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DUP News Update - 14th February 2020
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** Public are not interested in divisive border polls
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Arlene Foster addressing the business breakfast in East Belfast

Speaking at a business breakfast in East Belfast this morning, DUP Leader and First Minister Arlene Foster MLA said,

“The restoration of the Assembly and Executive was not only welcome but essential.

The clear message from not only our voters but all voters was that Northern Ireland could not continue to drift after three years without local decisions on everyday issues like our roads, schools and hospitals.

This vacuum could never provide businesses with the clarity, certainty and long-term stability to plan for the future.

The results of recent elections on either side of the border have demonstrated the electorate are more focused on what we call the bread and butter politics, but what to everyone else is simply real life. Those are the issues on which we must focus.

This is not to say we will be complacent in defending and promoting the overwhelming social and economic benefits of being part of the United Kingdom.

But rather that right now our priority should be working to make Northern Ireland a better place to live, work, grow up, raise a family and do business.

It is time to deliver better hospitals, schools and infrastructure through our devolved government.

That was the basis of our approach in multi-party talks prior to Christmas.

And whilst the final deal is not perfect we believe it is a fair and balanced settlement which recognises there are people who live here with a British, Irish, Northern Irish or even a new and emerging identity who want to make their home here.

I want everyone to feel at home here, regardless of their identity. No one should feel their identity is being denigrated or threatened.

It will not be all plain sailing, mistakes will be made, but we should be ambitious and flexible about what can be achieved.

We should not lose sight of the fact that the best way of countering the case against those who wish to take us out of the United Kingdom is to create a social thriving and economically prosperous Northern Ireland where everyone everywhere has a true stake in their future.

Preparing well for the future requires forward-thinking and long-term strategy.

The path to delivering the positive and ambitious vision I have set out very briefly this morning will not always be easy.

There will undoubtedly be bumps in the road.

But there is a responsibility on all of us to work collectively in the best interests of households and families across Northern Ireland.

We all have a role to play and I look forward to getting this place we all call home moving in the right direction again."
"Border Poll is a distraction" - Read Arlene Foster's Belfast Telegraph platform ([link removed])


** Boost with bus and aircraft orders
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DUP MPs have welcomed significant orders placed this week for both buses and aircraft which will boost the Northern Ireland economy.

Ian Paisley welcomed a commitment from the Prime Minister for a package of investment in bus services which will include at least 4,000 new zero emission buses.

He said, “This is a hugely significant announcement from the Prime Minister. There are two manufacturers in the United Kingdom capable of producing these buses, with Wrightbus in Ballymena the only one of the two that is British-owned.

An investment in both battery powered and hydrogen powered buses can provide a huge boost for Wrightbus and for employment and the wider Northern Ireland economy. It is a very good news story and I have spoken to the Prime Minister today and encouraged him to continue his support for the UK bus market and particularly for a locally made product which leads the world in this technology.”

Later in the week, East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson welcomed news that Airbus is set to buy Bombardier’s remaining stake in the A220 programme. It came as a new Nigerian airline ordered 50 of the aircraft.
The DUP MP said, “This is a very good day for the A220 programme and more widely for the plant in Belfast. The vote of confidence by Airbus in taking their initial stake in the A220 has been rewarded, and even today we see further orders as they take sole control of the programme.

The linkages between Spirit Aerosystems and Airbus present further potential opportunities for the Belfast plant. Some of these have already been pointed to by industry experts, and key to that is the expertise within the Belfast operation and the possibilities for further growth here.

I will continue to offer any support that I can to assist the company and help ensure the kind of positive and settled future everyone wants to see for the Belfast plant.”


** Assembly unanimously backs "Finn's Law"
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On Monday, the Assembly unanimously backed the DUP call to introduce Finn's Law. The motion was proposed by North Down MLA Alex Easton and South Antrim MLA Pam Cameron.

Speaking afterwards Alex Easton said, “This law was inspired by a Police dog called Finn who was almost killed protecting his handler from attack. The stab injuries he received required lifesaving surgery yet the only offence his attacker could be charged with was criminal damage. The law passed across the rest of the United Kingdom corrected that injustice that wilful harm to a service animal would be treated in law in the same way as breaking a window.

The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill passed in the House of Commons covers England and Wales and similar legislation is coming forward in Scotland. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where service animals do not have that legal protection.

These courageous animals carry out a vital service in assistance to police officers, prison service staff, fire and rescue personnel and others. I am delighted that the campaign, which has been take forward with such determination by the Finns Law Northern Ireland group and supported by a petition of over 44,000 people in Northern Ireland, received unanimous backing across the Assembly chamber. It is obviously particularly pleasing that the DAERA Minister Edwin Poots has signalled that he is sympathetic to the proposal for greater protection to be afforded to service animals and he will consult with Ministerial colleagues and the public about the necessary legislation.

Today’s debate is only the very first step in the process and I will continue to support the Minister in any way possible during the remainder of this Assembly term to see this legislation introduced as soon as possible.

This is an issue above party politics and bringing forward this legislation will be something that everyone can be proud of, regardless of their political viewpoint. Northern Ireland has led the way previously on issues of animal cruelty sentencing but it is something we must always review and work to ensure that animals are given the protection they deserve and anyone who would seek to cause harm to an animal will receive a sentence which fits the severity of their actions.”


** Call for action to protect places of worship
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North Down MLA Gordon Dunne has welcomed confirmation from the Justice Minister that she is actively considering the introduction of a Places of Worship Security Scheme which is already in operation in England and Wales.

The commitment came in In response to Written Questions tabled by the DUP MLA where the Justice Minister has confirmed that between 2016 and 2019; 445 attacks were recorded on places of worship in Northern Ireland.

Gordon Dunne MLA comments: “Freedom of religion and belief is a bedrock value of our society. Each and every person who lives here has a right to live out their faith and to worship with others.

No-one in Northern Ireland should be attacked because of their religious beliefs and as a society we should not tolerate attacks on any place of worship here. Sadly, it has become apparent that attacks on places of worship have become all too common an occurrence; with 445 attacks being recorded between 2016 and 2019. An attack on a place of worship is an attack on the community who worships there.

I welcome the news the Department of Justice is actively considering the introduction of a Places of Worship Security Scheme here. Such a scheme would allow faith communities on a voluntary basis to apply for funding to introduce security measures to protect their property. Many faith communities are small and may struggle financially to install such security measures to protect themselves from attack so such a scheme may prove valuable.

The introduction of the Places of Worship Security Scheme in England and Wales; and with the Department of Justice in Scotland recently announcing they will be launching a version of the scheme in the near future; has left Northern Ireland as the only part of the United Kingdom without such a scheme in place. I hope the Justice Minister gives speedy consideration to the introduction and implementation of a similar scheme in the near future.”
Diary Page

Dates for your Diary


* Mid Ulster Constituency Association Annual Dinner - Friday 28th February, 8pm - Royal Hotel, Cookstown.


* Annual Party Conference - 23rd & 24th October - Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaws Bridge Belfast.

For more information or to express interest in events where not otherwise indicated, please email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Diary%20Dates%20-%20DUP%20Newsletter)

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