WikiLeaks hates NI Budget??

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The draft Northern Ireland budget was published yesterday after a long debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly and, of course, had a huge amount of media coverage.

However, as the media frenzy focussed on semantically dissecting the Finance Minister's speech and his after speech interviews, along with the inevitable responses from everyone else, a little noticed event virtually happened under everyone's noses.

As Dirk Gently would say, "to solve the whole crime and find the whole person one must make use of the  fundamental interconnectedness of all things". (by the way, I just watched the BBC 4 screen adaption of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, and I loved it!)

The interconnectedness of all things on the 15th December flows thusly,
  1. The day begins whilst most people are still asleep, a nice way to start.
  2. It is 15 December 2010, a Wednesday no less.
  3. Its my wife's birthday.
  4. I get up, get the kids up, get them ready for the day and take them to daycare.
  5. I travel to work as the radio babbles on about what the budget will contain.
  6. I go to a Participation Network event in Parliament Buildings while the the Budget Debate is ongoing.
  7. Lots of tweets about Wikileaks and Julian Assange
  8. Because Julian Assange was being banged up in the old nick, a lot of virtual anarchists were virtually crippling PayPal, MasterCard, Visa and having a right good go at Amazon.
  9. The draft Budget is out for consultation.
  10. No one can access the consultation because a number of NI Departmental websites are 'unavailable'
  11. This has been noticed by fellow twitterers, including @A2BNI "@iwhitten All departmental sites appear to be down!" - around 12.10pm
  12. To which i respond "@A2BNI anything to do with #wikileaks? :)"
  13. The Consultation documentation finally appeared on the NI Executive and NIDirect sites
The interconnectedness of it all? (Possibly) Julian Assange.  
    I have heard a rumour that whilst 'oor Sammie was up on his feet there may have been a malicious DDOS (or  Distributed Denial of Service) attack on all the Northern Ireland departmental websites, as from a few sources I have heard that all of the sites were inaccessible for a period of time.

    Quite why the Online Living Consciousness of "Anonymous" would spend any time at all attacking Norn Iron departmental websites in order to strike another blow at the repressive establishment, who they deem are trying to silence Julian Assange, i am not too sure, but there you go.  Maybe it was a vindictive attack from disgruntled hackers who failed to hack Amazon?  In the same way a disgruntled thug puts his kicks a cat in disgust at finding he is, for nay number of reasons, now unable to have a good riot and throw stones at the police.

    At least it makes a difference from "you've got ten minutes to clear building".

    By the way, you have until 9 February 2011 to make your thoughts known to the relevant authorities on the Northern Ireland Budget. Or, keeping the Douglas Adams theme going, as many public services may be saying come March ".... So long and thanks for all the fish".

    My Adventures at the UUP Conference (part 1)

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    I attended the UUP pre conference dinner on the Friday night and the weather was cold and crisp and even!

    Inside the Ramada Hotel it was a bit warmer.  Thankfully.  I arrived early and had a quick look into the room and it looked very nice indeed.  Having a quick look at the table setup I found myself on table two (Bill Manwaring's table).  I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the evening bumping into a lot of old friends and making new ones.  In fact i met up with one Councillor Alex Baird via Facebook on the night.  Very bizarre but quite fun to see how far we have come with all our methods of connecting with each other.  Smartphones and social media really are increasing ways to connect in the real world as well as online. The number of people I am now meeting in the real world that I have created a strong connection with over the virtual world is increasing.  This seems to be more and more the way to connect and interact with decision makers.

    The new strapline for the Party is 'Determined to deliver' which reminded me of my dinner.  Which duly arrived and was of course consumed. Nom nom nom.  Well done to all in the Ramada!  The meal started with a Roast Pumpkin & Butternut Squash soup with Cinnamon Cream, the main meal was raditional Co. Down King Turkey, Mourne Honey Roast Ham, Sage and Onion stuffing with Chipolatas Turkey Jus and Cranberry Sauce served with Champ and Roast Potatoes, Carrots and Parsnip.  Next came Devon Toffee Fudge Cheescake with Raspberry Coulis and all topped of with a Coffee and a Chocolate Mint.  I am beginning to feel hungry all over again.

