Category Archives: This Week at Stormont

Beggs calls for Caterpillar to enter arbitration

Roy Beggs, UUP candidate for East Antrim has called for Caterpillar to enter arbitration to reach a reasonable settlement with their workforce

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Beggs offers solutions to address growing MOT waiting lists

Roy Beggs, Ulster Unionist Party candidate in East Antrim, has highlighted that NI MOT testing is failing vehicle owners and has pointed to the Ulster Unionist Manifesto commitments to use Temporary Exemption Certificates and explorations of the use of additional authorised garages, as in GB to get the waiting list down. Roy Beggs said, “Local drivers are having difficulty in booking a timely MOT test when their current MOT expires. This is causing great anxiety and I am aware of fines being given by DVLA in Swansea when drivers who’s MOT has run out, are then unable to tax their car. The Department for Infrastructure, despite the efforts of DVA and the use of extensive staff overtime, are failing local drivers”. DVA official figures show that the MOT waiting list has grown by over 141,000 vehicles, since the use of Temporary Exemption Certificates to extend MOT’s, ended last summer.” (see … Continue reading

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Beggs renews call for P&O Ferries’ Directors to be shown the door

Roy Beggs, an Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate for East Antrim, has renewed his call for P&O Ferries’ Directors to be shown the door, following a written answer to Ulster Unionist Peer, Lord Empey, from the Department of Transport, confirming continuing delays. Roy Beggs said: “In brutally sacking their workforce and ceasing to provide a strategic ferry service to Northern Ireland and a service to their customers, P&O Ferries’ Directors have shown no regard for their staff, customers and the importance of the North Channel route to the Northern Ireland economy. “Shockingly it has now been indicated that the P&O Ferries service is not planned to resume before 12 April, almost a month since the service ceased. “We have been fortunate that other ferry capacity has been available across the Irish Sea. Undoubtedly there will have been additional rerouting costs to our hauliers and businesses. But with customers going elsewhere and … Continue reading

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Beggs welcomes assurances from DVA on Ukrainian Driving Licenses

Roy Beggs, Ulster Unionist Party Infrastructure Spokesperson has welcomed assurances from the Department for Infrastructure that qualified Ukrainian refugees will be able to drive for up to 12 months on their Ukrainian licences with plans in place to introduce a new Designation Order to allow for the exchange of Ukrainian driving licenses. Roy Beggs had written to Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon to urge for a change in regulations. Roy Beggs, East Antrim UUP Assembly candidate said, “Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, and the exodus of millions of refugees, the UK Government has sought expressions of interest from residents who wish to house Ukrainian refugees. Commendably, to date tens of thousands of people have responded to this call. In Northern Ireland, it has been brought to my attention that clarity was needed related to driving in NI utilising Ukrainian driver licences. If licensing arrangements are not changed, then … Continue reading

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Beggs Writes to the UK Transport Secretary & DP World about P&O

East Antrim UUP representative Roy Beggs, has written to the UK Transport Secretary Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP in relation to P&O. He has also written to DP World to ask that they review the performance of their Senior Management Team, following the decision to sack 800 UK staff, including those who operate the Larne – Cairnryan domestic sailing. A copy of Mr Beggs correspondence with the Transport Secretary is as follows: “I am contacting you in relation to the ongoing situation at P&O, specifically at the Port of Larne, within East Antrim. Recent reports have indicated that replacement staff for P&O could receive lower than the UK minimum wage for working as seafarers on the Larne to Cairnryan UK domestic route. I would ask that you ensure that any staff operating this domsetic route for P&O are subject to the minimum wage requirements of the United Kingdom. In addition, … Continue reading

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