Archives For NI Politics

Who is Ready to Help the IRA?

Admin —  August 20, 2015

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-

“As Kevin McGuigan is buried some, including the organisation which murdered him and the governments, both at Westminster and Stormont, are hoping to also bury any resulting ramifications for the political process.

“It was no surprise that Sinn Fein warned journalists and the public that it was “unhelpful” to speculate – code for don’t blame the IRA, but when the PSNI join in the same chorus, then, it is clear that officialdom has its mind set on whitewashing the truth. This is a major test for the Chief Constable’s capacity to put proper policing above political considerations. His predecessors failed, when the choice was made to equivocate and prevaricate over who actually murdered Paul Quinn and Robert McCartney. Little wonder Catherine McCartney has expressed her concerns. She was spot on.

“But this situation is also a test for journalists and politicians. Who will relentlessly pursue and expose the truth and who will obey the Sinn Fein demand to be “helpful”? Who, for the sake of office and the process, will concur in the obfuscation and ‘constructive ambiguity’ that will attend this matter over the coming weeks. On past performance I think I know the answer, but, once more politicians, particularly unionist leaders, are being tested.”

In Newsroom, NI Politics, Terrorism
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Keeping up campaign for NI Boxing

Admin —  August 17, 2015

Six months ago in February 2015 Kate Hoey, Nigel Dodds and Jim Allister led a delegation of boxing representatives to meet Sport NI to press for action on recognition of a Northern Ireland Boxing Federation so that in international events local boxers would have the facility to compete for Northern Ireland and/or the UK, as an alternative to being forced to fight for ‘Ireland’.

On Monday 17th August at 10.30am the trio are returning to meet Sport NI, along with representatives of the NI Boxing Federation, for an update on progress.

Joint statement by Kate Hoey MP, Nigel Dodds MP and Jim Allister MLA:-

“Some two and a half years ago the Assembly voted to support the establishment of a Northern Ireland Amateur Boxing Association. The move followed concerns about sectarianism within the sport as presently constituted, concerns which were highlighted by a report produced by the club in Sandy Row and which were subsequently supported by an independent report commissioned by the Culture Minister.

“Importantly, quite apart from these issues the current governing arrangements for boxing mean it is impossible for people from Northern Ireland to represent the United Kingdom at the Olympics.

“Plans for the formation of a Northern Ireland Amateur Boxing Association are now at an advanced stage. Sadly those involved have received little support from the Sinn Fein controlled Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Clubs which have left the all-Ireland governing body have been denied access to funding on the spurious grounds that they must be affiliated to an internationally recognised association with no consideration given to the fact that they are in the process of establishing just such an association.

“Having perviously met with Sport NI to discuss these issues we will again meet them this Monday for a six month follow up to discuss progress on ensuring wider participation in boxing and securing the right of young men and women from Northern Ireland to represent the UK at international level should they so wish.”

In NI Politics
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We’ve Heard all the DUP Empty Threats Following Murder Before

Admin —  August 14, 2015

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“Peter Robinson’s comments following the murder of Kevin McGuigan have a familiar ring to them because we’ve heard it all before.

“Following the murder of Paul Quinn back in 2007 Jeffery Donaldson said:
“If the IRA is involved — whether it’s individuals or — and there was a gang involved here — if there were a number of IRA members involved in this murder then that’s the actions of the IRA. We are not here to dance around this issue”.

“In March 2008 Lord Morrow told the Assembly that if Sinn Fein really believed the IRA were not behind the murder they must be “the only people on this planet who believe that”.

“Yet Lord Morrow and Mr Donaldson were happy for their party to remain in government with Republicans in spite of the murder. Sinn Fein has the DUP’s measure; they factor in their bluff and bluster in giving rein to their paramilitary wing.

“Who believes that the murder of Kevin McGuigan will seriously impact the political process any more than Paul Quinn’s murder made any difference? The process will again trump truth and justice. Who now worries about justice for Robert McCartney before partnership with Sinn Fein could be considered, as the DUP once claimed?

“Empty rhetoric is par for the course when it comes to pro-Agreement Unionism and IRA murder. No one seriously believes that it will be any different this time round.”

In Newsroom, NI Politics, Terrorism
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TUV Demands No Cover Up Over Short Strand Murder

Admin —  August 14, 2015

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-

“Given the apparently informed speculation that Kevin McGuigan was murdered in revenge for the killing of IRA commander, Jock Davison, the key question – of security and political significance – is what organisation would be minded to revenge the killing of an IRA godfather? The answer may be obvious!

“If what are termed “mainstream republicans” were involved, then, the implications for the supposed ceasefire, even disbandment, of the IRA, Sinn Fein and the political arrangements must not be dodged. Invoking the blind eye approach of “the peace process” to let IRA/SF off the hook – as with the murder of Paul Quinn and Robert McCartney – will not only again expose the moral bankruptcy of that process, but the complicity of all who play their game. Police, politicians and all who value truth and justice must face, not fudge, the truth, however uncomfortable it might be.