    Ross Hussey was compère for the evening with of course speeches from Tom Elliott, Leader of the UUP, and from a representative from the Ulster Chemists Association and the inimitable Glyn Roberts from NIIRTA

    And of course what pre-conference dinner would be complete without some after dinner, and 'Da' did not disappoint!  I have to say Tim McGarry is like a comedic wine, he has become better over time. 

    As a round up there were about 160 people at the event and there was a fair amount of lightheartedness, some of it at the expense of Lord Trimble's beard.

    So at the end of the night I had lots of shmoozing done, was fully fed and was ready for the drive home through a very frosty and snow ridden night ready to tackle a full day at the UUP conference. Huzzah!

    Wasssabi for beginners

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    My Adventures at the DUP Conference (part 3 - Leaders speech)

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    Peter Robinson, Leader of the DUP and Northern Ireland's First Minister was welcomed to the stage with a standing ovation.

    He used the speech to thank all those around him for their support during the past year.  His own 'annus horribillis' as it were.

    Notably he raised the issue of Gerry Adams stepping down from his position as MP for West Belfast, highlighting it may not be as easy as he thinks it may be.
    Incidentally, having been elected in West Belfast, I see that Gerry Adams is now heading off to County Louth to contest the next Irish General Election. He has announced that he will stand down from Westminster to do so. I wonder does Gerry know it's not a simple matter of handing in a resignation. In order to stand down, an MP has to disqualify himself by being appointed to an Office of Profit under the Crown.  Two such positions are available - Gerry can become the Crown Steward and Bailiff of either the Chiltern Hundreds or the Manor of Northstead. As he would, thereby, be the Queen's servant and in the Queen's pay he is disqualified from Parliament.  Just you watch, if past form is any guide, by the time the Louth election campaign starts he'll be denying that the Queen's servant and appointee.

    Interestingly he makes very little reference to any other other political party.  Clever speech writer! 

    Generally the speech was very robustly upbeat and about what the Assembly and Executive has delivered so far and about economic stability.

    The speech ended with a standing ovation and a rendition of 'We shall not be moved'

    Some factoids from the Leader's speech are that he
    • Referred to British once, Northern Ireland 53 times, United Kingdom 2 times, and Republic 3 times.
    • Mentioned Sinn Fein twice, DUP 16 times, SDLP once and not a mention of the UUP or the  Alliance Party
    • Talked of East Belfast once and Assembly 17 times
    • Referred to the Economy 6 times, economic 9 times and priority 4 times
    • Mentioned election 15 times and the Queen 5 times and no mention of the Pope
    • Included Opportunity 3 times , courage once, never 8 times
    • Talked about Shared twice, new 39 times Politics and Political both 9 times
    • Referred to Gerry 11 times, Caitriona 5 times and Margaret twice

    What is you take on it?

    Speech by Peter Robinson, First Minister and Leader of the DUP

    Who would have believed it a decade ago?

    Here we are at the end of 2010, a DUP-led administration at Stormont, the IRA off the stage and Sinn Fein signed up to policing.

    After decades of conflict, Northern Ireland is moving in the right direction.

    Northern Ireland’s constitutional position in the United Kingdom is secure, our relationship with the Republic is better than ever, nobody is seriously talking about a united Ireland and the political institutions have more widespread support than at any point in the history of the Province.

    That is the bedrock for peace and stability.

    You don’t need to take my word for it: just ask yourselves, is Northern Ireland better off now than it was twenty years ago?

    Investment is coming back, new jobs are being created and there’s a real future for our young people and a reason for them to stay.

    It hasn’t been plain sailing and there’s still an enormous task ahead – but solid foundations have been laid for Northern Ireland’s second century.

    And our future is once again in our own hands.

    We’re no longer reliant on others to protect our interests, no longer frustrated by governments negotiating over our heads, behind our backs and against our interests or by policies set from London and strongly influenced by Dublin.

    Instead, we’re setting our own priorities and direction. We're making decisions in Northern Ireland for the people of Northern Ireland.

