Tag: 2022

PRESS RELEASE : Varadkar should take a leaf from Micheál Martin’s book – Sir Jeffrey Donaldson [December 2022]

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

DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has said former Taoiseach Micheál Martin reached out to understand the concerns of unionists and Mr Donaldson also encouraged the new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to take a leaf from Micheál Martin’s book.

Sir Jeffrey said,

“As neighbours we want to have a cordial and respectful relationship with the Government of the Republic of Ireland. The imposition of the NI Protocol upon Northern Ireland, without unionist support but with the support of Dublin, was a backward step for North-South relations.

During his tenure as Taoiseach Micheál Martin sought to understand why unionism was wholly opposed to the NI Protocol. I encourage Leo Varadkar to follow Micheál Martin’s example in managing North-South relationships. Whilst many unionists will struggle to forget the new Taoiseach waving news reports from the 1970’s of a bombed border customs post which gave the threat of violence a seat at the EU negotiating table and demoted the power of democracy and politics, we are prepared to work with him if he is willing to address unionist concerns.

For those who have forgotten, political progress in NI was hard won and is built on the support of unionists and nationalists. Not one unionist MLA supports the Protocol. The idea that one section of our people will dominate the other and ignore the concerns of unionists will never produce durable or balanced outcomes.

There will be no solid basis for an Executive and Assembly until the Protocol is replaced with arrangements that restore NI’s place in the U.K. internal market and our constitutional arrangements are respected.”

December 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Get on with delivering energy payments – Gordon Lyons [December 2022]

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

DUP MLA Gordon Lyons has said the Government needs to get on with delivering the Energy Support Payments to Northern Ireland.

Speaking after raising it with the Prime Minister during his visit to Northern Ireland the East Antrim MLA said,

“There is now further speculation surrounding the delivery of these payments. The delays being suggested are down to issues with the ‘cash out’ option introduced at the 11th hour at the insistence of the Government when they had previously ruled out that option.

With predictions from some that the process won’t be complete until June there needs to be certainty provided by the Government. A statement about the date of payment isn’t enough. Given past U-turns from the Government such a statement won’t offer people any real guarantee. What they need to see is the payments processed and delivered.

It’s time for the Government to get on with delivering this assistance to people at a time when they need it most.”

December 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : UK Statement on Libyan Independence Day [December 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 December 2022.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

We congratulate Libya on its Independence Day, while noting with concern that one year has passed since the postponement of the scheduled elections in Libya on 24 December 2021.

Free, fair, transparent, and inclusive presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible across the country remain the clear will and aspiration of the Libyan people who deserve a unified and democratically-elected government that can govern for the good of the whole country and its people, as well as a legislature with a renewed mandate.

We therefore call on all Libyan actors and key stakeholders to work with SRSG Bathily through compromise and constructive engagement, to fulfil their responsibilities to the Libyan people on the political, security, economic and human rights tracks, in order to deliver long-term stability, security and prosperity. We stand ready to work with all sides in support of these aims and we reiterate our support for SRSG Bathily’s efforts. We call on all actors, including the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the High State Council, to come together under UN auspices to agree swiftly on the constitutional basis. If the two institutions cannot reach an agreement swiftly on a credible electoral roadmap, alternative mechanisms can, and should be used to alleviate the sufferings caused by outdated and open ended interim political arrangements. At the same time, we also commit to supporting inclusive intra-Libyan dialogue under UN auspices.

We further call on all parties to accelerate the full implementation of the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement in order to preserve Libya’s stability and unity and fully support the 5+5 Joint Military Commission in that regard.

December 24, 2022
James Cleverly – 2022 Statement on Fiji’s New Prime Minister

The statement made by James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, on 24 December 2022.

Congratulations to Sitiveni Rabuka on his appointment as Fiji’s Prime Minister and all Fijian people on their democratic process.

As a Commonwealth partner, I look forward to working closely with Prime Minister Rabuka and his government on shared priorities, including green growth, security and justice.

December 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : British pigs in blankets on the menu in South Korea this Christmas thanks to trade win [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 24 December 2022.

UK government has secured the removal of rules banning the export of certain pork products to South Korea.
- British pigs in blankets could end up in South Korean Christmas dinners after the UK government secured the removal of rules banning the export of certain pork products to the country
- New export opportunity allows UK producers to sell bacon, ham, and pork sausages to South Korea and could be worth up to £1 million over five years
- News comes as the UK kicks off preparations to negotiate an enhanced trade deal with Korea
UK companies can export products such as bacon, ham and pork sausages to South Korea after the resolution of a trade barrier blocking UK exports of processed pork products.