“I and my party will closely watch developments with critical interest.”

In Newsroom, NI Politics, Terrorism
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Allister Blasts McGuinness for Lauding IRA man who Killed in Ballymena

Admin —  August 12, 2015

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“I note that over the weekend co-First Minister McGuinness lauded IRA Hunger Striker Thomas McElwee, attending a commemoration in his honour in Bellaghy on Sunday and describing him as a “hero” on social media.

“While Republicans seek to build a mythology around the Hunger Strikers they don’t look very glamorous when considered in the cold light of day. McElwee was serving 20 years for a Ballymena firebomb which resulted in 26-year-old Yvonne Dunlop being burnt alive in her clothes shop. Some hero!

“Some might recall that in August 1981 the people Ballymena raised £800 to send Mrs Dunlop’s three children to London to meet Ken Livingstone who was then leader of an Greater London Council so that he could see first hand what McElwee, who he had described as “not a criminal but a freedom fighter”, was responsible for.

“Sadly now we live in a Northern Ireland where Unionists partner those who regard McElwee and his ilk as “freedom fighters” and “heroes” in government!”

In Newsroom, NI Politics
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North Antrim needs more than pitiful excuses from Paisley Jnr

Admin —  August 12, 2015

Statement by Jim Allister MLA:

“The only thing more pitiful than Invest NI’s record in North Antrim is Ian Paisley Jnr jumping to their defence in an effort to get them off the hook.

“Over the 2014-15 period there hasn’t been a single inward investment visitor brought to North Antrim by Invest NI. That simply isn’t good enough in my book.

“It’s obvious that Mr Paisley is more interested in pitiful excuses for his party’s record in government than holding a key agency to account when it patently doesn’t deliver for North Antrim.

“The facts speak for themselves and any elected official should be questioning why Invest NI, the agency which seeks to bring investors into Northern Ireland, has been neglecting North Antrim. Surely, as the MP for North Antrim, Jnr should be leading the charge against this organisation to up their game, but instead he seeks to deflect criticism from them.

“I welcome all efforts to bring investors to North Antrim, but when the agency tasked with that particular mandate fails then the public deserves answers, not cheap political attacks.”

In Newsroom, NI Politics
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Public Urged to Respond to Special Adviser Consultation

Admin —  August 11, 2015

Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:

“At the end of June I announced plans for a new Special Adviser Bill. The Bill is designed to address two issues of public concern. Firstly it deals with the excess which has characterised SpAds in Northern Ireland. The issue is starkly illustrated when one considers the number of Special Advisers employed at Stormont and contrasts it with the other devolved regions of the UK. Northern Ireland has 19 SpAds while Scotland has 14.

“Just two weeks ago the Welsh Government published details of the number and cost of Special Adviser employed in Cardiff. They get by with 9 – less than half the number employed by Stormont. The paybill was also revealed. For the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 the cost of Welsh Government SpAds totalled £626,995.

“Contrast that with the figures published by Stormont at the start of July in the terms of my last Special Adviser bill. We learned that the Northern Ireland bill for SpAds had, for the first time, topped two million at £2,016,362.31.

“Does Northern Ireland really need to be spending more than three times than Wales on Special Advisers?

“My Bill will address this issue by reducing the number of SpAds in OFMdFM from 8 to 4 and linking their salaries to the senior civil service pay band for Assistant Secretaries (Grade 5).

“Importantly, my Bill also sets out to make SpAds more accountable. This follows unease over the fact that the DSD minister was able to intervene to save Stephen Brimstone from disciplinary action over the Redsky affair and his treatment of Cllr Jenny Palmer.

“I have been encouraged by the response so far but would remind the public that they have until the end of August to make their voices heard on the issue. People can respond online here or can receive a hard copy of the consultation by contacting my office.”

In Newsroom, NI Politics
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Allister demands action on Intervention

Admin —  August 6, 2015

Following a meeting with dairy farmers, TUV leader Jim Allister, has said revising the intervention price is not just the obvious solution, but by doing so essential trader sentiment would be boosted, which is key to long term stability.

In a statement Mr Allister said, “This is no sham crisis, but one that cuts to the very heart of the future of our vital agri-food sector. It demands a concerted and meaningful response, particularly from Brussels. The Commissioner’s apparent resistance to revisiting the intervention price – last reviewed in 2003 – is shortsighted and adding to the crisis.

“Virtually every serious player in the global dairy market has some mechanism in place to provide a bottom to the market. In the USA their margin protection policy largely equates to intervention. Such is essential to ease the wild fluctuations of such a global market.