    That didn’t happen accidentally, but because of the hard work of many people in this room today and the trust that was placed in us.

    I also want to personally thank you for the support that you have given me these past twelve months.

    I’ll not deny that for me this has been my most testing year.

    But the real test of any person is not how they stand up in a gentle breeze but how they weather the battering when the relentless gales blow.

    When I was elected leader of this party two and a half years ago I said that there was no greater honour that this party could bestow.

    I was wrong.

    It has been superseded by the love, friendship and support I received from colleagues in the party over the last year. That loyalty can never be fully repaid.

    It is a tribute to the character and faithfulness of all of you and I will never forget it.

    I don’t believe in holding office for its own sake. I never have and never will.

    And I will always remember that no single person is more important than this party.

    Leaders will come and leaders will go, and for my part, I want to play a full part in completing the work that we started and create a legacy for the next generation of which we can all be proud.

    That’s what drove us on during the years in opposition, through the years when we stood virtually alone, through the years of danger and conflict and through the years when we swam against the popular political tide.

    And it is what drove us on night after long night in Hillsborough Castle earlier this year.

    Even in those most difficult times, we were, step by step, moving Northern Ireland forward.

    While many were writing us off just look at what we achieved.

    We avoided the collapse of the institutions, we secured the future of the Assembly and completed the devolution of policing and justice.

    And then we defied the critics, stood on our positive agenda for the future and maintained our position as the voice of unionism.

    The dark clouds that formed over Dromore in 2008 and which still persisted after I became leader at the European Election in 2009 have now lifted.

    In the upheaval and intense process leading up to the restoration of devolution in 2007 we lost our close contact with the electorate. The link to our support base was something that had always been a central feature of our politics.

    But we have found it again. We have re-connected.

    It was a painful lesson but we listened and we learned.

    We took on board what people were saying and we are the better for it.

    But now, Dromore and Europe are just memories and experiences that have strengthened us.

    In the most unfavourable circumstances, overall the General Election result was a remarkable triumph for the DUP.

    Given all that had happened, retaining eight seats, maintaining our position as the party with most MPs from Northern Ireland and receiving more votes than all the other unionist parties added together was a great effort.

    Thirteen years ago we returned just two Members of Parliament. Today, we stand as the only unionist party in the House of Commons - speaking for and representing Northern Ireland in our national parliament.

    Not bad for a really difficult year.

    And the real lesson is this.

    We stood together. We remained united. We kept our focus. We didn't allow others to set our agenda. Though in the line of fire we responded by giving strong and sound leadership.

    While in the past others crumbled and divided under pressure we bound ourselves together, stronger and more determined than ever.

    And you can be absolutely certain that whenever the next Westminster election comes our number one target will be returning East Belfast to DUP hands.

    It may be your DUP candidate's name on the ballot paper and DUP leaders whose faces you see on TV, but our success has come as a direct result of all the work you do, whether it's knocking on doors, putting up posters, raising money, tramping the streets or the thousand other tasks that are performed. The DUP's success is your success.

    I want to congratulate our MPs and in particular Jim Shannon and Ian Paisley junior who were elected for the first time. Let me also pay tribute to Nigel who is heading up the team at Westminster. Our interests are well and truly represented by Nigel and our team in Parliament.

    Incidentally, having been elected in West Belfast, I see that Gerry Adams is now heading off to County Louth to contest the next Irish General Election. He has announced that he will stand down from Westminster to do so. I wonder does Gerry know it's not a simple matter of handing in a resignation. In order to stand down, an MP has to disqualify himself by being appointed to an Office of Profit under the Crown.

    Two such positions are available - Gerry can become the Crown Steward and Bailiff of either the Chiltern Hundreds or the Manor of Northstead. As he would, thereby, be the Queen's servant and in the Queen's pay he is disqualified from Parliament.

    Just you watch, if past form is any guide, by the time the Louth election campaign starts he'll be denying that the Queen's servant and appointee.

    Mr Chairman, as this Assembly term enters its final months I want to pay tribute to all those who have served at Stormont over the past three and a half years. They have worked diligently in the Assembly chamber, the committees, in their constituencies and more widely for the party.

