Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the DUP on 2 December 2022.

Writing in today’s Belfast Telegraph, East Antrim MLA Gordon Lyons has set out the last minute change introduced by Ministers in London which means energy payments to households in Northern Ireland are being withheld.

Much has been made about references that the £400 (now increased to £600) energy support payment would be paid in November or at least before Christmas. These were not dates of our invention, but the words of the then Chancellor and Prime Minister. They also were not some whispered promise to the DUP out of the public gaze. They were comments made in public by the Chancellor in August and reported in this very newspaper.

On 10th August 2022 the Belfast Telegraph reported an interview by the Chancellor on BBC Northern Ireland’s Good Morning Ulster programme. A quotation by Mr Zahawi was included where he said:“The £400 will begin to drop, in the autumn”.

There may be some debate about exactly what might constitute ‘autumn’, but most people would accept that autumn falls before Christmas in the calendar year.

It wasn’t just DUP representatives who referenced payments in this timescale. On 26th August the Belfast Telegraph reported comments where the Utility Regulator said they had hopes people here would see the £400 payment “this side of Christmas”.

Energy support payments could and should have been delivered to households here before the end of November. There was nothing preventing that from happening save for a lack of political will in London. The funding is in place, the systems are in place and the energy companies are ready to process the payment as outlined by the then Chancellor in August.

Instead however, Ministers in London decided within the last few weeks to insert the so-called “cash out” option whereby customers could withdraw some or all of the payment from their electricity provider if their account is in credit. That is an entirely legitimate and useful mechanism, particularly in Northern Ireland where we have a high dependency on oil and other fuel sources. It was also an entirely legitimate and useful mechanism during the summer when it was ruled out as an option by the UK Government.

Little wonder that energy companies are not in a position today to deliver a scheme that includes this cash out option when they were told many months ago to prepare for a scheme where it was specifically ruled out.

For Ministers to re-introduce something like this at the last minute looks to most people like nothing more than a delaying tactic. It is most disgraceful because it is dressed up in some cloak of kindness. It is entirely cynical to introduce measures at this late stage to actively delay the scheme.

It’s not “empty promises” from the Tories in August that should be of most concern, it’s the callous actions in October and November which will likely mean that some people in Northern Ireland suffer a cold Christmas, because Ministers in London decided to withhold payments from people who need that money transferred immediately.

If this is a further act to punish the DUP for demanding the Government and Brussels replace the NI Protocol with arrangements acceptable to unionists, then it is an outrageous abuse of power and hurts the most vulnerable.

The press release issued by the DUP on 1 December 2022.

DUP Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds has said the European Union should focus on replacing the Northern Ireland Protocol with arrangements that unionists and nationalists can support rather than brandishing threats of sanction.

On Wednesday the European Council and Parliament agreed plans to restrict trade with the UK for a failure to comply with the Protocol and earlier today European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was speaking in Dublin.

Mrs Dodds said:

“The EU is failing to recognise the concerns of Unionists. Despite the Protocol driving up the cost of doing business, hindering the supply of medicines and preventing the devolved institutions from functioning, Brussels refuses to face the reality that the very arrangements it insisted upon are undermining political and economic stability in Northern Ireland.

For weeks we have been told the mood music is good and that talks have been constructive. Yet the EU seems to be focused on punishing the UK for having the audacity to protect the integrity of its internal market. The hypocrisy is staggering. Let’s not forget that it was the EU that moved to trigger Article 16 to stop the supply of vaccines during the pandemic.

Rather than using the threat of sanctions as a stick to beat the Government, the EU need to get on with agreeing alternative arrangements that can command the support of both unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland. Any solution must restore the consent principle at the heart of the Belfast and St Andrew’s Agreements. Not a single Unionist MP or MLA supports the Protocol. Without a return to consensus politics the future of devolution will remain on life-support.

It is crucial that the Government hold their nerve in the face of this aggression but most of all there is a need for decisive action. An antidote for the poison the Protocol has injected into our politics is found in the Protocol Bill. Ministers must not shy away from taking the necessary steps to bring matters to a head and finally restore Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.’’

The press release issued by the DUP on 1 December 2022.

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson has welcomed guidance sent to stakeholders in the Education sector alerting them to the passage of the Armed Forces Covenant Act.

The Act introduces the Armed Forces Covenant Duty on public bodies to have due regard for the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant when exercising specific functions, including within education.

The DUP MP said, “The Act fulfils a commitment that we secured in the New Decade New Approach agreement that there should be statutory underpinning of the Armed Forces Covenant on a UK-wide basis. Its inclusion within NDNA followed a Private Members Bill which I brought before Parliament back in February 2019.

Sadly, there had been attempts to block the implementation of the covenant, with some even trying to deny that it applied here. It was these actions which motivated my initial attempt to see the Covenant enshrined in law. The passage of the Act leaves no doubt now that Northern Ireland is fully included within the Covenant.

The Covenant doesn’t provide any unfair advantage to veterans, it merely ensures those who serve in the Armed Forces, both regular and Reserve, veterans and their families should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens.

Whilst the legislation currently covers areas of health, education and housing, there is scope for further areas to be added, and I would hope that it can be extended in the future to areas including employment, pensions, criminal justice and social care.

The guidance sent by the Department of Education is a useful reminder to all areas of that sector following the Covenant Duty coming into force on 22nd of November. I would hope that other Departments impacted by it in Northern Ireland will take similar action.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 30 November 2022.

The DUP’s Lead Policing Board representative Trevor Clarke MLA has welcomed the decision by the High Court to grant permission to former police officers to challenge the Police Ombudsman’s recent findings of ‘collusive behaviour’ against the RUC.

