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Monthly Archives: July 2015
Beggs Highlights Sinn Fein’s Financial Illiteracy
East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party MLA Roy Beggs has responded to comments by Sinn Fein which called for even wider public services, despite the fact that the country is currently subject to £2m of weekly welfare fines as a direct result of Sinn Fein’s own financial mismanagement, in addition to a budgetary black hole in the recently approved Assembly Budget for 2015/16. East Antrim Assemblyman Roy Beggs said: “It is easy for Sinn Fein to call for more spending on wider public services whilst conveniently ignoring their own financial irresponsibility. Their flip-flop on Welfare Reform is costing the people of Northern Ireland £2 million per week. This is money that could be spent on the most vulnerable in society, including those in need of health care, but that doesn`t seem to matter to Sinn Fein. For Oliver McMullan and his colleagues, the party always comes first. “Just as households have … Continue reading
Beggs highlights danger of metal theft and progress of local Scrap Metal Dealer Bill
Roy Beggs MLA, who is sponsoring a NI Scrap Metal Dealers, Private Members Bill, has urged the public to report any suspicious activity to the police following yet another instance of electricity poles being cut down and the theft of copper cable. Roy Beggs MLA said, “The criminals involved in stealing overhead cable are putting themselves and the public at risk. In the recent case of cable theft at Ringsend Road, on the busy B66 route connecting Limavady and Ballymoney electric poles were cut down. Electric cable would have been left crossing the pubic road exposing the public to considerable risk. These acts can often also cause loss of power and disruption to local homes and businesses. I would urge the public to report any suspicious activity that they may have seen around the 21st July in the Ringsend Road area to the Police.” Paul Irving, NIE Security Manager, said, … Continue reading
Pressure mounts amid Stormont finance gloom
ANALYSIS: Little appetite for talks and solutions Arlene Foster warns of increase to £600m budget ‘black hole’ Sinn Féin and the SDLP are expected to come under renewed pressure to agree a deal on welfare reform after warnings that Stormont’s precarious financial situation cannot be sustained. The executive’s spending difficulties look set to deepen with a fresh round of Tory cuts placing further pressure on budgets. It had been hoped the Stormont House Agreement would resolve the long-running welfare reform impasse through a series of bespoke measures implemented by the executive. However, a decision by Sinn Féin in March to block legislation in the assembly derailed the pre-Christmas deal and plunged the intitutions back into financial uncertainty. The assembly’s passing of a budget bill at the end of last month created some breathing space but additional spending cuts announced by George Osborne in recent weeks coupled with further welfare changes … Continue reading
Beggs Welcomes Further Translink Investment in the Glynn, East Antrim
East Antrm Ulster Unionist Party MLA, Mr Roy Beggs, has welcomed news that Translink have commited to upgrade and renew the railway bridge near Glynn Train Station. Roy Beggs MLA said “I have been advised by Translink that the scheduled work will commence on the 3rd August and that they will be working to complete the project as quickly as possible, with the expected completion of the scheme in September.” “I welcome the further investment and long term commitment to the infrastructure of this section of the Larne Line.” A Translink spokesperson commented on the scheme said; “During this time (3rd August – late September) there will be a line closure between Whitehead and larne Harbour from 22nd August to 30th August 2015 to facilitate the replacement of the bride. During this time a bus substitution service will operate which will be advertised well in advance.”
Sinn Fein and DUP tactics increasingly threatening the future viability of the Assembly – Beggs
Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has warned that the future viability of the Assembly is waning after two senior DUP representatives appeared to admit they would be unable to resolve the current problems facing the Executive. The East Antrim MLA said: “Whilst I would not agree with the almost self-satisfied comments of Sammy Wilson that the latest changes to welfare ‘spell the end’ for the Assembly, there is no doubt that unless there is an urgent and drastic change in attitudes of some political parties the current Assembly has little prospect of continuing for much longer. “The Assembly is facing three equally damaging impasses right now; the failure to implement the welfare package all five Parties agreed to last year, the failure to set budget for 2015/16 that actually adds up and a crippling lack of political or functional leadership amongst the two Parties at the top of the Executive. … Continue reading