    I especially want to thank all those who have served in Ministerial Office.

    Nigel, Gregory, Edwin, Nelson, Sammy, Arlene and of course Ian - or should I say Lord Bannside - congratulations Ian, but, it'll not stop people still referring to you as "the big man".

    And let us not forget our three junior Ministers, Ian Junior, Jeffrey and Robin - and all our committee chairs and other post holders who have carried heavy responsibilities on our behalf.

    Together you are the most formidable and able team in the Assembly.

    Not only have we a remarkable Assembly team but this has been a remarkable Assembly term.

    We've had no shortage of difficulties and challenges but while others doubted and dithered the DUP delivered.

    Here in Northern Ireland next March, for the first time in forty years, we will complete a full four-year term of devolution without suspensions and without the institutions collapsing.

    But we all know that while it’s a good start; it's not enough.

    It represents the foundation for our future achievements. It is not the height of our aspirations.

    There are those who criticise the Assembly and the Executive for how it operates.

    I know the flaws and I know the problems.

    I will continue to work to make things better but I would not for a second trade the institutions that we have for a return to Direct Rule.

    For us the present arrangements are a transitional phase to a more normal form of democracy for Northern Ireland.

    That's why we insisted at St Andrews, and had it incorporated in law, that the next Assembly would bring forward proposals on moving to a better form of devolved government.

    That’s a vital piece of work for the next mandate.

    And only the DUP can succeed in making the sort of changes that are needed.

    But I am not prepared to throw away all the progress that has been made by crashing the present institutions. There are those within unionism who want to tear Stormont down. They openly announced their intentions. They have said, "Send us to the Assembly so that we can build a bulkhead sufficient to cause it to fall apart."

    Then they discovered that the community didn't support their wrecking declaration so they now seek to camouflage it behind weasel words like - "We've a positive agenda. Stormont is broken and we're going to fix it."

    Fix it! These people are wreckers. We've heard it all before. They want to enter Stormont with a ballot paper in one hand and a Kango hammer in the other.

    The fall of Stormont and a return to Dublin Rule is not just a risk which might flow from their policies; it’s their intention.

    I'm not prepared to gamble in the hope that something better might turn up after further decades of negotiations.

    There is no easy or quick-fix solution.

    It’s a dangerous illusion.

    Let's be clear they want to pull Stormont down and end devolution.

    And don’t be deluded into believing that even a different system of government would be an answer or solution to all of our problems.

    We will still have to deal with the people that the nationalist community elect.

    We must tackle the form of government at Stormont not by ripping up all that has been achieved but by working together, with others, to create a better way of doing things.

    It’s not the easy way but it’s the only way that will work.

    And let's be clear, people don’t want to study the mechanics of government; they want to see government resolving the problems they face. They want results.

    Stormont has underpinned the peace and stability that we have achieved.

    Those who criticise the Assembly forget how far we have come or what has actually been achieved.

    More often than not all you will hear on the media from Stormont is arguing and bickering.

    There is an old saying that no news is good news but for some in our media good news is no news.

    It’s attractive for the media to report clashes and divisions between parties around the Executive table – and to be fair the parties have given them some material to work with – but we must tell the story of what has been achieved.

    There has been too much petty point scoring at Stormont, but despite all that, we have made valuable and tangible progress.

    Is it any wonder that people struggle to tell you what Stormont has achieved when we don't sufficiently articulate it ourselves?

    So, in case you have forgotten or never heard it before, let me record just a handful of the things we have achieved.

     We’ve provided free travel on public transport to everyone over 60 – the most generous scheme in the whole of the UK – in fact there’s now over 60,000 smart-passes in circulation and 51/2 million free journeys have been made since the scheme was started.

     We have frozen the Regional Rate helping 750,000 households and we deferred Water Charges for the entire Assembly term – giving Northern Ireland by far the lowest household taxes in the entire United Kingdom.

     We have given a 20% discount on their rates to every single person over 70 living alone.

     We have introduced a Small Business Rate relief scheme providing £8 million help to 16,000 small businesses.

