GRAMMAR SCHOOLS SAFE THIS YEAR AND EVERY OTHER YEAR

DUP Assembly Member, Mervyn Storey, has moved to reassure parents and pupils on the eve of the new school year. The North Antrim MLA said today:

“The Education Minister’s tenure in office has been characterized by confusion and disarray. Due to the Education Minister refusing to deal seriously with the need for acceptable new transfer arrangements, as pupils return to school many are still uncertain about the future.

The transfer issue is of significant interest to many people, and despite the Minister’s threatening language, everyone can be reassured that for those seeking and suitable for who want a grammar school education, it will still be available. That is the legal position and there is nothing that Sinn Fein can do to alter that. Had this position not been secured at St Andrews by the DUP, it is clear we would now be on an irreversible path towards a wholly comprehensive system.

Academic selection has been secured. The confirmation that more than thirty schools will use an independent form of assessment to match pupils to the most appropriate school, while not perfect, establishes a baseline position which we can build upon. The approach adopted by the Minister unfortunately made the development of an alternative form of academic assessment outside the Department inevitable. This is not the ideal situation and in our view it would be better for the Department to take responsibility for the assessment. We will continue to work to achieve the optimal outcome. We still maintain consensus could still be achieved on the transfer issue but it would require a genuine commitment from the Minister to find a realistic accommodation in the context of the confirmed legal position.

In the mean time more information about the new test will be published shortly and the dozens of schools who will operate academic selection will be holding meetings to explain the procedures fully. Also, the DUP will be producing a new education document in the first few weeks of the new term. Parents can ignore the threats from those who for some ideological reason are wedded to opposing placing pupils at the most appropriate schools. Academic selection cannot be removed without the consent of the DUP. The Minister has persisted with her tired rhetoric despite even a leaked internal Sinn Fein memo acknowledging that selection could not be abolished. Rather than grasp the nettle, she has left everyone in limbo.

While much recent debate has focussed around grammar schools, it is essential that secondary schools and indeed primary schools receive the same level of focus. Our secondary schools must be protected, particularly at a time of falling pupil numbers, by only permitting grammar schools to admit pupils reaching a certain academic threshold.”

SINN FEIN THREATS REINFORCES DUP DETERMINATION - DODDS

Sinn Fein’s ludicrous attempts to force their own way by issuing threats and running to Dublin and London will not work. Mr. Dodds said it was time for Sinn Fein to accept the political reality that the DUP has made no commitment to the devolution of policing and justice powers until such time as the Unionist community was confident to allow the same to occur. Speaking today the DUP Deputy Leader said:

“It is regrettable that some people in Sinn Fein seem to be labouring under the illusion that if they repeat a lie often enough it will become a reality. They are mistaken. The Democratic Unionist Party made no commitment whatsoever to assent to the devolution of policing and justice powers by any date. Any commitments that were given by the Government to Sinn Fein are a matter for the Government, but the DUP made the situation perfectly clear before we left St Andrews, that we had not agreed to any dates for the transfer of powers. The central component of devolving these sensitive powers to Stormont is sufficient community confidence in the Unionist community to support such a move. The triple lock we secured on this issue stands.

The recent petulant behaviour of Sinn Fein raises serious questions about community confidence. Does Gerry Adams or his friend from the Irish Republic seriously believe that threats to destabilise the transaction of Executive business will assist in boosting confidence in the unionist community? It is entirely counter productive.

The DUP has said that we are willing to engage with all parties on a range of issues but we are not in the business of delivering on a republican agenda. And Sinn Fein need to know we will not allow the good governance of Northern Ireland to be held to ransom by a party trying to deliver some party political shopping list.

As Ministers in the Executive we are there to provide good governance for the people of Northern Ireland. The Ministerial Code details the legally binding obligations which all members of the Executive have to abide by. Sinn Fein need to realise that by engaging in, what boils down to, childish tantrums they are actually eroding the same confidence which is necessary for the devolution of policing and justice powers."

