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DUP News Update - 24th January 2020
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** Need to look seriously at infrastructure spending
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Party Leader Arlene Foster interviewed on ITV's Peston show earier this week.
Commenting on challenges facing the new Executive, DUP Leader Arlene Foster said,

"One billion additional in our block grant is a lot of money in anyone’s eyes.

The Confidence and Supply deal was the first time ever that Northern Ireland witnessed a one off injection of cash into our public services in that manner. We have become a little desensitized to how significant one thousand million really is.

We must be careful that we don’t lose sight of the significance of the investment by Treasury as part of the New Decade New Approach deal.

Importantly the Secretary of State told the House of Commons last Thursday that the £2b package represented a “good start”. That means the conversation continues. This is important as we need a long term approach to investing in our public services rather than one-off cash injections.

The Executive will have to make tough decisions as we seek to reform how money is used in our schools and hospitals.

We also need to seriously look at spending on infrastructure. The capacity to manage major projects such as the A5, the Ulster University building, the Critical Care Building at the Royal Victoria.

The recent Audit Office Report pointed to these major projects had an actual overspend of seven hundred millions.

The A5 is ten years late and has a three hundred million overspend. The Critical Care Centre is now expected to be completed eight years late with a £60m overspend. The new maternity hospital in Belfast is six years late and £20m over budget.

It is not just a case of how much we get from the block grant but it is also a case of how we spend the money when we have it.

The RHI inquiry has already taught us all lessons about how projects should be handled but it’s not enough to see the problems, we need to make changes as to how these schemes and projects are handled.

Whilst the temptation would be to wait whilst the Executive beds in before tackling some of these big questions, I believe we need to face down the lack of expertise amongst the civil service for handling major projects or else we will repeat the failures of the past.

One major project which has been driven by my party is the investment in rural broadband. We secured £150m through the Confidence and Supply Agreement for this project and three years later, the project is only at tender stage. If this scheme is managed right it will transform our rural economy. It is designed to incentivise investment in rural broadband where ordinarily the telecoms companies would only focus on growing their network in big population centres.

This scheme can only be successful however, if the Civil Service has the expertise to manage it as it will be one of the biggest single contracts awarded by any government Department. Lessons can surely be learned from the broadband contract issued in the Republic of Ireland.

Ultimately whilst the Executive’s initial debates within unionism has focused on debunking fake news about what an Irish Language Commissioner could do, the real long term goal for all unionist must be to make Northern Ireland a success. Ensure this is a good place to do business, raise a family, obtain an education and receive heath care.

I want to work with all the parties around the Executive table to make the big reforms and build a Northern Ireland for the next generation which is at peace with itself. A Northern Ireland where my British identity is not denigrated and where our neighbours who have an Irish identity feel at home. That should be the long-term goal of all unionists."


** Government's actions must match PM's words
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Jeffrey Donaldson MP speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons this week.

DUP Westminster Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said the challenge is for the Government’s actions to meet the Prime Minister’s words.

It follows a commitment from the Prime Minister to the Lagan Valley MP during Prime Minister’s questions where he gave an assurance that unfettered access for Northern Ireland business to the UK single market would also apply to goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

Mr Donaldson said, “The Prime Minister has given an “emphatic” undertaking that the commitment on unfettered access would apply both on an East-West and West-East basis. Trade is not a one-way process and therefore there should not be barriers placed within the United Kingdom for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

We welcome the Prime Minister’s very clear words today but the challenge is for those words to be put into action. Within the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ document the government also committed to ensuring Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the UK internal market. Recently all Northern Ireland parties also tabled an amendment to the Withdrawal Bill which could have put that commitment into action.

Whist the government did not accept that amendment at the time it is now incumbent upon them to ensure that the commitments are now delivered upon.”


** Chair of Justice Committee highlights priorities
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New Chair of the Justice Committee Paul Givan outlining priorities the party will take forward in the Committee.


** Closure of Bennet House "short-sighted and retrograde step"
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The DUP MPs who met with Director General of the Royal British Legion Charles Byrne earlier this week at Westminster.

Ahead of a meeting of Royal British Legion board of Trustees to consider the future of their break centres throughout the UK, including Bennet House in Portush, a DUP delegation met with RBL Director General Charles Byrne to press the case for retaining this vital centre for our veteran community.

The decision was taken however to proceed with closure of Bennet House, and speaking afterwards, East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said,

"This week DUP MPs met with the Royal British Legion to stress the importance of this facility and the role it plays for our veteran community.

The proportion of veterans per head of population here is higher than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. This, alongside the difficulty in accessing other services in Northern Ireland do not appear to have been taken into account.

Having stood with many hundreds of people outside Bennet House just after Christmas I know the strength of feeling that exists and how greatly valued this facility has been.

This announcement is not just bitterly disappointing for all those from across Northern Ireland who have served our country so bravely. It is a short-sighted and retrograde step from the Royal British Legion which I believe disadvantages people here.”


** DUP MLAs oppose pay increase
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DUP MLAs have joined with others in opposing the proposed pay rise which was put foward by the Independent Financial Review Panel (IRFP) following a 2016 report.

The Party was clear in its position.

"We are totally opposed to this pay rise in light of the very recent restoration of the Assembly. The DUP supports the concept that pay levels should be entirely independent of any MLA input.

We are currently examining options to see whether this rise can be returned and if not then it is the view of our members that they will not keep any additional salary but instead support local causes."

The Party leader also supported a joint statement later in the week from the five main parties which asked the Assembly Commission to defer the payment if possible until the work of the Financial Review Panel was reviewed and a new panel could consider the issue.

Should it not be possible to halt the incrase DUP MLAs will fulfil their pledge to donate the increase to local causes.


** Job Opportunity - Digital Communications Officer
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A job opportunity has arisen within the Party for a Digital Communications Officer.

For more details on the post and information on how to apply please click below.
Job Specification and Candidate Details ([link removed])
Diary Page

Dates for your Diary


* 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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