent Minister John O’Dowd who said it would be finished “before the end of the year”. That will be another missed deadline and its time we not only got the road finished but found out what is behind these inordinate delays.

Everyone understands that projects can face delays, and there may be contractual issues at play with this project. However, what is necessary now is to establish what has been behind these delays, the extent of any contractual issues that have caused them and how much cost the public purse will have to bear because of them.

There has been a lack of transparency and openness from the Department throughout this process yet motorists are still stuck on a single lane carriageway with speed and overtaking restrictions in place. More importantly however, there are road safety concerns with drivers on poorly marked sections of road.

We need the road opened as well as having openness from the Department about this fiasco.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 22 November 2022.

The DUP’s elected representatives for East Londonderry and North Antrim have vowed to work together to ensure there is a fully operational Maternity Unit at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.

Earlier this week, the Trust announced that they were seeking approval to go out to consultation to look at ‘future provisions of acute maternity services’.

One option being put forward is to move all maternity services to a specially built unit in Antrim. The Unit is not expected to be built until 2027.

MPs Ian Paisley and Gregory Campbell alongside MLAs Alan Robinson, Paul Frew and Maurice Bradley said that it is vital a maternity unit is kept at Causeway.

“The Trust’s plans are ludicrous given the pressure already on services in Antrim. It is crazy to expect mothers to drive for over an hour, past the front doors of Causeway Hospital, to have their baby delivered in Antrim. The removal of the maternity service would be a significant blow to the integrity of the Causeway Hospital but such a step could ultimately leave the north-east and west of the province with a complete deficient service.”

The DUP representatives have asked for a meeting with the Trust Chief Executive ahead of Thursday’s Board meeting.

The press release issued by the DUP on 22 November 2022.

The DUP’s Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds has challenged Michelle O’Neill to live up to her own words and say that the IRA gunmen who entered the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children were wrong and must be condemned.

Mrs Dodds said,

“Michelle O’Neill has stopped short of saying “Ooh Ah Up the Ra” was wrong but said the young woman who chanted “ooh Ah Up the Ra’ at Arlene Foster was wrong. Indeed Michelle O’Neill said;

“whenever things are wrong, we say they’re wrong.”

This statement is incredible. Sinn Fein time and again celebrate the IRA. No later than last Friday night Michelle O’Neill “honoured” an IRA gunrunner and convicted terrorist.

IRA gunmen entered the RVH Children’s Hospital to murder Nigel and I in 1996 and Sinn Fein has never said the gunmen were wrong let alone condemned their actions.

Will Michelle O’Neill now take that opportunity? Does she condemn the action of the IRA in the Shankill Bomb, the Enniskillen Bomb, the La Mon Bombing?

Michelle O’Neill must accept when she wrongly and misleadingly says there was ‘no alternative” for the IRA, that she is contributing to the mindset in young people who celebrate the IRA.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 22 November 2022.

DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has welcomed the announcement that Niree McMorris has been confirmed as the Party’s new Waterside Councillor.

Sir Jeffrey said, “I am delighted that Niree has joined the DUP team in Londonderry and she will be a first-class representative for the people in the Waterside. Having worked alongside Gary Middleton MLA for many years she already has a great knowledge of issues affecting the entire city, and she has a very strong record within the local community.

She will be joining a strong DUP team in Londonderry who continue to ensure that the unionist voice is heard within the city.”

Cllr McMorris added, “It is a privilege to have been selected by the Party to represent the Waterside DEA. I will be a positive voice for the people of this area on Council.

I know the issues affecting our city and will work alongside my colleagues to continue delivering for the people of Londonderry.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 22 November 2022.

East Belfast MP has welcomed that commencement of demolition on the former Kincora Boys Home is to commence tomorrow (Wednesday).

He said, “Kincora and the horrors that occurred within have stained our local community for decades. Victims see the building as a visual reminder of their experience, often on a daily basis.

I have worked over many years to press for demolition of this site and challenged the Council when they sought to retain this memorial to misery. I am thankful that finally, it will be razed to the ground.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 22 November 2022.

The DUP’s Lead Policing Board representative Trevor Clarke has welcomed a major breakthrough in the fight against human trafficking across Northern Ireland.

On Monday the PSNI confirmed that 27 brothels had been raided and a number of individuals arrested in the successful operation, which was supported a by a range of criminal justice partners.

Responding, Trevor Clarke MLA said:

‘‘This is an extremely welcome development and I commend the PSNI on a successful and professional operation.

The scale of sexual exploitation in this case will come as a shock to many. Indeed, it reached almost every corner of Northern Ireland. This underlines why victims of modern slavery are often described as being hidden in plain sight. Police enforcement alone will never be enough. Public awareness must be transformed if we are to prevent harm and ensure earlier intervention.

For the countless vulnerable individuals preyed upon by this organised crime group, this breakthrough provides a platform to rebuild their lives. It is crucial that they get the support they deserve. As a Party, we successfully campaigned to ensure the Justice Bill passed by the last Assembly included a statutory commitment to provide tailored support to slavery victims for up to 12 months, and longer, where necessary. This will be critical to ensuring the risk of re-trafficking is mitigated.

The 2015 Human Trafficking Act spearheaded by my colleague Lord Morrow set the standard for how we crack down on those criminal gangs who promote and profit from sexual exploitation. It is encouraging that policing outcomes now starting to reflect that vision. However, there are elements of the legislation that remain outstanding and these need to be implemented in full if further ground is to be taken in the fight against modern slavery. We will continue to press for the Department of Justice to address these issues and build on the firm foundation provided by recent policing operations.”