     We have capped manufacturing rates at 30% - helping 4,000 businesses and protecting thousands of jobs.

     We’ve introduced free prescriptions for everyone in Northern Ireland – they’re not available in England

     By working with the last Government we secured the single largest ever investment to Northern Ireland by supporting Bombardier’s £520m investment for the new C-series – with the potential to create over 800 jobs and more in the supply chain.

     We have reformed planning policy in the countryside.

     In difficult economic times, when heating prices were escalating, we allocated £15 million to support 100,000 households on pension credit and income support.

     Because of the peace and political stability we have brought jobs and significant investment from abroad. Our visits to the US have delivered substantial inward investment. And there’s more to come.

     In addition, following our visits to the US, Universal Studios filmed a multi-million pound movie in Belfast and even today US Television Giant HBO is filming a new series in Northern Ireland bringing millions of pounds into our economy and hundreds of jobs for our community.

     In the last three years we made growing the economy the Executive’s priority and Invest Northern Ireland secured more than £21/2 billion of investment commitments and £1/2 billion in annual salaries; promoted over fifteen thousand new jobs; safeguarded over five thousand existing jobs; and supported over eight thousand new local business starts.

     Earlier this month we announced 500 new jobs brought to Northern Ireland by Citi group adding to the 900 jobs they have already located here.

     In September we opened offices for the New York Stock Exchange, which will bring four hundred new jobs.

     And because of investment by the Executive, Northern Ireland now has a faster telecoms link to New York than California has - as a result of the £25 million Project Kelvin.

     Capital investment in our vital infrastructure increased to £1.7 billion last year. This compares to just £700 million under Direct Rule.

     With this investment we replaced over 530 buses at a cost of £74 million, reducing the age of the fleet from 12 to 6 years.

     As DRD Minister I bought 38 new trains - the first new trains for decades. Now we plan to introduce a further 20 new trains by 2013, the first of these will come into service next year.

     We have completed or widened vast stretches of motorway, dual and single carriageway.

     And for my fellow cyclists we have even provided 82km of new cycle lanes and also 62km of new footway.

     Over eighteen hundred new homes were provided for social tenants last year, the highest number for a decade.

     We have improved the schools estate through investing around £500million and despite the wishes of the Minister for Education we have secured the future of academic selection.

     On the tourist front we have contributed to the £100 million Titanic Signature Project - a landmark building which will be completed by 2012 and work has started on the new Giants Causeway Visitor Centre.

     In the area of health we have invested in the £33m South Wing Development at Altnagevin, a new £270m acute hospital in Enniskillen, a new £64m hospital in Down, a new £9m trauma and orthopaedic facility in Craigavon Area Hospital and £17m of capital investment in 60 new ambulances.

    And that's just a sample of what we've done. It's also a start of what we need to do to help rebuild Northern Ireland. While all of this has been achieved, the first term has been about building the base camp from which we will, step by step, reach the summit.

    And there's a massive job of work to do.

    And at whatever we do we will act responsibly. That’s why this week we have been working intensely to agree a budget not just for one year but for the next four years.

    We will keep your household bills down and invest for the future. We will focus our spending on health, education and the police. We will maintain our key priority of growing the economy and we will pay special attention to those in our society who are hurting most from the recession.

    With the Conservative imposed cuts it hasn’t been easy, but that’s when a local Executive with local people matters most.

    We didn’t create the global economic downturn, but we have to live with the consequences.

    We don’t ask for special treatment; all we ask, after 40 years of conflict, is a fair chance to compete and to rebuild our economy.

    As everyone knows the Republic of Ireland is facing extremely difficult economic circumstances. It is not a time here or there, for politicians to be playing party politics with peoples' lives and livelihoods. As a unionist I sincerely want their difficulties to be resolved. Make no mistake about it we have a selfish strategic and economic interest in this matter.

    I know people in the Republic get very defensive about anything that looks as if their independence is being curtailed. But can I say this - if you take economic advice from the IMF it's not a disaster; it's a disaster if you take economic advice from Gerry Adams.