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety had previously banned UK exports of the products, but this ban was lifted ahead of Christmas after action from the government.

It is estimated that the Korean market could be worth up to £1 million to UK exporters in the first five years.

Korea is a meat-loving nation and pork products are consumed in a number of traditional dishes, from Samgyeopsal (‘Korean BBQ’) to Budae Jjigae (‘Army Stew’). In 2021, around 27.6 kilograms of pork were consumed per person in South Korea, with consumption increasing over the years.

The UK exported £339 million of pork globally in 2021, with over two-thirds going to non-EU destinations, demonstrating the value of unlocking markets around the world.

Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said:

This is good news for British farmers who haven’t been able to sell their pork to South Korea because of a trade barrier.

We have removed that barrier in time for Christmas and it is worth so much to farmers over the Christmas Period.

Food Minister Mark Spencer said:

British pork is renowned across the world for both its quality and its great taste. The hard work of British teams to open up this market means British bacon and sausages can be the heart and Seoul of South Korean celebrations and dinners throughout the year.

Registering to export is simple and the British Embassy in Seoul are able to support UK businesses who want to take advantage of this and other export opportunities.

The UK-South Korea trade deal came into force on 1 January 2021, enabling the vast majority of goods of UK or South Korean origin to be traded tariff-free.

On 9 December 2022, the UK launched a public Call for Input in preparation for negotiations on an enhanced trade deal.

The new deal will upgrade our trade agreement with South Korea, ensuring a more modern and fit-for-purpose deal that builds on our existing £14.3 billion trading relationship and meets the specific needs of the UK. This will include important areas such as digital trade, enhanced climate provisions and further support for small and medium sized businesses.
December 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : World-class UK cricket exporters eye big India win [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for International Trade on 24 December 2022.
Iconic UK cricket exports could see boost from new Free Trade Agreement

Latest round of talks kicked off by Trade Secretary concludes positively in New Delhi

Comes as England T20 World Cup-winning men’s players took part in yesterday’s (Friday, December 23) Indian Premier League auction for upcoming season

Cricket bat and pad exports from the UK to India could be in line for a big boost next season thanks to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.

The latest round of negotiations on the deal, kicked off by the Trade Secretary in person, wrapped up in New Delhi last week.

The agreement seeks to cut red tape and tariffs for businesses, which could include reducing the current 20% tariff on cricket bats and pads made in the UK.

Any reduction could benefit iconic British brands like Gunn & Moore, whose bats are used by England captain Ben Stokes and have been trading with India for more than a century.

The Nottingham-based firm, which uses English willow in its bats and exports both wooden bat ‘clefts’ and fully made bats to India, welcomed the negotiations, saying cuts to tariffs would help its business.

UK exports to India of English willow, which is bought by Indian companies to make bats used by players at all levels of the game, were worth over £6 million annually between 2018 and 2020, and are currently subject to a tariff of 10%.

An FTA could see these taxes cut or even removed entirely, along with a range of duties on other exports that would help UK firms expand into an economy due to become the world’s third largest by 2050.

The latest round of negotiations completed a week ahead of yesterday’s (Friday, December 23) Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, which saw its teams bid for players like Stokes and some of his England ICC T20 Men’s World Cup-winning team-mates to represent them in the season ahead.

Minister for Exports Andrew Bowie said:

English cricket is rightly proud of its world champion players – but also of our brilliant exports like the willow that goes to make the bats hitting boundaries across the world.

We look forward to concluding a modern ambitious trade deal with India that helps UK exporters of all types hit their sales targets and builds on the increasing amount of British goods and services sold to India, worth £12 billion in the 12 months to the end of June.

Gunn & Moore Sales Director Richard Lowy said:

Gunn & Moore Cricket are fully supportive of a UK-India trade deal and look forward to that having a very positive outcome for both countries.

England and Wales Cricket Board Interim CEO Clare Connor said:

England and India have long shared a passion for cricket that extends beyond the boundaries of play. We are fortunate to have a game that can not only inspire millions of people across both countries but which creates opportunities to compete and learn from one another in major tournaments such as the IPL and bring us all closer together.

Board of Control for Cricket in India Honorary Secretary Mr Jay Shah said:

Since 1932, when India played its first-ever Test against England at Lord’s, India-UK cricketing bonds have only grown stronger with each passing year.

While India enjoys tremendous support in England, the English players have been the crowd favourites in India and are certainly on the must-buy lists of IPL franchises.

The current UK – India trading relationship is already worth more than £29 billion and UK-Indian investments support nearly half a million jobs across both countries.
December 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : A Christmas gift for the nation as Peruzzi’s The Nativity saved [December 2022]
The press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 24 December 2022.