ALLISTER DISAPPOINTED FOR SINN FEIN

Responding to comments from Jim Allister, Peter Weir said:

“Question-evader Jim Allister seems to be labouring under the misapprehension that Sinn Fein not getting their way over Policing and Justice Powers is a bad thing. We do not. Thanks to the negotiating efforts of the DUP, we have a veto on the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers. There will be no movement on this issue until such times as there is sufficient confidence within our community to allow devolution to occur. It is sad to witness Mr. Allister doing Sinn Fein’s work of attacking fellow-Unionists and spreading Republican propaganda rather than turning his wrath on those at fault – Sinn Fein. That’s says a lot about where his priorities lie.

The alternative forms of government that Mr. Allister has advocated are continued Direct Rule, which would deliver for Sinn Fein on a plate, those things which we have vetoed at Stormont – an Irish Language Act, the abolition of academic selection and increased North-South co-operation or a single super-council governing all of Northern Ireland, which would also include Sinn Fein. His specious arguments are fooling nobody and his constant attacks on other Unionists are as boring as they are predictable.”

LET’S HAVE UTTER TRANSPARENCY, HONESTY AND CANDOUR OVER MEP EXPENSES

DUP Assembly Member for Strangford Simon Hamilton has questioned why Jim Allister appears so reluctant to answer simple questions concerning his office expenses and allowances. The Strangford MLA compared Mr. Allister’s demands for openness and transparency with his refusal to answer the question put to him by Mr. Hamilton over a week ago. Commenting, Simon Hamilton said,

“It seems truly strange that Mr. Allister is so unwilling to answer the list of questions that I have posed to him. They are perfectly legitimate questions and they will not go away. Mr. Allister of course has crafted for himself a public image as the guardian of transparency and openness in government. Indeed when Mr. Allister was firing Freedom of Information requests and questions at other people he boldly declared:

“It will be no answer to try and divert attention by attacking me the messenger, let's have utter transparency, honesty and candour.” (Source: Jim Allister’s Website. 15 January 2008)

With such a strong track-record in the pursuit of transparency, honesty and candour it seems strange that my posing of simple questions to Mr. Allister should have been described as mud-slinging. It is no answer for Mr. Allister to attack the messenger, let’s have utter transparency, honesty and candour from him. Only just over a fortnight ago did Mr. Allister admit that his family owns his constituency office, now he must answer some further questions about where his expenses are being allocated. I will continue posing these questions to him until they are answered in a full, open and transparent way.

1. How much did Mr. Allister claim for travel expenses from the European Parliament since his election?
2. How much is each individual employee/service provider in his office paid from European funds?
3. Does Mr. Allister pay European funds to any family members? If so, what for?
4. Who administers his website? How much are they being paid for that?
5. How many trips has Mr. Allister taken since election to the European Parliament?
6. What was the total cost Mr. Allister claimed back from the European Parliament for travel expenses?
7. Have European Funds ever been used to pay office rent to the owner/owners of his office at any time?

These are questions that every Assembly Member, Member of Parliament and Councillor in Northern Ireland has to answer. Let’s see if Mr. Allister applies the same standards of openness and transparency to himself as he does to others.

His spurious defence that he has answered questions from legitimate watch-dogs seems strange coming from a man who has repeatedly used the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act to ask questions of others. Full answers to the above list of questions are not provided on Jim Allister’s website. The public have a right to know what Mr. Allister is doing with public funds. Let’s see a full disclosure in answer to all of these questions in the interests of fairness and transparency, which of course Mr. Allister believes in strongly. Only transparency, honesty and candour will suffice.”

DONALDSON RESPONDS TO SINN FEIN THREAT

The DUP’s Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson has responded to comments made by Sinn Fein Dail Leader Caoimhghin O’Caolain where he threatens that Sinn Fein will pull its Ministers out the Executive. Responding to the Sinn Fein comments Mr. Donaldson said,

“This outburst from Sinn Fein’s Southern leader, overflowing with threatening language, is not in anyway constructive or helpful. Indeed, I would suggest that it would be more befitting for O’Caolain to keep his focus on Sinn Fein’s affairs in the South and leave issues pertaining to Northern Ireland to those who are elected here to deal with them.

Whilst the DUP has made it clear to the Sinn Fein leadership that we are committed to working through outstanding issues and bringing them to a resolution, such language, as has been used by this Sinn Fein representative, begins to cast significant doubt on Sinn Fein’s commitment to making progress in Stormont.