Responding to the ruling – which was secured by the Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers Association – Trevor Clarke said:

‘‘The standing of the RUC has been unfairly tarnished by a recent list of reports by the Police Ombudsman’s Office which allege ‘collusive behaviour’ without bringing forward a shred of evidence capable of instigating criminal proceedings. This ruling is a positive first step toward challenging the legal basis for such assertions and thus defending the reputation of the vast majority of officers served with distinction during our darkest days.

Today’s ruling is not the first time a Court has indicated the Police Ombudsman may have ‘overstepped the mark’ in making findings of this nature. It is a matter of deep regret that the Office has not seemingly learned from past mistakes. Instead it seems likely that it will become engaged in another protracted legal battle that could have been avoided. This does precious little to restore waning confidence in our police complaints system, which has been beset by delay.

I want to commend the Association for their perseverance in securing this judgement and assure them of our continued support moving forward.’’

DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has previously highlighted the Police Ombudsman’s continued failure to take proper account of the context of Troubles-era policing in investigation reports.

He added:

‘‘The Police Ombudsman it appears has sadly fallen into the trap of investigating allegations of collusion without recourse to any statutory definition in law. To make matters worse, the reports published by her office in recent times largely fail to present an understanding of the policing context of the period – a period in which police officers and our society as whole were subject to an unprecedented terrorist campaign.

Such an approach inevitably means the actions of the RUC are being unfairly judged against the expectations of modern day policing. This leaves the door open for revisionism.

The reality is that police officers during the Troubles did not have infinite time or resources. The RUC had to prioritise decisions and operations on the basis of an assessment of risk in order to preserve life. In this challenging environment, mistakes were regrettably inevitable, however not on a scale, or with an intent, comparable to colluding with terrorists.

The DUP will continue to press for these facts to be reflected by the Police Ombudsman’s Office going forward.’’

The press release issued by the DUP on 30 November 2022.

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has said the UK Government is shifting the goalposts on energy support payments whilst the people of Northern Ireland suffer the consequences.

She was speaking after raising an Urgent Question to the Business Secretary in Parliament today on delivery of the £400 energy support payment.

The DUP MP said,

“The energy support payment is a lifeline that has been dangled in front of the people of Northern Ireland but is now being withheld by Westminster. People in Northern Ireland heard a clear assurance from their Prime Minister that the payment would be delivered in November. They may have changed their leader, but the Conservative Party should at least keep its promise to support all parts of the UK during a cost of living crisis.

Devolving this issue would delay rather than deliver this payment to people facing a very cold Christmas. Further attempts to amend and change the scheme now are nothing more than an attempt to muddy the water and create further delay. Whilst the government is now talking about a ‘cash out’ option, this is something they emphatically ruled out as far back as June and July. The government is shifting the goalposts, whilst the people of Northern Ireland suffer the consequences.

The funding is there, the systems are in place and the energy companies are ready. This has been the case for some time and there is no excuse.

This money could still be delivered to households before Christmas if there was a will to do so. We have seen this Government move with incredible pace when it chooses to and on issues that it appears to actually care about. It seems clear that maintaining a UK-wide approach and on helping people in Northern Ireland heat their homes just don’t feature on that priority list.”

The press release issued by the DUP on 30 November 2022.

The DUP’s Lead Policing Board representative Trevor Clarke has reiterated his Party’s position that any reform of how police misconduct proceedings are dealt with in Northern Ireland must not jeopardise the safety of officers.

Commenting, the South Antrim MLA said:

‘‘We echo the concerns raised by the Police Federation in relation to public hearings for misconduct hearings. Recent attacks in Londonderry and Strabane demonstrate that the threat from dissident republicans towards police officers is active and credible. The notion that officers should be required to appear publicly at hearings is neither justified nor proportionate given the enduring threat level. It would expose them and their families to unacceptable risks. Indeed it is foolish for anyone to believe there can be a direct read across between this provision in England and Wales. The unique policing environment in our Province must be acknowledged and respected.

The DUP has consistently held this position. Regrettably, as a minority grouping on the Policing Board, the final publication of corporate reports does not wholly represent our views or vision. However, it is worth noting that the final text on this occasion expressly recognises that in respect of public hearings ‘‘the Board is aware of the difficulties this would pose in Northern Ireland.’’

We will continue to defend the right of officers to due process and disciplinary processes where their welfare is paramount. As a Party, we expressed concerns with plans for public hearings in the Police Ombudsman’s Five-Year Review and, more recently, in response to the Board’s review of the human rights of PSNI officers.

Any reforms will ultimately require agreement and a change in regulations. Rather than focusing on divisive proposals that do not command the necessary public or political support, we need to take forward changes that drill down into the causes of significant delay in misconduct proceedings and provide better, fairer and timely outcomes for affected officers and complainants. We will continue to work with the PSNI and Police Federation to make this progress a reality.’’

The press release issued by the DUP on 29 November 2022.

DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP has urged the European Union to recognise the damage and instability the NI Protocol is inflicting on Northern Ireland and change course.

The press release issued by the DUP on 29 November 2022.

Foyle MLA Gary Middleton has said the decision to make significant cuts to staff and programming at Radio Foyle are a blow to local journalism and the north west region.

He also called on the BBC to spell out how the services that have been axed will be replaced.

The DUP MLA said, “This isn’t the first attempt to axe services and staff at Radio Foyle. The station provides a hugely valuable local output from journalists based in the area. This is what the BBC should be focusing on and developing as part of truly public service broadcasting. We have also heard from others how the decision to axe the breakfast show goes against what the BBC is saying in other parts of the UK about the importance of local programming at that timeslot.

The Breakfast Show on Foyle has been to the forefront of highlighting many local issues and the station itself has been recognised many times for the quality of output they produce. The decision should be reversed, but at a minimum the BBC should explain the rationale for their decision and how they plan to retain the quality and quantity of local output for people in the north west region.”