Incredibly rare sixteenth century work has been acquired by National Museums NI.
- Export bar placed on item helped the work be saved for the nation
- Painting will go on display at the Ulster Museum next year
Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson has announced a Christmas gift for the nation after a painting of the Nativity dating to the early 1500s has been acquired by National Museums NI.

Thanks to a fundraising campaign by National Museums NI, supported by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, Department for Communities NI and the Esme Mitchell Trust, the work will go on public display at the Ulster Museum next year.

The Nativity by Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi (1481–1536), valued at £277,990, had an export bar placed on it by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) last year. The work, which depicts the Nativity at night, is one of only a handful of works by Peruzzi to survive outside Italy, and the only one in the UK.

Painted around 1515 in Rome, The Nativity is an exceptionally rare surviving work by Peruzzi. A highly talented Italian painter, architect and draughtsman, Peruzzi was born in 1481 in a small town near Siena and was one of the leading artistic figures in Rome during the High Renaissance. He worked alongside Raphael and Bramante in Rome, before returning home to work for the Republic of Siena, building fortifications and designing a dam on the Bruna River. The majority of Peruzzi’s art works were in fresco and have since been lost to history, making The Nativity an incredibly rare piece.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson said:

For many, being part of a Nativity play is one of the first ways that we learn the story of Christmas. That is why I am delighted that, this Christmas Eve, we can announce that this incredible painting of that famous event has been saved for the nation thanks to the export bar system.

I am pleased that, following conservation, this work will go on display at the Ulster Museum where it will be enjoyed by generations to come.

The export bar was placed on The Nativity following a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The Nativity is currently undergoing conservation work at the National Gallery in London before moving to its permanent home in Northern Ireland in 2023.

Anne Stewart, Senior Curator of Art at National Museums NI said:

National Museums NI is delighted that this remarkable painting will be part of our collection which has been made possible with the help and generosity of our partners and funders. Currently, there are no High Renaissance paintings in any public collection in Northern Ireland, so this is truly a Christmas gift to our audiences. We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Ulster Museum when it goes on display in 2023.

Dr Simon Thurley CBE, Chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, said:

It’s wonderful and timely news that NHMF have been able to support the Ulster Museum in acquiring The Nativity by Peruzzi and ensure this incredibly important artwork remains in the UK. It truly is a fantastic Christmas present for art lovers, and for Northern Ireland in particular.

Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund said:

This is an extraordinary, and beautiful, work of art. We are delighted that the export bar has allowed the Ulster Museum to make this important acquisition, and that a painting by Peruzzi will now enter a public UK collection for the first time.

Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker said:

It’s fantastic news that this important work of art is set to go on public display at Northern Ireland’s Ulster Museum next year.

Well done to all those involved in securing this historic painting for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment of people across the UK.
December 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Prime Minister thanks public servants working over the festive season with surprise Christmas calls [December 2022]
The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 23 December 2022.

PM called dedicated diplomats, military personnel and childcare providers to personally wish them a Merry Christmas and thank them for their work.
- From the UK to Mogadishu, Islamabad to the South Sandwich Islands, public servants will be working all over the world this Christmas to protect the most vulnerable
- PM surprises dedicated diplomats, military personnel and childcare providers with unexpected calls to personally wish them a Merry Christmas and thank them for their work
- Pays tribute to the work of UK embassies and Armed Forces across the world who have protected national interests in the toughest of conditions
The Prime Minister surprised public servants working across the world this Christmas, calling them to personally thank them for their sacrifice and dedication in an unprecedented year of global challenge.

Alongside the FCDO Permanent Under-Secretary, Sir Philip Barton, and First Sea Lord Admiral Ben Key, the Prime Minister made surprise calls to diplomats in Pakistan, Somalia and Ukraine, as well as a Royal Navy ship sailing in Antarctica. He told them the work of diplomats and armed forces this year, against a backdrop of such global instability, demonstrated the very best of the United Kingdom overseas.

And closer to home, the Prime Minister surprised Chris Mitchell who runs Smart Play, an award-winning government-funded Holiday Activities and Food programme in Barnet. The PM heard first-hand how Chris and the team are supporting vulnerable children across the area with fun activities and nutritious meals throughout the school holidays.

Speaking to diplomat Nic Guffog, who is based in Mogadishu, the Prime Minister heard how the dedicated foreign office staffer had been using her breather breaks and flights from the UK back to Somalia to bring in Christmas decorations for the UK’s diplomatic compound in Mogadishu. She told the Prime Minister how staff in Mogadishu were living in containers under the threat of terror attacks, and would spend Christmas supporting efforts to counter the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and helping the Somalian government deal with the hunger crisis facing the country.