The DUP’s position on the devolution of Policing and Justice has always been crystal clear. O’Caolain well knows, as it was made very clear on the last day at St Andrews, that the May date, for the transfer of Policing powers, was a target date put forward by the Government and the Irish. Indeed, the DUP made it very clear on that occasion that we had not agreed to any date for the transfer of these sensitive powers.

Progress on outstanding issues is based on there being sufficient community confidence to support any advancement. Sinn Fein can assist in the building of this confidence by their public display of commitment to Policing and the rule of law and their cooperation with the Police in apprehending those who continue to engage in acts of terrorism. However, the issuing of threatening statements suggesting that Sinn Fein Ministers will walk away unless their demands are met is not the way to make progress.

The DUP has said repeatedly that it is a unionist ideal to have the policing powers back in Stormont as it was our unionist forbearers who first exercised the powers in the building. Therefore our commitment to making progress, in keeping with our electoral pledges, cannot be questioned.”

FOSTER LAUNCHES BY-ELECTION CAMPAIGN

DUP MLA Arlene Foster has launched her unity campaign to keep the Enniskillen council seat in Unionist hands. Below is an extract of her address delivered to supporters and well-wishers in Enniskillen District Hall on Thursday evening. Mrs. Foster said:

“We were all deeply saddened by the passing of Joe Dodds. Joe was a dedicated public servant held in high regard by people across the political spectrum and his death has caused a great deal of sadness throughout our community. What has compounded that sense of hurt in the Unionist community is the behaviour of Bertie Kerr who objected to a co-option to fill Joe’s seat and has forced us into the position where Sinn Fein could steal a seat they otherwise wouldn’t win in a full election. I am contesting this poll to keep the seat held by Joe Dodds for many years in Unionist hands.

Many Ulster Unionist voters who I have been speaking to have told me that they are deeply offended by what Mr. Kerr has done. In this election people will be suspending their traditional party allegiances. Enniskillen people know that we all need to pull together in order to retain Joe’s seat and stop it from falling to a Republican.

In the last election I polled more than 2,000 votes: the Ulster Unionist candidate came in with roughly 500 and failed to be elected. Only 49% of the votes cast in the last election were for Unionist candidates and it will take close co-operation to win. The figures show that it is only the DUP that can keep this seat in Unionist hands.

Our forebears had a famous motto – United We Stand – I know that the Unionist community in Enniskillen want unity in the face of our Republican opponents. My campaign is designed to bring people together in order to stop Republicanism from capitalising on Bertie Kerr’s divisive actions.

I have been pleased that people are rallying to the theme of our unity campaign and I hope that we will be able to retain Joe Dodds seat in Unionist hands. That would be a fitting tribute to our dear friend.”

STOREY PRAISES NORTHERN IRELAND GCSE STUDENTS

North Antrim DUP Assembly Member Mervyn Storey has praised Northern Ireland’s GSCE students as they once again outperformed the rest of the United Kingdom. Statistics published today by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) show that 74.5% of Northern Ireland pupils gained A* - C grades compared to a figure of 65.7% for the mainland. Mr Storey said:

“Firstly, I wish to place on record my congratulations to our Northern Ireland GCSE students who have once again turned in the best results in the United Kingdom. To those pupils who achieved the results they were hoping for I offer my heartiest congratulations and to those who were disappointed with the outcome of their exams I would urge them not to panic there are lots of options available.

These results are a vindication of the hard work and dedication of our secondary and grammar schools. They demonstrate the importance of protecting those parts of the education sector which are delivering top results whilst at the same time focusing our attention on those parts which are not doing so well. The DUP is committed to the delivery of a truly holistic educational sector which delivers the best for all of our children. A blanket ban upon academic selection as proposed by the Education Minister will not help to achieve that.

I also welcome the fact that we have seen an increase in the number of pupils undertaking Biology and Chemistry at GCSE level. Increasing the number of pupils taking so-called STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics has been identified as a priority in the Programme for Government and it is good to see we are making progress in this field.”

