Archives For richard

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…

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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…
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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…

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DUP are Sinn Fein’s new Maze prisoners

Admin —  June 25, 2013

Extract from speech by TUV leader Jim Allister to the Lisburn protest against building the Conflict Resolution Centre at the Maze:-

“From no terrorists in government to IRA Commander as Joint First Minister; from no stadium at the Maze, because of the threat of a Shrine, to a ‘Conflict Transformation Centre’ capable only of being built beside the very Shrine buildings: that is the sad transformation of the DUP. Such is what happens when you end up in hock to IRA/Sinn Fein.

“The Conflict Transformation Centre is planned for the Maze because Sinn Fein would agree to it no where else. And in this government, what Sinn Fein wants Sinn Fein gets. But what of the people, what of the victims of the IRA, what about what they want? When were they consulted? The truth is never. Continue Reading…

In Featured Story, Newsroom, Terrorism, Victims , ,
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Another 260,000 reasons to Raze the Maze

Admin —  June 25, 2013

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“I am outraged to discover by way of a written answer from OFMdFM that £260,000 has been wasted on maintain the ugly prison buildings at the Maze.

“It is scandalous that such a sum has been squandered on maintaining buildings which, as numerous DUP politicians have pointed out in the past, will inevitably become a shrine to Republican terrorism.

“The First Ministers claim that they are merely fulfilling their “statutory obligations” but there are many beautiful listing buildings in Northern Ireland which have nothing like that sum spent on them. One has only to look at the dilapidated state of Craigavon House – which is a building of immense historical importance to the history of Northern Ireland and its founding – to see that the Maze is evidently receiving gold standard treatment. Why? Because the Maze prison buildings and hospital wing are hallowed ground as far as Republicans are concerned. Continue Reading…

In Featured Story, Newsroom, Terrorism, Victims ,
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Allister Makes Formal Complaint to Assembly Commissioner for Standards on Gerry Kelly

Admin —  June 24, 2013

Below is the text of a letter TUV leader Jim Allister MLA has this morning sent to the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards following the conduct of Gerry Kelly on Friday. Mr Allister is also raising the issues with the PSNI.

  Continue Reading…

In Justice, Newsroom, Policing and Security ,
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Donaldson Being Economical With the Truth on Maze

Admin —  June 21, 2013

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“In an increasingly desperate and farcical attempt to defend the DUP/Sinn Fein plans for the Maze site Jeffery Donaldson is being economical with the truth. He told us on BBC interviews both last night and this morning that there will be nothing in the new peace centre which will glorify terrorism.

“What he did not tell us is what is happening with the prison buildings. He has deliberately dogged this issue. Why? Continue Reading…

In Featured Story, Newsroom, Terrorism, Victims
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Treatment of Frazer and Bryson Causing Justifiable Anger

Admin —  June 21, 2013

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
 
“There is growing anger across the Unionist community at the treatment of William Frazer and Jamie Bryson by the PSNI and the courts.
 
“One of the reasons cited for the arrest of Mr Frazer on Monday night outside Portadown was his attendance at a protest at the Maze prison – a protest which, as was widely advertised on social media, was due to start at 7:30pm. Given that Mr Frazer was arrested twenty miles away from the Maze at 7:35pm the police claim that he was attending the protest at the former prison would be laughable if the issues involved were not so serious. Continue Reading…

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Maze Rally Tomorrow Night

Admin —  June 19, 2013

maze1

 

The Ulster Unionist Party, TUV and UKIP have said that the public have an opportunity to give a clear voice to their opposition against the planned “Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre” at the Maze by attending a public rally tomorrow night (Thursday) at 8pm in Lisburn Orange Hall.

In a joint statement Tom Elliott, Jim Allister and David McNarry said:

“The rally tomorrow night will be an opportunity for ordinary people to demonstrate their opposition to the DUP/Sinn Fein plans for the Maze.

“On 18thFebruary 2004 DUP MP for Lagan Valley Jeffrey Donaldson told the Guardian, “The victims of these terrorists will not visit this site. It would be an absolute abomination to them.” Now he is chief salesman for a so-called “Peace Centre” which has been rejected by innocent victims the length and breadth of the Province. Continue Reading…

In Featured Story, Newsroom, Terrorism, Victims
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DUP betrays A26

Admin —  June 19, 2013

TUV Leader Jim Allister has accused the DUP of betraying the fight for early progress on further dialling of the A26.

With the A5 not proceeding, the Assembly debated how the money thereby freed up should be spent. Mr Allister was strongly backing a UUP motion calling for it to go to other named roads projects, including the A 26, and the Roads Minister told the Assembly the A26 could be ready to start in the autumn of 2014. However, the DUP joined with Sinn Fein to block the move and used their numbers to amend the motion to simply call for the available spend to go on other capital projects, not specifically road projects, such as the A26.

Describing their move as a ploy to grab roads money for other pet DUP/Sinn Fein projects, Mr Allister rounded on the DUP for betraying the needs of the A26 and frustrating an opportunity for early progress on the project. Specifically, the TUV Leader challenged the DUP to say if in response to Minister Kennedy’s roads proposals to other Executive colleagues, DUP Health Minister, Edwin Poots, had proclaimed that the A26 was not of “strategic importance”. Mr Allister is awaiting the outcome of an FOI request on this issue and will publish the material when received. Continue Reading…

In Newsroom, NI Politics
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