Archives For NI Politics

Allister makes Formal Complaint to Assembly Commissioner for Standards on Phil Flanagan

Admin —  July 25, 2013

Statement by Jim Allister MLA:

“As the UK was rejoicing in the news of the birth of Prince George it did not take long for the Sinn Fein mask to slip yet again. This time it was the turn of Phil Flanagan MLA who retweeted a crude and offensive comment in relation to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

“While hardly surprising it is nonetheless unwarranted and I would argue it was a breach of the Code of Conduct that all MLAs are bound by. Therefore, I have today sent a letter of formal complaint to the Assembly Commissioner for investigation.”

Below is the text of a letter TUV leader Jim Allister MLA has today sent to the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards following the conduct of Sinn Fein MLA Phil Flanagan. Continue Reading…

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Royal Birth Shows Urgent Need to Address the Issue of Flying Union Flag at Stormont

Admin —  July 23, 2013

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“I have previously highlighted the fact that Stormont failed to fly the Union Flag to mark the Duchess of Cambridge’s birthday (see here http://www.tuv.org.uk/press-releases/view/1729/tuv-leader-blasts-stormont-failure-to-fly-flag-for-royal-birthday- )

“Again today while the Union Flag flew at City Hall the flag pole at Stormont was empty.

“In recent times, Unionists at Stormont have come together to attempt to progress this issue. I hope that the TUV suggestion that Stormont follow the example of the Welsh Assembly and Westminster and fly the Union Flag 365 days a year. Continue Reading…

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TUV Demands Clarity on Union Flag and National Anthem

Admin —  July 20, 2013

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“For some weeks now I have been pressing the Culture Minister and those organising the World Police and Fire Games about whether or not the Union Flag will be flown to represent competitors from Northern Ireland. The answers have been ambiguous to say the least.

“Now, with less than two weeks to go before the Games, I am demanding clarity as to whether the Union Flag will be flown to represent competitors from Northern Ireland. Continue Reading…

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Allister Blasts Bizarre Decision on Castlederg Parade

Admin —  July 10, 2013

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“The outrageous decision of the Parades Commission to ban the return parade passed the Ardoyne shops has understandable grabbed the headlines. However, the bizarre decision to also ban a parade in Castlederg due to take place before an 11th Night Bonfire also deserves media scrutiny.

“I have been contacted by members of  Castlederg Young Loyalists Flute Band who are baffled and rightly outraged by the Commission’s decision to ban their parade along a section of a road which is overwhelmingly Protestant.

“There has been no controversy surrounding parades there in the past and the band suspect that the Commission’s decision is the result of pressure from Sinn Fein. I understand that a local Unionist politician has made representations to the Commission following news of the restrictions placed on the parade but these were dismissed. Continue Reading…

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Monstrous Parades Commission decision on Ardoyne

Admin —  July 9, 2013

Condemning the Parades Commission decision to ban the Orange evening parade past Ardoyne, TUV Leader Jim Allister said:-

 
“This is a wholly provocative and perverse decision from a partisan and anti unionist Parades Commission, which urged the Orange to talk to residents and then when they did kicked them in the teeth. This is a Commission determined to humiliate Orangeism, reward republican violence and expunge unionist culture. They draw strength from the current political set up which itself is constructed on the rewarding of terrorism. Such suppression of unionist and loyalist culture is the natural compliment to IRA/Sinn Fein rule sustained at Stormont by some who will protest this decision.”
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Ann’s Law gets Royal Assent

Admin —  July 9, 2013
Jim Allister MLA and Ann Travers

Jim Allister MLA and Ann Travers

The Civil Service Special Advisers Bill yesterday (8th July) received Royal Assent.

Commenting its sponsor Jim Allister said:-

“Despite all the foolish claims of some, most notably Sinn Fein, that it was not human rights compliant, the SPAD Bill passed all the rigorous scrutiny of the Attorney General, the Advocate General and the NIO’s lawyers and is now the law of the land.

“Under the Act ministers must now declare if any of their Special Advisers have serious criminal convictions and multiple murderer Paul Kavanagh, and any other serious criminal in post, has 3 weeks to activate the appeal mechanism to an independent panel on specified grounds. Otherwise Mr Kavanagh automatically loses his position 2 months after Royal Assent. Continue Reading…

In Justice, Newsroom, NI Politics
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TUV leader Calls for DSD Minister to Go

Admin —  July 8, 2013

Below is the speech Mr Allister made today when proposing his amendment.

I beg to move amendment No 2:
Leave out all after “glazing” and insert
“; and having no confidence in the Minister for Social Development calls on him to resign.”

I begin on a totally non-controversial note by saying that it is great to see back in the Chamber the Member for East Londonderry Mr David McClarty. [Applause].

Some Members: Hear, hear.

Mr Allister: It is marvellous that he is back with us. I am sure we all wish him every success in the recovery and the battle that he has.

I am not here today to defend the Housing Executive. I am not here today to defend any contractor, whatever vested interest others might have. I have no vested interest in defending any contractor. This debate is about the Minister. It is the Minister that this House can hold to account, and that is why that is the focus and should be the focus of the debate. True to form, of course, the DUP has tabled an amendment in an attempt to divert and divide attention away from the issue — a desperate attempt to muddy the waters as much as they can. We heard Mr Campbell today, as we heard him on the BBC last week, and I think anyone can see through it. Methinks he doth protest too much in the desperate attempts to muddy the waters in these issues. Continue Reading…

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TUV Asks Head of NICS to Investigate McCausland’s SpAd

Admin —  July 4, 2013

TUV leader Jim Allister has written to the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service requesting an investigation into the behaviour of the Special Adviser to the Minister for Social Development, Stephen Brimstone.
 
The texts of Mr Allister’s letter is below. Continue Reading…

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McCausland and SPAD must go

Admin —  July 4, 2013

Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-

“Tonight’s BBC Spotlight programme was a damming indictment of the DUP and its practice of abuse of power.

“Any self respecting DUP member should be outraged at how their own councillor, Jenny Palmer, was treated. Both Nelson McCausland and his SPAD, who represents him, should resign.

“Ministers are under a statutory duty (S 28 of NI Act 1998) to act in accordance with the Ministerial Code of Conduct which requires them at all times to “observe the highest standards of propriety”.  What objective viewers of this programme could conclude Minister McCausland has so acted?Likewise his SPAD. So both should go and would have to if this was an accountable democracy.

“Coming on the heels of the DUP’s power grab of planning powers, this programme revealed further disturbing evidence of the party’s unhealthy links with particular business interests.  Continue Reading…

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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…

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