Tag: Ulster Unionist Party

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionist Party on 30 December 2022.

Ulster Unionist Peer, Lord Empey, who is a Member of the House of Lords Committee on the Northern Ireland Protocol, said of the letter sent by Environment Minister Lord Benyon to Committee chair Lord Jay:

“I read Lord Benyon’s letter with great concern. While he confirms that physical infrastructure will be constructed at Northern Ireland Ports to provide for checks on SPS (phytosanitary) products, he links this to the Protocol Bill currently going through Parliament. He says that this is to enable red and green channels to operate, so that goods destined for the EU can be subject to full EU checks and controls and full customs procedures.

“I am not persuaded that the Minister is giving the real reason for this process. On 1st March this year, Doug Beattie MC MLA, led an Ulster Unionist delegation to Brussels. At a meeting with European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic, it was made clear that many of the irksome checks and a lot of paperwork could be streamlined and reduced to make the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland easier and less expensive. This, however, would have to be negotiated by the UK and the EU.

“The question of physical infrastructure was and is another matter. The EU is insisting on it for two main reasons:- 1) It is in the Treaty between the UK and the EU and 2) the EU is ensuring that in the event of a future outbreak of disease that could threaten the Single Market, the facilities are there to manage what would be significantly increased checks.

“The decision of Whitehall to brush aside the NI Department of Environment and Rural Affairs, whose responsibility it should be to provide these facilities, illustrates the commitment the Government is making to implement the Protocol.

“These facilities, when constructed, will be the physical manifestation of the ‘Border in the Irish Sea’ and downstream consequences of a badly negotiated and ill thought through Brexit.

“The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill is currently stalled in Parliament; no date has yet been set for its Report stage in the House of Lords and the Government is delaying its progress to avoid defeats and amendments which are highly likely to happen.

“The EU knows this and nobody is fooled by talk of trying to ‘show good faith in the negotiations’.

“It’s a sad day indeed when we are discussing arrangements to impede the flow of goods within our own country, and those who campaigned for a poorly designed Brexit have much to answer for. Had there been no Brexit there would be no border in the Irish Sea, no Protocol and no interruption to the working of the Devolved Institutions.

“I see no sign that the DUP policy of boycotting Stormont is working – quite the contrary.

“I think all of unionism needs to review the way forward on this very dangerous constitutional and economic crisis: things can’t go on as they are, especially in the middle of a terrible increase in poverty.

“Since January 2019, Ulster Unionists have advocated an alternative way forward, which would go some way to ending the democratic deficit we have here and lessen damage to our economy (attached).

“I hope these ideas could form the basis of talks between the parties here and between the UK and the EU.

“We need a fresh start in 2023 and these proposals could form the basis of serious negotiations.

“It is a scandal that Northern Ireland politicians continue to be excluded from the negotiations.”

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 28 December 2022.

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 20 December 2022.

Ulster Unionist representatives in the Lurgan area have voiced strong opposition to the decision taken by the Education Department’s Permanent Secretary to close the Lurgan Campus of Craigavon Senior High School in spite of a long running and well supported campaign to keep it open.

Ulster Unionist Party Leader and Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie MC said:

“Over a protracted period the Lurgan community has fought to find a solution to the threatened closure of the Lurgan Campus of the Craigavon Senior High School, that kept the children in Lurgan and maintained a clear educational pathway.  Unfortunately, against the wishes of the community, academics, local councillors and the Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council’s own Community Plan, the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Education has decided that he would rather bus the children from Lurgan to Portadown than find a Lurgan solution.

“This will be a bitter blow to some of the most educationally vulnerable in Lurgan and shows a real lack of vision on the part of the Education Department. This is compounded by the very fact that when we did have an Executive, a Minster for Education refused to make a decision on this development proposal although pressed on it multiple times.

“The reality is that the children of Lurgan have been failed over many years by the Education authority and when there was an opportunity to put education first, they decided to take the route of least resistance ignoring all other options.

Lurgan Ulster Unionist Councillor Louise McKinstry said:

“I am shocked and saddened at this decision. Successive education ministers have failed the children of Lurgan in the controlled sector by not making a decision earlier when they had many opportunities to do so, and they cannot run for cover now.

“A consultation run by the Education Authority saw the proposed closure of the Lurgan Campus overwhelmingly rejected and yet we are now expected to accept the decision of an unelected civil servant to close the educational pathway for non-selected controlled pupils in a town the size of Lurgan. This is not acceptable and the children of Lurgan deserve better than this.”

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionist Party on 20 December 2022.

With another Protocol deadline looming, the Ulster Unionist Party’s Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs spokesperson Tom Elliott has welcomed the confirmation from the EU that they have agreed a further three year extension to the grace period for access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on problems facing the agri-food industry due to the inclusion of animal medicines in the protocol Mr Elliott said:

“Although this is only a stop-gap and temporary solution, we should never have been in this position and I have called on numerous occasions – the last being just a month ago – that animal medicines should be removed from the scope of the Protocol.