MULTI MANDATE MANIA - CAMPBELL

The DUP’s East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has responded to the latest attempt by some Parties to raise the issue of multiple mandates.Mr. Campbell said,

“Those who are struggling to create a market for themselves in the Northern Ireland political landscape are bereft of ideas if they believe that the issue of multiple mandates is a burning one in the minds of voters. People are concerned that their politicians help to sort out issues such as the credit crunch, affordable housing, economic matters and educational, health and sporting matters. The irony of any political party reading lessons on multiple mandates will not be lost on the wider community particularly when their own performance is now brought under scrutiny. This does however allow everyone to examine the track record of ‘single mandate’ members particularly in the light of some UUP elements trying to raise this in the context of Arlene Foster’s decision to run in the Fermanagh Council by-election caused by the unfortunate death of Joe Dodds.

The facts are beyond dispute and are freely available on independent websites which monitor the performances of all MP’s at Westminster. The members who have spoken most often at Westminster are ‘multi mandate’ MP’s. Compared to single mandate MP’s they are a considerable distance ahead. On voting at Westminster, those of us who have more than one mandate are again ahead of single mandate MP’s.

The tabling of Motions and obtaining of both adjournment and opposition day debates on the matters that the general public are concerned about show that those of us who have more than one mandate are very active, the same cannot be said of ‘single mandate MP’s’. Comparing the pre 2001 situation when the UUP single mandate MP’s were more numerous to the situation since shows the same trend.

It is also possible to ascertain the expenses of each MP. Again because of the economies of scale multi mandate MP’s on average spend less on staff than single mandate MP’s. The salary of an MLA who isn’t an MP is also three times greater than a ‘multi member’.

It is difficult to see what merit there is in advocating a system in the current economic plight that, if successful, would mean less effective MP’s costing more in salaries and expenses at a time when the general public are expected to suffer a more difficult financial climate."

SERIOUS QUESTIONS FOR ALLISTER TO ANSWER OVER EXPENSES

DUP Assembly Member for Strangford Simon Hamilton has said that Jim Allister has serious questions to answer concerning his expenses claimed as a Member of the European Parliament. Mr. Hamilton has called for a full disclosure from the maverick MEP as to the level of expenses claimed from the European Parliament. Commenting, Simon Hamilton said,

“Mr. Allister has chosen over the course of the last fourteen months or so to set himself up as the guardian of transparency in government and the champion of openness. His frequent recourse to Freedom of Information requests is well-documented. Yet strangely, Mr. Allister enjoys a privileged position. As an MEP he is not subjected to the same Freedom of Information legislation that he has deployed against others. He does not have to provide the same details as every other holder of public office in Northern Ireland.

I am sure as such a champion of openness and transparency Mr. Allister would be keen to offer a full disclosure of his expenses. Only on Saturday did Mr. Allister admit that his family owns his constituency office, now lets see if he will answer some further questions about where his expenses are going.

1. How much did Mr. Allister claim for travel expenses from the European Parliament since his election?

2. How much is each individual employee/service provider in his office paid from European funds?

3. Does Mr. Allister pay European funds to any family members? If so, what for?

4. Who administers his website? How much are they being paid for that?

5. How many trips has Mr. Allister taken since election to the European Parliament?

6. What was the total cost Mr. Allister claimed back from the European Parliament for travel expenses?

7. Have European Funds ever been used to pay office rent to the owner/owners of his office at any time?

These are questions that every Assembly Member, Member of Parliament and Councillor in Northern Ireland has to answer. Let’s see if Mr. Allister applies the same standards of openness and transparency to himself as he does to others. Recently he tried to palm off questions regarding these issues by claiming he provides answers on his website. Full answers to the above list of questions are not provided on Jim Allister’s website. The public have a right to know what Mr. Allister is doing with public funds. Let’s see a full disclosure in answer to all of these questions in the interests of fairness and transparency, which of course Mr. Allister believes in strongly.”

