Today Larne will host the 2023 Northern Ireland Armed Forces Day celebration. It is an opportunity for people here to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets.
Following the fly-past during this week of three RAF Hercules to mark their retirement from service, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster Bomber will be in the skies above Northern Ireland today.
Currently one third of the UK’s Armed Forces comes from the ranks of Reservists, and Northern Ireland’s contribution to the Reserves has always been well beyond what might be expected from a region of our size. As a member of the Defence Select Committee in Parliament and Chair of the Aerospace, Defence and Security Group at Westminster I have been delighted to see the increasing role played by local companies, including Harland & Wolff who are part of the consortium building new support ships for the Royal Navy.
Progress has been made too on the implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland, where since 22nd November last year the Armed Forces Covenant Act has placed a duty on public bodies to have due regard for the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant when exercising functions within health, education and housing. We will continue to work to see that duty extended in the future to areas including employment, pensions, criminal justice, and social care.
We all should be proud of our Armed Forces. The DUP will continue to take a stand against those who would seek to re-write history here in Northern Ireland and equate the actions of terrorists with those who served to protect us all.