“The extended grace period for medicines was planned to come to an end this month at the end of 2022 and so far, the implementation of the full protocol rules would mean that potentially half of all veterinary medicines would no longer be available. The potential impact to our agri-food industry is significant to say the least, and this should never have been allowed to happen. We have an agri-food industry that is second to none with excellent markets in GB, the EU and right across the world which contribute over £500 million to the economy of Northern Ireland.

“This is a very significant issue, not only for animal health and welfare but also for public health, the food supply chain and the Northern Ireland farming community. There is potential for severe repercussions.

“The farming community should continue to have access to the same medicines that are freely available in any other part of the UK and it is vital that our concerns are raised in any negotiations. The EU need to recognise the problems that have been created because of dual regulations. The risks are very real and need addressing as a matter of urgency and that is why I have written to HM Government to highlight this inequality and to ask that they do all in their power to resolve this.

“Medicines should never have been included in the Protocol. I am asking for a practical common-sense approach to this issue and remove animal medicines from the scope of the Protocol, which would help future proof the agri-food industry and at the same time provide a solution that helps protect animal health and food security.”

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 19 December 2022.

East Belfast Ulster Unionist MLA and Communities spokesperson Andy Allen MBE has welcomed the update from Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps MP that Energy bills support for households in Northern Ireland is to commence from January 2023.

Mr Allen said:

“I cautiously welcome the update from the Business and Energy secretary that energy bill support for households in Northern Ireland is to commence from January 2023. However, for many this will be later than when it was most needed and I remain of the view that this much needed support could have been delivered weeks ago.

“Today’s announcement also raises a significant number of questions, therefore, I would call on the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to promptly pull together a question and answer guide that may be able to provide further clarity for households.

“The scheme has also been likened to the high street voucher scheme previously run by the Department for the Economy, which we know presented challenges for many people when it came to providing identification. Many people still don’t have any form of ID, which may cause challenges for them to avail of the voucher support.

“Critically, as the support here is coming much later than it should have and unlike other regions of the United Kingdom there are no alternative packages of support from either the Departments for Communities, Economy or otherwise, the UK Government must ensure the £600 support is proactively delivered. Every passing day that it is not will result in households being pushed further into hardship.

“This short-term intervention is both welcome and much-needed, however, it cannot be a substitute for local intervention to tackle the root causes of poverty and a reliance on fossil fuels.”

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 12 December 2022.

Ulster Unionist Communities spokesperson Andy Allen MBE MLA has written to the Energy Minister, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland calling for the release of at least £200 of the £600 committed by Westminster to households in Northern Ireland before the end of December.

Speaking as confusion continues to grow on when and how the energy support payments would be delivered to households in Northern Ireland, Mr. Allen said:

“It is a complete failure that, while households across England, Scotland and Wales have been receiving financial support since October, the Government at Westminster is still debating how and when equivalent support will be delivered to Northern Ireland households.

“As temperatures continue to drop, families throughout Northern Ireland – many who were expecting support to arrive last month – are struggling to heat their homes or put food on the table with many having to ration food, electricity and heating.

“I have already highlighted that local energy companies have indicated that they can deliver the original scheme to every household with an electricity account – a model that seems to no longer be preferred by Westminster – although I have no idea why they have changed their mind at the 11^th hour.

“I have today written to the Energy Minister, Grant Shapps, copying in the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, asking them to urgently release at the very least £200 of the energy support for each household in Northern Ireland, to be distributed by local energy companies before the end of December. While this is less than people are expecting, it could provide some support for those families and individuals facing the bleakest winter imaginable, whilst the Government works with the utmost urgency to deliver their alternative model.

“This would place Northern Ireland in a similar position to the rest of the UK, who will have received just under £200 for energy support by the end of this month. It is the least Westminster can do to help alleviate increasing hardship. Of course, this should be complemented by an Executive to deliver further short-term support measures alongside the development of medium to longer-term intervention.

“It is imperative the Government acts with urgency to deliver the support which was promised.”

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 8 December 2022.

The Former Ulster Unionist Minister of Health Robin Swann has welcomed the decision from the Department of Health to implement the independent pay review body’s recommendations for health staff.

Robin Swann said:

“This is very welcome but belated confirmation that our health workers in Northern Ireland will receive the same rate of pay as their counterparts in England and Wales. Earlier this year when the recommendations were announced, I made it clear that I accepted the increases and stated I wished to see them implemented as quickly as they could legally be delivered.

“Restoring pay parity was the very first decision I took as Minister in early January 2020 and it’s been shameful that due to lack of a functioning Executive, a gap in pay had  developed once again over recent months.

“Whilst I fully appreciate that the national pay recommendations of at least an extra £1,400 per year or a 4.5% increase still falls short of what many HSC staff are seeking in the midst of the current cost of living crisis, it’s an outrage that they had to wait so long into the year for even the basic increase to be implemented.

“I wrote to the Secretary of State over a month ago urging him to intervene and so I very much welcome the recent clarity on public sector pay policy which has now legally allowed this decision to be taken.

