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DUP News Update - 28th February 2020
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** Campaign for victims compensation continues
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Party Leader Arlene Foster commenting on her meeting with William Shawcross
DUP Leader Arlene Foster this week met with William Shawcross who is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Special Representative on UK victims of Gadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism. She was joined at the meeting by Junior Minister Gordon Lyons MLA

Mrs Foster said,

"The appointment of William Shawcross in 2019 was a great step forward for victims of Gadhafi sponsored terrorism and something which the DUP had been pressing the Government to move forward with.

I was delighted to welcome William Shawcross to Stormont for a detailed discussion about the nature of Libyan sponsored terrorism and the ethical and moral imperative that Her Majesty’s Government stands up for innocent victims throughout the UK.

William’s work is really focused at the moment on establishing who was impacted but he is in a race against time because so many victims are getting older.

Last year we established that Her Majesty’s Treasury had collected £17 million in taxes from £12 billion of Libyan assets linked to Colonel Gaddafi, which are frozen in the UK. This fund must be utilised for victims.

The people who lost their lives did not deserve to die or be injured and their loved ones certainly do not deserve the subsequent inaction by successive governments.

This pot of taxes is a source of revenue from which compensation could be drawn while attempts are made to progress a proper compensation scheme with Libya.

During the Troubles, Gaddafi armed the IRA with Semtex. He supplied weapons that undoubtedly contributed to the lengthening of the terrorist campaign.

While justice has been denied to British victims, US victims of Libyan-sponsored terrorism have already been compensated, under the US-Libya Claims Settlement Agreement of 2008.

In 2004, Libya agreed to pay $1m compensation to the families of each of the 170 people killed in the bombing of UTA flight 772 in 1989.

The German Government secured $35 million for those killed in the 1986 bombing of the La Belle discotheque in Berlin.

Yet no such deal has been reached for British victims following the failures of the Blair Government to pursue our case properly. UK victims have been let down.

I will be continuing to press this Conservative Government to make this a priority and deliver more than warm words for victims.

Progress towards a proper outcome for innocent people such as those killed or injured in the Enniskillen Remembrance day bomb would be a truly lasting legacy."
Click to email for tickets (mailto:[email protected]?subject=Spring%20Conference%20Booking)


** UK-wide approach needed to tackle coronavirus
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Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart questioning the Health Secretary this week.

Speaking in the House of Commons following a coronavirus statement by Health Secretary Matt Hancock MP, DUP MP Carla Lockhart has urged the Government to work closely with the NI Executive to protect Northern Ireland.

Carla Lockhart said:

“If we are to contain the threat posed by coronavirus to the UK, it is vital that the Government lead a UK-wide approach and that devolved administrations, including the NI Executive are fully involved in the planning and roll out of appropriate measures. Our safeguarding from coronavirus must be at the same level as every other corner of our United Kingdom.

I pressed the Health Secretary Matt Hancock on this and was pleased to be reassured that the NI Executive is playing a full and constructive role in coronavirus planning through COBRA. I also urged the Health Secretary to ensure that any additional financial support required by the Northern Ireland Executive to tackle the threat of coronavirus is made available.

We all have a role to play in guarding our community from this threat and I am reassured that the Government is working effectively with our local Executive. Our hope is that this virus is contained and does not reach these shores, but at all times we must be prepared.”

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Strangford MP Jim Shannon called for advice to be given to local schools with trips planned.

Party Leader Arlene Foster was in London this week for discussions with the Home Secretary Priti Patel and the Prime Minister.


** Calls for Casement Park funding must be balanced against priorities
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Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley has said that the Community Minister’s potential bid for additional funding above that already allocated for the redevelopment of Casement Park will have to be weighed against the most vital services which require investment for everyone in Northern Ireland.


Commenting after Mr Buckley raised the issue of a potential bid for an additional £33 million pounds at a meeting of the Communities Committee he said,


“There is a commitment within the New Decade New Approach document complete the regional stadia programme of which the development of Casement Park is part, and that is obviously something the Executive will remain committed to.

However, there is very real public concern about the pressures on vital services such as hospitals and schools and the demand is to ensure these are prioritised for additional funding. Taking difficult decisions is the essence of politics, but that is particularly the case when funding is scarce.


Before any decision is taken, the Minister must look at all options including speaking to the GAA about their contribution to the project. The GAA’s revenue increased 16% between 2018 and 2019, standing at over £60million.


This is obviously a project which should have been completed many years ago, and the reasons behind its failure are well known. The Communities Minister is obviously keen to see its quick progression, but finance alongside local community concerns surrounding safety and road access must be taken into consideration. it cannot simply be a case of allocating extra resources without question.”

Minister for Education Peter Weir joined the Environment Minister Edwin Poots this week in supporting an Education Authority competition inviting pupils to investigate the use and disposal of single use plastic in their schools


** Latest Policy Consultations
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Respecting & Valuing Older People ([link removed])
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Diary Page

Dates for your Diary


* North Down Constituency Dinner - Thursday 12th March @ 7.30pm - McKee's Country Store 7 Restaurant. Guest Speaker, Gavin Robinson MP.


* Fermanagh & South Tyrone Constituency Dinner - Friday 20th March @ 7pm - Killyhevlin Hotel. Tickets £28.


* Spring Policy Conference - Saturday 21st March - Seagoe Hotel, Portadown


* Erne West Branch - Dinner & Auction - Friday 17th April @7.30pm - Gransha Hall. Guest Speaker, Edwin Poots MLA.


* Annual Party Conference - 24th & 25th 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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