Monthly Archives: March 2015

Ulster Unionist Party Assemblyman Roy Beggs MLA, who represents East Antrim has welcomed the news that 11,917 votes were cast in the recent UK Youth Parliament elections in Northern Ireland. Roy Beggs MLA said “Its great to see such a positive level of engagement from our young people with the elections.  I would commend the pupils of Carrickfergus Grammar School who had a turnout of 33.63% which meant they were entitled to a silver award.  Similarly, Larne Grammar School has a turnout level of 25.58% which gave them a bronze award.  Both schools were in the top 15 for turnouts in Northern Ireland.  Well done to all those who stood and to all those who were succesfully elected. ”

Roy Beggs MLA made the following speech on the 3rd March in the Northern Ireland Assembly in relation to industry development and investment in East Antrim: “It is important that we talk about the opportunities for employers to come to East Antrim and for visitors to come and enjoy an experience that is not available in many other parts of the Province or, indeed, the world. I certainly view the east Antrim coastline as something very special, and any visitors who have travelled it with me have also found it very special. We have limited natural resources. Apart from our natural environment, our main resource is our people. I noticed in recent claimant counts that the figures for 2014 show that unemployment in Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey is below the Northern Ireland average, and that has to be welcomed. We have an industrious people. It is surprising, when you go into … Continue reading →

Ulster Unionist Social Development Spokesperson Roy Beggs MLA has accused Sinn Fein of duplicity after the Party withdrew its support for welfare reform. The East Antrim MLA said; “The decision of Sinn Fein to block this legislation is an example of two-faced hypocrisy. Not content with already taking £100m out to date and a further £114m next year from key public services, the Party has now threatened the political institutions in a supposed challenge against future spending reductions. That argument is flawed however as a failure to implement reform will lead to escalating fines, that in turn will only lead to further austerity. Their position is absurd. “Sinn Fein not only signed up to the Stormont House Agreement, but in fact were vocal proponents of it. Only at the weekend Micky Brady proclaimed that the Party had won the fight against austerity and that they had ‘delivered’. Similarly Martin McGuinness said … Continue reading →