Nic, who looks after the embassy compound in East Africa, said the order for Christmas dinner had to be placed in the spring, and had recently arrived by container ship. This year’s celebrations were particularly special for the embassy after a Covid outbreak last year meant staff couldn’t sit together in the compound on Christmas Day. Nic hoped to add festive cheer this year with handmade Santa stockings and Christmas jumpers, despite the 40C heat, she added.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

Whether you are working in Mogadishu or Milton Keynes this Christmas, I want you to know that I am personally grateful for your sacrifice. This year has been an extraordinary year for so many reasons, but most of all, it’s been a year in which the true spirit and resilience of the United Kingdom has been on show, from the support given to our Ukrainian friends, to the work being done to ensure essential aid reaches the most vulnerable overseas.

And closer to home, those who have checked on friends and neighbours, volunteers, public servants and essential service staff all working over Christmas – I am truly humbled by your dedication and I know your selflessness this festive season will spread cheer across the country.

The Prime Minister also spoke to Sherwan Asif, from Pakistan, who has worked for the British High Commission in Islamabad for more than 12 years, and was at the forefront of the United Kingdom’s response to the devastating floods that ravaged the country in June. Sherwan identified areas in critical need and ensured UK funding reached the most vulnerable.

The Prime Minister also called Svita Yavorska, who has spent the year working for the UK’s embassy in Ukraine from Kyiv, Warsaw and now Lviv. Svita told the Prime Minister how she had to flee to Poland following Russia’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, before setting up the Embassy’s temporary base in Poland. Svita also volunteered translating for refugees pouring over the border into Poland, and helping them secure new homes. Svita has since returned to Lviv, Ukraine, to help set up a new UK base in the city. She is also working closely with humanitarian partners to get vital UK aid into the country. The Prime Minister told Svita how grateful he was for her hard work, and said the UK would continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it took.

Finally, the Prime Minister spoke to some of the crew of HMS Protector, which is currently deployed off the coast of the South Sandwich islands, updating navigational charts using the latest sonar technology, monitoring the retreat of glaciers and ice shelves, and supporting the British Antarctic Survey scientists by delivering vital supplies and fixing any engineering issues.

The Prime Minister heard how the shipmates are experiencing 20 hours of sunlight a day, and had seen whales, penguins and endangered turtles during their deployment, as well as surveying underwater volcanos, and losing 7-1 to members of the Monserrat national football team during a friendly game on shore.

Asking about their Christmas plans, the sailors told the Prime Minister they had planned a number of celebrations between keeping watch on the ship, including a fancy dress party and Christmas dinner for the ship’s company.
December 24, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : DUP Leader thanks Cllr Kathryn Owen as she steps down from Council [December 2022]

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

DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has thanked Cllr Dr Kathryn Owen for her service in Newry, Mourne and Down Council, where she represented the Rowallane DEA.

Sir Jeffrey said,

“Sadly, Kathryn is stepping back from Local Government due to a change in her full-time employment which will prevent her from being a Councillor. We thank Kathryn for her service in Rowallane and her efforts to help constituents. We look forward to working with Kathryn in the future and wish her every success in her new role.”

Dr Kathryn Owen said,

“I have been involved in public service all my life, initially through the Armed Forces and latterly through Local Government. It has been a privilege to serve the good people of Rowallane. Growing up in Rowallane and following in my grandfather’s footsteps made this a huge honour.

A few years ago, I embarked on an academic journey leading to the recent completion of my PhD in cardiology. This has now opened a new career path. I have loved serving the people of Rowallane; however, I cannot do both roles; therefore, regretfully, I am stepping back from Local Government.

I thank Sir Jeffrey Donaldson for his support and the Party for the opportunity to serve. I wish my replacement and colleagues every good fortune and will do all I can to support them and the Party in the future.”

December 23, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Paul Girvan welcomes further steps for victims of contaminated blood [December 2022]

The press release issued by the DUP on 15 December 2022.

DUP South Antrim MP Paul Girvan has welcomed further steps by the Government to address the tragedy of people impacted by contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

Mr Girvan said,

“This scandal had devastating consequences, but this action is a further step along the road to helping my constituents whose lives were turned upside-down through no fault of their own.

The £100k interim payment announced last August was the first step of redress for people who suffered devastating consequences of being infected by contaminated blood. I will be meeting with victims in Northern Ireland and considering this announcement alongside them.

The pain these people have suffered, many in silence, has been unimaginable not just for the infected patient but for their families who have had to live with this horror for decades without ever receiving proper recognition from the NHS.”

December 23, 2022