Monthly Archives: December 2015

East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party MLA, Roy Beggs, brought a bit of festive cheer to East Antrim Royal Mail staff during a visit to one of the sorting offices in his constituency. Roy Beggs MLA said “I recently took some time out to call in with the Royal Mail workers in Carrickfergus.  They do a great job during the busy festive period.  Keep up the great work!”

Ulster Unionist Social Development Spokesperson, Roy Beggs MLA, has questioned a proposed 48% increase in funding for Irish language groups at the same time other public bodies are having their funding cut. The East Antrim MLA was speaking after the Sinn Fein DCAL Minister Carál Ní Chuilín announced in the Assembly she was significantly increasing the number and size of grants within the new Irish Language Community Scheme. Roy Beggs said: “Most Departments and public bodies have been told they will be facing further spending cuts next year. In DSD alone core business areas such as housing, the Child Maintenance Allowance and Social Security Agency are all being asked to prepare for cuts of at least 5%, and maybe even up to 10%. This makes it all the more galling that the DCAL Minister announced the revised Irish Language Community Scheme with the number of grants rising from 19 to … Continue reading →

Ulster Unionist Party Social Development spokesperson Roy Beggs MLA, East Antrim, has spoken during a Stormont debate on the Houses in Multiple Occupation Bill. Mr Beggs MLA said; “I share the comments made by other Members in welcoming, on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, the general principles of the Bill. Clearly, it deals with an issue of some importance. It concerns an area that has not been regulated appropriately and where we can improve lives and remove risks that may exist in houses of multiple occupation. I declare an interest in that I have a son who is a student and may be in a house that will be covered by the Bill. Thankfully, he is in a good house, but I think back to previous student days and accommodation that I have seen. It is very clear that there is a need for legislation to cover the private … Continue reading →

East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party MLA, Roy Beggs Jr, has spoken of his support for the principles of a Private Members Bill in licencing, during a debate at Stormont. Mr Beggs said; “I notice that licensing is yet another area in which the Northern Ireland Executive and in particular, as Dolores Kelly said, the Social Development Minister have failed to address legislation in an area of need. In particular, I notice that there was a 2012 consultation on proposed changes to the law on regulating the sale and supply of alcohol in Northern Ireland. That was almost three years ago, and there were 2,500 responses. What happened after that? Is this another area where the Executive have been busy consulting and analysing but making no change to meet the needs of our community? Some of those consultation responses would have highlighted the anomaly with, and the absence of, licensing at … Continue reading →