“A realistic intervention price would not just provide a viable bottom to the market but would be the catalyst for recovery as it would feed trader sentiment, which is so vital to market recovery. Thus, Commissioner Hogan needs to address this issue urgently and the UK representative on the Council of Ministers needs to drive this forward, supported by all the devolved institutions.

“The present crisis has been in the making for some time with the abolition of milk quotas -something I opposed as an MEP – contributing negatively. Locally, too, the processor-driven ‘Going for Growth’ strategy paid too little heed to the need to protect and support existing producers. If we lose what we’ve got it will make talk of growth rather hollow.

“There is another compelling political imperative as to why our government needs to act. A significant contributory factor to the EU’s present milk difficulties is the loss of the Russian market, which flowed from the geo-political decisions, taken at EU level. It was not dairy farmers who unleashed this scenario, but top level government and international decisions. Thus, government cannot stand back and leave our milk farmers to pay the price. The EU needs to face up to the consequences it helped create. Striking a realistic intervention price is the least it should do, remembering that on past experience such will not be a long term burden on taxpayers, because eventual and controlled release of the commodities onto an improved market is likely to reap a profit.

“It is time for Commissioner Hogan to act.”

In NI Politics
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Union Flag Dice – Bombardier Action Preposterous

Admin —  August 6, 2015

TUV leader Jim Allister has today written to management in Bombardier Short after an employee was instructed to remove Union Flag dice from his private car.

Commenting Mr Allister said:

“I am stunned to read reports that an employee in Bombardier Shorts was instructed to remove Union Flag dice from his car.

“To suggest that two small dice inside a private car somehow impacted on a neutral working environment is frankly preposterous.

“There are people in Northern Ireland who go out of their way to be offended but this is taking things to a whole new level.

“I have today written to Bombardier asking that they reconsider this daft decision.”

In NI Politics
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Still Many Unanswered Questions Over NAMAgate

Admin —  August 3, 2015

Statement by TUV leader, Jim Allister

“In seeking to understand the various twists and turns in the NAMAgate saga and, particularly, in identifying the thread of political machinations, useful insight can be obtained from studying the timeline.

“Since the inception of NAMA there was widespread concern that a fire sale of NI assets would destabilise the local economy. Both the First Minister and the Finance Minister had voiced such concerns. Then, suddenly, in September 2013 Peter Robinson signalled support for a radically different approach, namely, the sale of the entire NAMA debt portfolio to a single buyer.

“It was on 9 September 2013 Mr Robinson made his public call for these assets to be “liberated”. Was it coincidence that in that same month PIMCO made its unsolicited approach to NAMA seeking to make just such a purchase of the debt book? (Frank Cushinan, then still a member of NAMA’s NI Advisory Committee, was to receive a huge fee from PIMCO if such a sale had gone through.)

“In an Assembly answer on 14 May 2013 the then Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, had said he believed “NAMA is playing a positive role in Northern Ireland”. On 9 September 2013 Mr Robinson, in his comments urging “liberation” of the assets, said NAMA was inhibiting growth in NI. Does this clear difference of approach explain the unexpected removal of Sammy Wilson from office on 29 July 2013?

“The new Finance minister, Simon Hamilton – a faithful Robinson disciple – was active in meeting with the NAMA NI Advisory Committee and with the Finance minister in the Republic, Mr Noonan, on NAMA-related issues. On at least one occasion he was accompanied by Mr Robinson (29/9/13) when, inter alia, Millmount was discussed. (Lagans got finance through NAMA to develop Millmount and Lagans admit they paid Gareth Robinson fees for “planning related consultancy”, even though Millmount had full planning permission and Gareth Robinson does not purport to be a planning consultant.) Mr Peter Robinson and Mr Hamilton together also privately met Cerberus, after the PIMCO deal fell apart and before the Cerberus deal was accepted (25/3/14).

“Of further interest in the attempt by PIMCO to purchase the debt book was the role of Mr Robinson in promoting a Memorandum of Understanding, whereby personal guarantors would be protected. An unanswered question is whether a select group of individuals did in fact obtain protection and, if so, who and how? Indeed, have the major NAMA debtors, numbering about 15, obtained deals allowing them to “exit” Cerberus on terms which protect them personally, whereas the smaller loan book debtors face less preferential treatment?

“Much remains unexplained as to the role in which Mr Robinson was acting. The deputy First Minister seems to deny he was acting as First Minister in many of these encounters. So, in what role and on whose behalf was Mr Robinson acting, and why?

“His proactive involvement in making statements encouraging sale of the debt book, in meeting Cerberus and later Jefferies all displays a keen interest. But was he acting as First Minister? If not, then, in what capacity and why? Mr Robinson has yet many questions to answer.”

In Newsroom, NI Politics, Terrorism
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