    Although to be fair to him - he does bring a different perspective to the banking issue.

    Early next year we will be laying out our agenda for the next term of the Assembly.

    It will set out our goals for the next four years.

    Even in difficult economic times we can make a real difference.

    This is a new era in politics and Northern Ireland has a lot to offer.

    The election in May will be a critical moment in our recovery.

    The people of Northern Ireland have a choice to make.

    Some would suggest that this election is only going to be about one thing - who the First Minister will be. They could not be more wrong. Of course it's vital the DUP remain the largest party and we retain the First Minister's post but it's about much more than that. This election is about the future direction of Northern Ireland.

    Sinn Fein’s political agenda is very different to ours.

    Where we can make common cause to create jobs or improve the lives of people, we will do so.

    But where there are real differences of principle or policy – we will hold our ground.

    We want to see Northern Ireland moving forward, together, for everyone.

    And the question at the election will be, who do you believe can best take the big decisions on your behalf? Who is capable of negotiating a positive outcome in your interests?

    Co-operating when it is possible, compromising when it is beneficial, and standing firm when it is a matter of principle.

    We are the strong and responsible unionist voice.

    This is not a time to be a prisoner of the past. You will not win today's battles using the tactics and tools of yesteryear.

    We must find 21st century solutions to today’s challenges.

    We can't pretend that things haven't changed.

    Our values and core beliefs remain constant but we must adapt to present needs and the modern world.

    We must shape the new political environment and reach out to an ever-expanding audience.

    The issue of the constitutional status of Northern Ireland has been settled for as far as one can see into the future.

    That battle has been fought and won.

    Against that settled backcloth let us focus on the people’s real everyday agenda.

    The SDLP leader tells us her number one priority is a united Ireland. Northern Ireland is facing an economic crisis. Our people are struggling to make ends meet. Workers are anxious about their employment prospects. Poverty levels are rising. We are contending with massive cuts to our budget and Margaret Ritchie is chasing the moonbeam of a united Ireland. She just doesn't get it. - Indeed, let me tell her, she wont get it!

    Last week on the BBC Caitriona Ruane said there's never been a better time to have a united Ireland. What's she been smoking?

    I see that "I'm a Celebrity get me out of here" is back on TV. I have it on good authority the producer wants Caitriona on the show - not as a contestant but as one of those scary jungle trials. She knows a bit about jungle trials.

    Unionists have changed their view about Caitriona. A few years ago unionists were angry at her for going off to Columbia - now they are angry because she didn't stay.

    Both Margaret and Caitriona need to get real! The constitutional future of Northern Ireland is settled.

    If anyone doubts that, I suggest they should examine what Gerry Adams' journey to Louth really means. It is evidence that republicans have given up on a united Ireland - of course we will still get the same old rhetoric - but does anyone really believe that Gerry would be exiting Northern Ireland politics if he thought the constitutional issue was still active and in play?

    Too often unionists are negative or defensive about Northern Ireland’s status but remember this - Gerry Adams leaves Northern Ireland politics, for pastures new, with his key ambition unfulfilled.

    So my number one priority in the next Assembly term is getting people back to work, revitalising our economy, providing support for those in greatest need and providing every citizen with a better way of life.

    That means growing the economy and providing opportunity for all.

    It means providing a safe place in which to live and it means learning to live together.

    That's the agenda people want to hear about and that's the agenda that will determine the peace and prosperity of our people.

    The real question is how, together, we can achieve a shared society in Northern Ireland and how we create a better future for our children.

    We must tackle, head-on, the causes of division. Not just for some short term political gain but because it's the right thing to do.

    I didn’t make a speech about shared education because I wanted a headline; I did it because I wanted to start a debate. I wanted to start a debate in order to create momentum for change. And I sought that process so that it might lead to a solution.

    Let me, without any hint or trace of a hidden political motive, invite those who have a case to be heard, to sit down calmly, as part of a wide-ranging review of our present arrangements, to consider how we might move to a structure which ends the separation of children at a formative age when life patterns are set and life-long friendships are made. Surely it is possible to have a rational discourse about this matter. I'm willing to engage. I hope others will have the courage to come forward.

