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Tag: Diane Dodds

  • Diane Dodds – 2022 Comments on IRA Murders and Democracy in Northern Ireland

    Diane Dodds – 2022 Comments on IRA Murders and Democracy in Northern Ireland

    The comments made by Diane Dodds, the DUP MLA for Upper Bann, on 5 November 2022.

    In Christmas 1996 the IRA came into the Royal Victoria Children’s hospital to murder my husband and I as we sat by our son’s bedside. It’s high time Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald accepted there was an alternative to unleashing gunmen in a children’s hospital and condemned the murderous and reckless act.

    The DUP made clear there was no basis for government last February when we were the largest party. Unlike Sinn Fein we have always respected the ballot box and the rule of law.

    The DUP accepts the last election result but rejects the NI Protocol that Sinn Fein wants rigorously implemented. False claims about the last election come straight from the Sinn Fein textbook of lying about political opponents.

    Stormont can only function with unionists and nationalists so until the Protocol is sorted there is no solid basis for moving forward.

  • Diane Dodds – 2022 Comments on the Northern Ireland Protocol

    Diane Dodds – 2022 Comments on the Northern Ireland Protocol

    The comments made by Diane Dodds, the DUP MLA for Upper Bann, on 4 November 2022.

    Unionism is united in opposition to the Protocol and would have demonstrated such unity at the ballot box. We have a mandate for the action we have taken and would have happily renewed and strengthened our mandate had a December poll taken place.

    Both the Government and the EU have been aware of our consistent position regarding the sustainability of Stormont since February 2021 and successive Prime Ministers and Secretaries of State have squandered that time.

    Whilst the last two years have been fruitless, because of Brussels being in denial about the flawed Protocol, the Secretary of State should use this time wisely to ensure that the Protocol is replaced by arrangements that restore Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.

    The Government need to deliver an outcome that unionists can support either through the NI Protocol Bill or through negotiations. But they must realise that there will be no return for fully functioning devolved government until the Protocol is dealt with.

    Political progress in Northern Ireland has been hard won but fundamentally it is built on the support of unionists and nationalists. London and Brussels must recognise that real progress can be made but never by one section of our people dominating another. That will never produce durable or balanced outcomes.

  • Diane Dodds – 2022 Statement on Power Sharing in Northern Ireland

    Diane Dodds – 2022 Statement on Power Sharing in Northern Ireland

    The statement made by Diane Dodds, the DUP MLA for Upper Bann on 27 October 2022.

    The recall of the NI Assembly by Sinn Fein was a stunt rather than any serious attempt to restore powersharing. If those who petitioned the Assembly sitting truly wanted to restore fully functioning devolved government, they would have joined us in campaigning for the Protocol to be replaced by arrangements that unionists can support. Progress is only made with the support of unionists and nationalists.

    The Protocol has polluted every area of government:

    •  As we try to fix our NHS, the Protocol is jeopardising the supply of medicines to Northern Ireland.
    • As we try to improve our infrastructure, the Protocol has triggered a costly 25% tariff on the steel used to build our schools, roads, hospitals, and houses.
    • As we try to help people with the cost of living, the Protocol is driving up transport costs and the prices on our shelves.
    • As we encourage people to install green energy, Treasury tax breaks are not available in Northern Ireland because of the Protocol.

    Devolution can only flourish when there is a solid foundation with cross-community support. We want to see fully functioning devolved government restored in Stormont but that can only happen when the Protocol is replaced by arrangements that unionists can support.