O'LOAN COMMENTS "AN AFFRONT TO THE ENTIRE PROTESTANT COMMUNITY"

South Belfast DUP MLA Jimmy Spratt has condemned the comments made by Dame Nuala O’Loan in which she claimed Protestants had been "taught as children that they could not trust Catholics”. Commenting after receiving calls from outraged constituents, Jimmy Spratt said:
"Nuala O’Loan’s comments have caused great offence within the Protestant community. To slur the entire Protestant population in the way she has is entirely unacceptable. As someone who previously held a very sensitive public post one would expect better behaviour from a past Police Ombudsman. It is entirely untrue for Mrs. O’Loan to claim she was untrusted because of her religion. She was not trusted because of her bias.
For many this latest outburst will come as no surprise considering Mrs. O’Loan’s track record. Her bigoted comment highlights why for many within the Protestant and Unionist family, she was an inappropriate appointment as Police Ombudsman. Thankfully now that era is over, and such sectarian baggage is no longer a factor in the Ombudsman’s office.
It seems that generalisations of sectarianism against the Protestant community are becoming common. We all remember the disgraceful sectarianism Mary McAleese indulged in when comparing Protestants to Nazi’s. Such comments are false and must cease immediately.
Sectarianism is a major problem in our society. Self-indulgent nonsense such as this from nationalists does nothing to help create a shared future. Nuala O’Loan should apologise immediately and without any caveats for her disgusting outburst."

STOREY CONGRATULATES NORTHERN IRELAND STUDENTS

North Antrim DUP Assembly Member Mervyn Storey has congratulated Northern Ireland’s A-level students on outperforming their counterparts on the mainland yet again. Figures released by the CCEA showed that 35.4% of Northern Ireland pupils gained an A grade compared to the 25.9% overall figure for the mainland. Mervyn Storey said:

“To those pupils who achieved the grades they wanted I wish to offer my hearty congratulations and to those who didn’t get the results they expected I would urge them not to panic. School careers advisors and further education institutions are well-equipped to help at this time.
Once again we see that Northern Ireland is leading the way when it comes to educational attainment. The Province has many fine secondary and grammar schools and this is reflected in this years excellent A-level results. What these results also show is the importance of protecting those parts of the education sector which are delivering top results whilst at the same time focusing our attention to those parts which are not doing so well. Northern Ireland needs a truly holistic education system which caters for all of our children and ensures they get the best possible education.

Blanket solutions such as banning academic selection will not work. The DUP is working to achieve an education system which is tailored to suit the needs of every child and which will continue to deliver first-class results such as these well into the future."

Mervyn Storey is the Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee

ARLENE FOSTER BRINGING UNIONISTS TOGTHER SAYS MP

DUP Member of Parliament for Lagan Valley, Jeffrey Donaldson has said that Arlene Foster is doing an excellent job in bringing the Unionist community in Enniskillen together to defend the council seat held by the late Joe Dodds from falling to a Republican. The senior DUP MP was speaking after a days canvass in the area. Speaking today Jeffrey Donaldson said:

“People in Enniskillen, regardless of their party-political affiliation in the past, are rallying to Arlene, because they know and understand that only she can stop Sinn Fein from capturing the seat that was held by Joe Dodds. Many people who voted for the Ulster Unionists and other parties in the last election have told me that they will be supporting Arlene in this crucial election campaign because they do not want to see a Unionist seat falling to Sinn Fein and because she is the best-placed person to stop that from happening.

I believe Arlene Foster has struck exactly the right note in the Enniskillen by-election campaign. Her theme of bringing all of the Unionist community in Enniskillen together to prevent a Republican from stealing a Unionist seat is chiming with the voters in the area. People understand that Arlene Foster is best placed to prevent Sinn Fein from capturing the seat held for many years by our friend Joe Dodds, whose passing caused so much sorrow in the local community. Many people are suspending their traditional party allegiances in order to rally to the Unionist best placed to win.

Joe Dodds was a highly respected local figure who worked hard for the community. It would be a tragedy if his seat was allowed to fall to a Republican candidate. People of course are deeply angry that Bertie Kerr should have forced this by-election when there is a very real risk of a Republican winning a seat that they otherwise wouldn’t hold in a full council election. Mr. Kerr of course had no problem agreeing to the co-option of a Sinn Fein member in the past – it seems he only objects when it is a Unionist seat that is being filled. The feedback I am getting indicates that the wider Unionist community in Enniskillen are going to reject his careless wrecking tactics by rallying to Arlene Foster.”

