Archives For NI Politics

Below is Jim Allister’s speech during today’s Assembly debate:

“The affirmation that justice in a democracy must be done and must be seen to be done is not only a catchphrase but a fundamental principle that underlies the operation of a judicial system. The sordid arrangement that the Government perfected with the spokesmen and representatives of murderers, terrorists and some of the vilest criminals goes to the very heart of undermining our judicial and justice system. It subverts not only the political process but the judicial process, and those who perfected it were the British Government and the IRA through its surrogates, Sinn Féin. Of course, it is made worse by the fact that it was kept secret. It was something that was done in secret, behind closed doors and to be kept secret, and it has done great despite not only to the justice system but to the citizens who rely on that justice system, particularly the innocent victims who plaintively believed that, one day, they might get justice while not knowing that some of the victim makers were walking around free of that threat and obligation. Continue Reading…

Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-

“If Peter Robinson accepts what the Prime Minister has offered, then, he will have buckled within 24 hours of playing the hard man.

“Having attacked the evolution, secrecy and operation of the OTR scheme and demanded to know who they were and who knew, what the First Minister demanded was “a full judicial inquiry into all of these matters.” What he has got is a mere judge-led review to “determine whether any other letters were sent in error”. There will be no public inquiry, no taking of evidence in public, no witnesses called, rather an administrative review of the paperwork, dressed up for the gullible as something more. As for rescinding of the letters, which Arlene Foster stressed was a resigning issue, it isn’t even mentioned! Continue Reading…

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“I have today written to the Chief Constable asking how many HET investigations have been impacted by the issuing of “comfort letters” to “on the runs”. It is essential that victims have clarity on this point.

“I have also written to the Attorney General, John Larkin QC, today asking if since coming to office he has been involved in any way in the “administrative scheme”. Continue Reading…

Why Doesn’t DUP Pull Out Now?

Admin —  February 26, 2014

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“Peter Robinson’s threat to resign over the fallout from the Downey judgement is bluster.

“Many of the facts surrounding these get out of jail free cards have yet to emerge but it is evident that the Government saw dealing with on the run terrorists as key to getting Stormont back up and running. Continue Reading…

Downey Case – The Stormont Fallout

Admin —  February 26, 2014

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“First and foremost my thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones in the IRA’s Hyde Park bombing, and all other victims of the 187 afforded amnesty. They have been cruelly denied justice because of a sordid deal with a Government which evidently viewed keeping the corrupt “peace process” on track as more important than securing justice for the citizens whose primary duty it was to defend. Continue Reading…

Commenting on the judgment in the case of John Downey Jim Allister said:

“John Anthony Downey was accused of the most horrendous crimes. The Hyde Park bombing cost the lives of four people – Roy John Bright, Dennis Richard Anthony Daly, Simon Andrew Tipper and Geoffrey Vernon Young. Continue Reading…

Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-

“The nigh hysterical chorus demanding the removing of flags from the Giro d’Italia route sets a recent reply from the DRD minister in an interesting context.

“I asked Minister Kennedy:

To ask the Minister for Regional Development what progress has been made in securing the removal of terrorist commemorations from his Department’s property, including that of its arm’s-length bodies. Continue Reading…

The following is a speech by Jim Allister during yesterday’s debate on shared education:

“Shared education, from everything that I see and hear about it, is one of those fluffy buzzwords that is supposed to give you a warm glow and can really mean whatever you want it to mean. It is clear in the House that it means different things to different interests. Continue Reading…

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“On Thursday of last week I tabled amendments which were due to be debated today to remove paper bags from the ambit of the Carrier Bag Bill.

“This morning the Environment Minister, Mark Durkin, declined to move the Consideration Stage of the Bill due to “the policy implications” of my amendments. Continue Reading…

Following his attack last week on the DOE proposal to include bags made of any material in the carrier bag tax, during the Consideration stage of the Carrier Bag Bill, TUV MLA Jim Allister has tabled an amendment for debate next Tuesday to remove paper bags from the ambit of the Bill. Continue Reading…