No Prospect of Change at Stomont while DUP and SF Rule the Roost

Admin —  July 3, 2013

Below is the speech delivered yesterday by TUV leader Jim Allister during the Stormont debate on the review of d’Hondt, community designation and an opposition.

“Here we have another non-report by the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. It goes through the motions of a few platitudes here and there, presented by a Chairman, who dutifully reads out to us what is being presented and tells us all of the work that the Committee has done. However, when, at the end of that, one evaluates the report, one sees that it does not amount to a row of beans because we have been here so many times before.

“It is proof positive, yet again, that the House will never self-regulate itself into a functioning, recognisable democratic chamber because the vested interest is such that clutching all power by those who are in power is the overriding consideration. Continue Reading…

In Newsroom, NI Politics
permalink

Equal Pay claimants betrayed

Admin —  July 3, 2013

Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-

“£26m had been set aside from Treasury, as part of the policing and justice devolution agreement, to meet Equal Pay claims from Civil Servants who had transferred to work for the PSNI and other agencies.

“Now, this money has been handed back to London as part, I believe, of the funding arrangement over the expensive G8 event. The return of the money has been confirmed in response to AQW 24739/11-15.

“Yet, there are unmet claims by these civil servants. Stormont has let them down. Instead of trying to help, by way of deciding to meet their claims by direct ministerial decisions (ministerial directions), or making payments under the Financial Assistance Act (NI) 2009, the Stormont ministers have turned their backs on them and paid the money back to the Treasury. This is a shameful betrayal of deserving employees.”

In Justice, Newsroom, NI Politics
permalink

Robinson Declines to Condemn Culture Minister’s Protests Against Unionist Culture

Admin —  July 2, 2013

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“I have been contacted by many people in the Unionist community who have expressed their disgust at the fact that the Culture Minister, Carol Cullan, has attended a number of protests against Loyal Order parades in Belfast. Not unreasonably there is an expectation that a Culture Minister would be expected to respect expressions of culture, regardless of what her personal opinion of that culture is.

“I therefore took the opportunity presented by a statement on Building a United Community to invite the First Minister to comment on Cullan’s behaviour.

“I am disappointed but not surprised that Mr Robinson is so beholden to Sinn Fein/IRA that he declined to do so. Continue Reading…

In Newsroom, NI Politics ,
permalink

Allister Highlights £32 million Annual Squander on North Southery

Admin —  July 2, 2013

Below are some of the comments made by TUV leader Jim Allister during yesterday’s debate on North-South institutions:

“Members will note that the amendment does not take issue with practical, pragmatic, mutually beneficial cross-border co-operation. It takes issue with the squander of the elaborate North/South arrangements and challenges whether those are necessary for that practical co-operation and whether they are value for money. On both counts, they fail the pragmatism test.

“We live in a time when all of us are very familiar with the pressures that our constituents live under and the pressures that our economy operates under. In a time of austerity, we are constantly being told of the requirement for savings, and we had more indications of that earlier today. Continue Reading…

In Newsroom, NI Politics ,
permalink

Allister deplores Adoption Ruling

Admin —  June 27, 2013

Statement TUV Leader Jim Allister:-

“Today’s ruling by the Court of Appeal in favour of ‘gay adoption’ is a most retrograde step, which further undermines the proven worth and centrality of the traditional family unit in our society.

“Children benefit the most from the influence of a father and a mother and whereas many single parents do a remarkable job, the promotion and facilitation of children being brought up under a same sex relationship, as if it were the norm, is, in my view, wrong. But, this is where pursuit of a perverse ‘equality agenda’ has led us. Continue Reading…

In Newsroom, NI Politics
permalink

TUV Withdraws from Unionist Forum

Admin —  June 27, 2013
Following a meeting of the party officers on Tuesday night and consultation with grassroots party members TUV has decided to withdraw from the Unionist Forum.
 
In a statement the party said:
 
“TUV was sceptical about the potential of the Forum to achieve anything of substance and made this clear at the outset. We were never interested in something which was merely an expediency for the moment. As the months have progressed the various subgroups of the Forum have rarely if ever met and public cynicism about the Forum and its ability to deliver anything has grown. In fact, most people have probably forgotten about its existence. Continue Reading…
In Newsroom, NI Politics, Terrorism, Victims , , ,
permalink

HRH Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall Visit to North Antrim

Admin —  June 26, 2013

Statement by Jim Allister MLA:

“I am delighted that the HRH Prince of Wales and the Duchess were able to visit my constituency area of Ballymena.

“Their visit to Wrightbus only weeks after the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, reflects the international success as far afield as London and America the company has had in the last year.

“The importance of private sector growth cannot be emphasised enough; in order to improve living standards in the province and attract inward investment, dynamic companies such as Wrightbus and other local businesses need to continue to build on their success. Continue Reading…

In General, Newsroom , , ,
permalink

Below is the speech delivered by Jim Allister during the debate on the Planning Bill last night

Admin —  June 26, 2013

Below is the speech delivered by Jim Allister during the debate on the Planning Bill last night:

Yesterday, we witnessed a power smash-and-grab raid with amendment No 20. Today, with amendment No 26, the new tool of tyranny is to gag the citizens. To underscore that, the amendment not only gags the citizens but circumvents the courts to make sure that the opportunities that currently exist to challenge executive authority are neutered. For decades, nay centuries, the courts have played a vital role as a restraint on the abuse of executive power, and that is why the function of judicial review has evolved over many years. However, the obvious effect and purpose of amendment No 26 is to remove from the citizen the right to have recourse to that remedy in the manner that he or she currently has. Continue Reading…

In Newsroom, NI Politics ,
permalink

Allister denounces OFMDFM power grab of Planning powers

Admin —  June 26, 2013

Below is the speech delivered by Mr Allister during the debate on the Planning Bill on Monday past.

The position that we have arrived at is a most illuminating commentary on the system of government in Northern Ireland. We appoint, by a specific means, Ministers to various portfolios. We appoint an Environment Minister, and planning is a large part of his portfolio. That Minister is then ambushed by an eight-page amendment to a Bill that he, in good faith, has brought to the House, and that has been through the relevant Committee of the House, without a whisper of that ambush. The amendment was presented to the House a few hours, in working terms, before the Bill was due to have its Consideration Stage. Not just the House but, most particularly, the specifically appointed planning Minister has been ambushed. That is, I suggest, a most illuminating commentary on how government works or does not work in this House. It is also an illuminating insight into the political motivation and intent of the ambushers, and the respect or disrespect in which they hold their Executive colleagues. Continue Reading…
In Newsroom, NI Politics ,
permalink

Complaint Against Kelly to Progress

Admin —  June 26, 2013

TUV leader Jim Allister has welcomed a letter from the Assembly Commissioner for Standards which acknowledges that his complaint against Gerry Kelly will proceed.

In his letter Mr Bain has informed Mr Allister that if there are PSNI and / or Police Ombudsman investigations into the events of Friday night past he will suspend his investigation “pending the outcome of these other investigations”.

Mr Allister has also written to the Chief Constable about Gerry Kelly’s conduct. Continue Reading…

In Newsroom, NI Politics
permalink