ADAMS COMMITMENT CALLED INTO QUESTION

Nelson McCausland has responded to the comments of Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams who said that the government, in co-operation with the Irish administration should intervene in the political process concerning issues around the devolution of policing and justice powers and an Irish Language Act. Mr. McCausland said the comments called into question Gerry Adams commitment to resolving outstanding issues. Nelson McCausland said:

“This latest outburst from the Sinn Fein President calls into question his commitment to resolving outstanding issues. It is pathetic that Gerry Adams continues to repeat an accusation that is demonstrably untrue. The DUP made no commitment whatsoever concerning the devolution of policing and justice powers to Stormont at the St. Andrews negotiations. Our position on this matter is crystal clear. We will not assent to the devolution of these sensitive powers until such time as there is sufficient public confidence to allow that to occur.

Furthermore, we will not assent to Sinn Fein holding this position. As for any private assurances given to Mr. Adams by the government or the Irish administration, that is for him to resolve with those parties, not with us. The Sinn Fein President really needs to ask himself if behaving in this petulant manner makes finding a resolution to these outstanding issues more or less likely. Does constantly issuing threats in the media because he isn’t getting his own way make it more likely that current problems will be overcome? If this is leadership Sinn Fein-style it leaves a lot to be desired.

The DUP has said that we are willing to work with others to resolve important outstanding issues, but Mr. Adams will have to accept that resolving issues does not equate to giving him what he wants. Sinn Fein might well have become used to Unionists rolling over and giving them what they wanted during the Trimble era but those days are over.

The DUP is working hard for all of the community in Northern Ireland – we will not be deflected from that by this latest tantrum of the Sinn Fein President.”

UUP RECORD ON POLICING AND JUSTICE LEAVE THEM IN NO POSITION TO ATTACK OTHERS

DUP Assembly Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Arlene Foster has reminded the public of the record of the Ulster Unionist Party over the issue of the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers to Stormont. Mrs. Foster said it was regrettable that over recent days, leading UUP members have been attempting to deceive the public over the matter in order to attack fellow-Unionists. Arlene Foster said:

“At a time when the Leader of the DUP has been calling for closer co-operation and Unity amongst Unionists, it is very sad to see the Ulster Unionist Party attacking the DUP and attempting to deceive people. Do they not realise that Unionists want to see closer co-operation, not bitter back-biting? Unionists do not forget that the Ulster Unionist Party had agreed to devolve the Policing and Justice brief to Stormont by 2005, without so much as a commitment from Republicans to support the forces of law and order and the courts. Furthermore, during the deliberations of the Preparation for Government Committee in 2006, the Ulster Unionists, along with the SDLP and Sinn Fein wanted the ministerial brief included in the D’Hondt process – which would have meant a strong role for Sinn Fein in the running of the department. The DUP has stopped that from happening. One would have thought the UUP would welcome positive improvements on the mess created by David Trimble, but it seems not. I think that is regrettable.

Also during the discussions of the Preparation for Government Committee, the UUP representative accused the DUP of playing politics because we refused to commit to a date for the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers. The DUP position on the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers has not changed one iota: we know that ordinary Unionists demand more community confidence before these powers are devolved and they want Sinn Fein excluded from holding this ministry. Due to the hard work of the DUP there will not be a Sinn Fein Policing and Justice Minister. Our record is clear and consistent, which is more than can be said for those who are attempting to deceive people about their party position in order to justify their childish attacks on fellow-Unionists. I have no doubt that a majority of the Unionist community will be appalled by those who are engaging in such foolish behaviour."

ROBINSON RESPONDS TO ADAMS

Peter Robinson, Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party said:

“Gerry Adams seems to be labouring under the illusion that if he repeats a falsehood often enough then people will believe that it is true.

His repeated suggestion that the DUP signed up to a date, or even a target date for the devolution of policing and justice functions to the Northern Ireland Assembly at St Andrews is demonstrably false. This is not merely a matter of interpretation, but a question of fact. This makes his constant comments on the subject all the more bizarre and difficult to understand.

Every time Mr Adams distorts the facts we are happy to point out theincontrovertible truth but it really would be better if he did not feel the need to in the first place.

Once again let me remind him that the DUP made the position clear on the final day at the end of the negotiations at St Andrews when we said,

“There is no definitive date for the devolution of policing and justice powers. We remain of the unshakable view that those powers can only be transferred whenever there is the required community confidence.”

This has been the clear and consistent position of the party and remains the position today.