“I am concerned however that given the ongoing budgetary uncertainty at Stormont and the fact that the budget for 2022/23 has only just been agreed four months from the end of the year, that the funding for this essential pay award may come at the expense of investing critical resources at the continued efforts underway to tackle waiting times. I really hope it isn’t an either-or situation, but if necessary, the Department of Health locally must be provided with the additional funds. Patients and key service improvements in areas such as cancer & mental health mustn’t be allowed to fall victim to the damaging political and budgetary delays outside of their control.

Robin Swann concluded: “Given we are now only a couple of weeks away from Christmas it’s my sincere hope that the increases in pay, backdated to April 2022, can be included in the December pay of our health workers.”

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 30 November 2022.

The Ulster Unionist Party’s East Antrim MLA John Stewart said:

“On television on Monday night Mary Lou McDonald was asked if she believed IRA violence was justified. In response she said ‘I believe what was justified was the right of the Irish people to stand against British Imperialism and to fight for our freedom.’

“Her comments encapsulate perfectly the parallel universe in which those who endorse or seek to justify physical force republicanism operate.

“The IRA were not acting on behalf of the Irish people – no matter how you might choose to define the term ‘the Irish people.’

“The Irish people did not endorse the IRA campaign because their political wing – Sinn Fein – received a very small vote during the 1970s and 1980s and was so small it could not be said to constitute an endorsement of anything.

“The Irish people did not authorise or carry out atrocities such as Bloody Friday, Claudy, Birmingham, La Mon, Enniskillen or Warrington. Nor did the Irish people ask for the murder of Garda Jerry McCabe, Garda Gary Sheehan, Private Patrick Kelly or Prison Officer Brian Stack let alone the many RUC officers, Prison Officers and Soldiers murdered in Northern Ireland.

“Those were solely the work of the Provisional IRA. They were terrorist acts by people who had no mandate and who operated under no lawful authority.

“To claim that those responsible were in any way acting on behalf of the Irish people is to insult the Irish people and try to make them complicit in foul and brutal murders.

“No normal democratic political party would find itself in the position Sinn Fein chooses to place itself in time and time again, where it can’t condemn terrorist murders without trying to caveat or equivocate.”

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 29 November 2022.

Armagh Ulster Unionist councillor Sam Nicholson has hit out at a ‘disgusting’ attack on his local Orange Hall at Crosskeys Road, Keady.

Mr Nicholson said:

“I am totally disgusted at the low life thugs who under the cover of night have sprayed sectarian and offensive slogans across the front of my local Orange Hall, which is the home of Crosskeys LOL 88.

“It is a despicable act and abhorrent that anyone could stoop so low. Our local community feels violated by this incident and people in the area are shocked and saddened that there are those who would seek to inflict misery and heartache upon our lodge and our band. We simply want to be respected and be able to celebrate our Orange culture but clearly our very existence is too much for some who are so insecure in their own culture and identity that they feel the need to attack the symbols of others.

“This is nothing less than narrow-minded bigotry. It is not just an attack on bricks and mortar, this is an attack on Unionists and the Orange Order and the many people in the community who use this facility. I utterly condemn those responsible. There can be no place in society for this bitterness and hatred and it speaks volumes about the perpetrators.

“I have been in contact with the police to report this matter and also share the views and distress of the local community.

“I also call on all political leaders to condemn those who continue to attack Orange halls. It speaks volumes that this hall has to have security shutters across all its windows and doors in the first place.

“I appeal to anyone with information to report it to the PSNI by contacting them on 101.”

The press release issued by the Ulster Unionists on 23 November 2022.

Londonderry Ulster Unionist Councillor Ryan McCready has described the people behind the spate of recent attacks in Londonderry and Strabane as absolute cowards and warned that local people will not be intimidated.

Alderman Ryan McCready said:

“Over this past week there have been a number of attacks in Londonderry and Strabane. These have been attacks on the entire community and the one heartening thing is the outright condemnation that has resulted from right across the political spectrum and from every shade of opinion.

“My message to the people responsible is very straightforward. You are absolute cowards, nobody wants you in society, you are the dregs of society and the people of this City and district will stand up to you and won’t be intimidated.

“The days of the men and women of violence using intimidation, threats or real violence are long gone. People want the chance now to live in peace with their neighbours. They know that violence is futile and only ends up creating misery and filling prisons and graveyards.

“They want their children to be able to go to school and receive their education that opens the pathway to jobs and opportunities. They want to be able to go to work and provide for their families. And they want their elderly relatives to live in their own homes free from fear. All that was disrupted by security alerts and bomb attacks this past week.

“If anyone has a problem with policing or politics then let them stand for election and seek the support of the people of Londonderry, Strabane or anywhere else in Northern Ireland. That is how change is achieved, with the support of the people.

“Once again I would appeal to anyone who can help the police to catch these gangsters to come forward with information and get these people removed from society so we can return to living without fear.”