Party Leader addresses Dublin Chamber of Commerce
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Party Leader Arlene Foster addressed the Dubin Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday evening.
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This week, Party Leader Arlene Foster reiterated the Party's support for a deal as the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
Addressing members of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce in the city she said,
"I respect the fact that Ireland has sought to bring about solutions which would keep the UK in the closest possible future relationship with the European Union but equally Ireland has to recognise that the referendum result has to be upheld and that ultimately it is for the Government of the United Kingdom to determine whether future arrangements are compatible with the referendum result.
We want to secure a deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union as the UK leaves. That has always been the position of the party.
I, along with the late Martin McGuinness, wrote to the then Prime Minister in August 2016 outlining our desire to see a deal that would work for Northern Ireland. For our part we have not moved from that position.
In our Westminster manifesto in 2017 we indicated “we will work to get the best deal for Northern Ireland recognising that we share a land frontier with the Republic and the particular circumstances of our unique history and geography.”
So we want to see an agreement reached that we can support and which works for the United Kingdom, Ireland and the other EU member states.
A no deal outcome is no-one’s preferred outcome and is not of itself a final destination.
A deal will not be achieved that involves a backstop whether it is UK wide or NI specific.
Those who know anything about Northern Ireland will appreciate that long-term arrangements cannot be secured in Northern Ireland unless supported by a majority of Unionists and Nationalists.
The majority of Unionists do not and will not support the arrangements as envisaged in the backstop as set out in the draft Withdrawal Agreement."
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Unionist views on backstop cannot be ignored
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Diane Dodds MEP speaking in Strasbourg this week.
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DUP MEP Diane Dodds has spoken out on the European Parliament’s failure to give equal weight to the voice of the unionist community in Northern Ireland and its view on the backstop. She was speaking in a debate in Strasbourg on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
She challenged Michel Barnier during her speech saying,
"Just last week, the former Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, an architect of the Belfast Agreement, spoke out on the importance of the principle of Parity of Esteem and is quoted as saying that, “Any solution has to include the unionist people because parity of esteem in the Good Friday Agreement is both sides.”
Not a single member of the Northern Ireland Assembly from the Unionist tradition supports the backstop. Every unionist party which stood in the EU elections did so on a platform of rejecting the backstop. A recent opinion poll shows that 81% of the Unionist community are firmly against the backstop.
There is a democratic problem with the backstop and you, Mr Barnier, cannot wash your hands of it.
Northern Ireland would be subject to huge swathes of legislation with no control or representation. The backstop simply does not have the support of the Unionist community in Northern Ireland.
It is clear that the voice of the Unionist community is not being given equal weight in this resolution and therefore is in direct contravention of the principles of the agreement you are trying so hard to uphold.
The European Parliament is the directly elected chamber of the European Institutions.
Therefore, I urge you to reassess this resolution before bringing it to the house in order to send a message to both communities in Northern Ireland that their voices and opinions are valued and hold equal weight within the European institutions.”
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Who foots the bill for McCord legal cases?
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East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has written to the Legal Services Commission to ascertain if any public money was used in Raymond McCord’s High Court cases regarding Brexit.
Mr Campbell was speaking after Mr McCord’s legal team also made arguments in the Supreme Court on Thursday about the prorogation of parliament.
He said,
“It is important that everyone has access to justice. I will always defend access to Legal Aid. It is important that if the public is footing the bill then the public should know the costs and the rationale for the case.
Mr McCord’s case failed in Belfast High Court and during 40 minutes in the Supreme Court Mr McCord’s lawyers had to be warned by Lord Wilson, not to "abuse our politeness or Lady Hale's patience" by making arguments about Brexit which were not deemed relevant.
If these cases were funded privately, so be it, but if public funds were used, then we need to know how much.”
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East Antrim gearing up for election
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Party members in East Antrim have met to continue preparations for a General Election. Elected representatives across the constituency have been working closely with Sammy Wilson MP and all members are ready to hit the campaign trail whenever an election is called.
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Special Educational Needs issues raised with Education Authority
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A DUP delegation consisting of Emma Little-Pengelly M.P., Peter Weir MLA, William Humphrey MLA, Paula Bradley MLA, Carla Lockhart MLA, Maurice Bradley MLA and Trevor Clarke MLA have met with representatives of the Education Authority to discuss a range of issues over special needs education. The meeting was requested following concerns raised by parents throughout different parts of Northern Ireland, particularly over the process of placing children in schools and in obtaining proper levels of help and support for pupils.
In a productive and wide ranging meeting,a number of topics were raised including a need for increased resources for special needs education, a fundamental review of service provision, the benefits of early intervention and inter agency co-operation on provision and the need for training for teachers on special needs awareness, particularly autism.
The DUP representatives said, "We welcome that it has been acknowledged there have been problems in the provision of special needs education and in particular the process of placement and communication with parents.
There was alsoa commitment given to take action to make improvements on this issue through restructuring of EA provision, with more specialist teams focussing on specific areas of provision, and improved accountability and monitoring arrangements. The significance of dealing with increasing challenges posed by behavioural issues and mental health difficulties were also discussed.
The delegation welcomed the productive positive engagement on these critical matters, and will continue to press for progress, in a realistic and constructive manner, for the benefit of pupils and families alike.”
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Dates for your Diary
- Annual Party Conference - 25th & 26th October - Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaws Bridge Belfast.
For more information or to express interest in events where not otherwise indicated, please email [email protected] |
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