While progress has been made there are still considerable hurdles which lie ahead and will need to be resolved before a date for the devolution of the powers can be considered.

Indeed, at the end of June at the World Bar Conference in Belfast I set out my position on the matter and made clear that the DUP submission to the preparation for government committee before devolution remained the basis for any negotiations in this area.

Some parties have expressed concern about their lack of involvement inthe process so far, but let me reassure them that key issues have still to be resolved and the purpose of asking the Assembly and Executive review committee to be involved was to ensure other parties were involved in shaping the final structures.

In a matter as important as the devolution of policing and justice it is critical that any arrangements have the widest and broadest support possible. I believe that the involvement of the AERC in the autumn will help ensure this is the case. Too often in the past short term cobbled together political deals have been done which have not been in the best interests of Northern Ireland. This issue is too important for such an approach now.”

NATIONALISTS NO LONGER BELIEVE IN INEVITABILITY OF A UNITED IRELAND

North Belfast DUP Assembly Member Nelson McCausland has said that the nationalist community no longer believes in the inevitability of a United Ireland. Mr. McCausland based his assertion on the findings of a straw poll conducted at last night’s “West Belfast Talks Back” event held in St. Louise’s Comprehensive School on the Falls Road (the event is part of the West Belfast Festival). When asked by the compere, William Crawley did they believe a United Ireland would be delivered within 15 years, a clear majority of those polled did not believe it would happen. Nelson McCausland said,

“If a question surrounding the inevitability of a United Ireland had been asked at the West Belfast Festival in 1998 or during the Trimble era, I have no doubt whatsoever that the vast majority of those being polled would have voted yes. The fact that in a Republican heartland like the Falls Road a clear majority of those polled said they did not believe in the inevitability of a United Ireland should provide encouragement to the Unionist community.
What is clear is that the 2016 pipe-dream being pushed by some has now been abandoned. The fact that nationalists no longer believe that it will be realised is a testament to the hard work of the Democratic Unionist Party. The DUP seeks a stable, secure Northern Ireland delivering for all of our community inside the United Kingdom and that is what we are achieving. Stable devolution provides us with an opportunity to persuade people who in the past have been nationalist in their outlook to the advantages of the Union.

What is clear to me from last nights straw poll is that a majority of the non-Unionist community no longer believe that the Union is doomed – that situation has been brought about by the Democratic Unionist Party.”

DUP RESPONDS TO IMC DECISION

Responding to the decision of the government to call for a report from the Independent Monitoring Commission Jeffrey Donaldson said:

“The Democratic Unionist Party has been working hard for a considerable time to see the removal of all paramilitary organisations from the scene in Northern Ireland. We acknowledge that significant progress has been made in relation to paramilitary activity and the disposal of illegal arms, but there are still outstanding issues that need to be resolved to our satisfaction. The DUP will not be content until every last vestige of IRA structures has disappeared.
The Unionist electorate want to see the complete and total disappearance of all paramilitary groups, both Loyalist and Republican. These groups have no place in Northern Ireland – they are a noose around the neck of the working-class communities in which they operate and their departure will be welcomed by all right-thinking people.”

JUST WHO IS LEADING THE ULSTER UNIONISTS?

DUP Assembly Member for North Down, Peter Weir has responded to a news article in the Sunday Life newspaper featuring David Trimble and concerning the prospects for an Ulster Unionist getting a seat in a future Conservative cabinet.

In the article David Trimble, who left the UUP to join the Conservatives said,
“I am pretty certain that if MY party is linked with the Conservatives that we will see someone from here appointed to a Government post”
David Trimble went on to say that the Ulster Unionists had merely weeks to make up their minds on whether or not to formally link-up with the Conservatives:
“The TORIES aren’t ruling out a June election so they’ll be ready in January to begin candidate selection meetings across Britain and they’ll want to do the same here in Northern Ireland whether or not there’s a link-up agreed.”

Speaking today Peter Weir said:

“David Trimble’s comments at the weekend belie Ulster Unionist denials of his influence behind the scenes in this proposed UUP-Tory link up. Despite Reg Empey’s protests to the contrary, it is clear that the real driver behind this talk of merger is the rejected ex-UUP leader David Trimble. His comments at the weekend reveal a concerted campaign by the former UUP leader to bounce his former party in a direction that many members feel extremely uncomfortable with, namely fully-fledged merger with the Conservatives. David Trimble left the Ulster Unionists and jumped ship to the Conservatives after the voters of Upper Bann sent him packing. Now he is appearing inside newspapers referring to the UUP as his party and his new political home as “The Tories”, issuing threats about time running out for a link up with the Conservatives. Trimble is clearly trying to bounce his successor into serving up the Ulster Unionist Party on a plate. He also fools no-one with his protestations that he isn’t after a Tory cabinet place.

The pace with which this merger is being pushed, most visibly by David Trimble must be unsettling to many UUP members with Labour Party sympathies: people like Sylvia Hermon, Fred Cobain, Michael McGimpsey and Ken Robinson cannot be happy that their party’s independence in Parliament is being sacrificed at the behest of a man who led them to crushing electoral defeat."

DUP POSITION UTTERLY UNCHANGED ON POLICING AND JUSTICE

DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Arlene Foster has reiterated that the position of the Democratic Unionist Party remains entirely unchanged on the issue of the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. In comparing the DUP’s long-held positions on the matter with the present circumstances, Mrs. Foster demonstrated that the DUP had not moved its position one iota. Speaking today, launching the second leg of the DUP’s Rural Road-show at the Enniskillen Show, Mrs Foster said:

“The Democratic Unionist Party position on the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly remains utterly unchanged despite some of the spinning going on by other parties. In 2006 at the Preparation for Government Committee, the position of the Democratic Unionist Party was that we wanted a single ministry. That remains our position and that is what has been agreed. Similarly, we stated that we wanted to see a single minister holding the Policing and Justice brief. That remains our position today and that is what has been agreed.

The central and crucial point in this debate is that the DUP will not agree to the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly until such times as there is sufficient community confidence to allow it to occur. The content of Sinn Fein understandings with the government reached at St. Andrews is something for Sinn Fein to deal with. It has nothing whatsoever to do with us and we are under no obligations on this issue.
Since 2006, the DUP outlined our view that this sensitive brief should be de-coupled from the D’Hondt process and that whoever is appointed must be capable of attracting cross-community support. That remains our position and what has been agreed effectively amounts to a DUP veto on whoever the Policing and Justice Minister will be. Just as we have used a veto in the past where necessary, we will do so again.”

WHAT ABOUT LABOUR-LEANING UNIONISTS INSIDE THE ULSTER UNIONIST PARTY?

North Belfast DUP MLA Nelson McCausland has called into question the political future of Labour-leaning members of the Ulster Unionist Party. The North Belfast MLA was speaking out after recent comments from UUP members and the leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, indicating that they were in favour of full-blown merger between the Ulster Unionist Party and the Conservative Party. Commenting Mr. McCausland said,

“In recent days we have seen leading members of the Ulster Unionist Party and the leader of the Conservatives, David Cameron indicating that they wanted to see full-blown merger between the Ulster Unionists and the Tories. That can’t have been comfortable for people inside the UUP with Labour sympathies like Fred Cobain, Michael McGimpsey or Ken Robinson to witness.

The great strength of Unionism is that it is possible to be a left-wing Unionist a right-wing Unionist or a centrist Unionist. Unionism is bigger than left-right politics and is able to encompass all people with all political positions on socio-economic matters. By aligning themselves in a clear and unambiguous way with a centre-right political party, the leadership of the UUP is effectively telling its members with centrist or left-wing political leanings that they are no longer welcome.

In the past Ken Robinson has been very forthright in expressing his opinion of the Tory Party. Mr. Robinson said:
“The Tory Party is going nowhere fast and is rapidly becoming an irrelevance in British politics. I believe the Tory Party has done little or nothing for Northern Ireland apart from selling us out at Sunningdale and foisting the Anglo-Irish Agreement upon us”

If that is still his opinion, what future will he have inside the Ulster Unionists once they become the Northern Ireland branch of the Conservative Party as so many UUP members seem to want? It is clear that in attempting to hitch his wagon to one political party in Westminster, the Leader of the UUP is going to splinter his party and force many people with Labour-sympathies to leave. Reg Empey needs to ask himself is trying to get David Trimble a cabinet job really worth sacrificing his party over?”