    Mr Chairman, it is almost seven years to the day, since we won the 2003 Assembly elections when the DUP took on the mantle as unionism’s largest party. In every Province-wide election since then we have won more votes than any other unionist party.

    This past decade has witnessed an amazing transformation in our fortunes.

    Once we were seen as a party of protest, marginalised and isolated.

    Then we were seen as a party of opposition, unfit to govern.

    But today we are the party of the Union. The party of progress. The party of the future. We are the party of Northern Ireland.

    We are not on the margins of politics but at the centre of government.

    We take the responsible decisions while others play politics.

    We seek to broaden our appeal while others turn inwards and away from the real challenges that lie ahead.

    We face up to issues while others duck and weave.

    That transformation did not happen by good fortune but by widening our support base and by adapting to meet today's needs.

    As other parties retreat into themselves we must reach out to build an ever larger and stronger support base.

    That's the way for us to grow and to prosper.

    Having won the war; let's not lose the peace.

    Let us not allow history to pass us by.

    Northern Ireland is changing. We are in a new era.

    Out of the ashes of conflict a new generation is emerging.

    This generation considers the constitutional issue to be resolved and they just want a better Northern Ireland.

    They are more interested in the future than the past.

    While we will be forever vigilant on constitutional matters we need to be seen as the natural choice for this new generation if we are to shape politics for decades to come.

    That is the way for unionism to have real strength and influence.

    The challenge for the DUP is to be able to command support from every part of the unionist community and from those more widely who support our forward-thinking policies.

    We must demonstrate that we are the party best able to deliver a better quality of life for everyone in Northern Ireland.

    However, the programme for this party should not be established on the basis of the lowest common denominator of what the general unionist community believe but should be set on the basis of the highest common factor of what we can achieve.

    We must not only be the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland we must be the party of Northern Ireland.

    As a party we must be prepared to change to meet those challenges.

    The old certainties have long since passed away, but in doing so, new opportunities have opened up.

    There's nothing cushy about the new kind of politics that exists today.

    It takes us out of our comfort zone.

    Making Stormont work involves compromise and it involves difficult choices.

    Northern Ireland has come a long way in the last few years. It is virtually unrecognisable from what it was twenty years ago.

    But we should not take the relative peace we have achieved for granted.

    There are still dissident republicans who are active and dangerous.

    They undoubtedly have the potential to kill and to bomb, but they don't have the ability to destroy the progress that has been achieved.

    Of all the Assembly’s achievements in the last four years none was more significant than the united reaction to the murder of the two soldiers and the police officer by dissident republicans in March 2009.

    If there was ever a moment that I was sure that we had taken the right decision in entering government, that was it.

    That was devolution at its strongest.

    Every party in the Executive and Assembly was united as one in opposition and condemnation.

    Unremarkable in any other part of the world but truly remarkable given what had gone before in Northern Ireland.

    But peace alone does not bring reconciliation.

    Conflict creates a damaging legacy and we must tackle that legacy.

    The real victory for unionism is not about inflicting pain on our political opponents. It's about creating a new Northern Ireland. A Northern Ireland fair to all, in which everyone who lives here feels a part and wants to share in its future.

    We know dissident republicans can never achieve their goals but neither must we let them divert us from achieving ours.

    Next May we will face new electoral tests for both the Assembly and Local Government.

    We always say that the next election will be the most important one ever - and sometimes it's even true.

    It certainly is this time.

    Four years ago we reached a defining moment.

    We had a decision to take.

    Setting up Government wasn't the easy choice but it was the right choice.

    No sensible person wants to go back to the bad old days.

    At this election we will seek a mandate to continue the work we have begun.

    The DUP is the party to defend the interests of unionism and advance the cause of Northern Ireland.

    We are the first generation in a very long age who have a realistic prospect of shaping a harmonious and prosperous future.

    We have young people of whom we can be proud.

    None more so than those who serve in our armed forces.

    One of the great honours for me of the past year was going to visit the Irish Guards at their Windsor Barracks as they prepared for deployment to Afganistan. I also considered it to be a great privilege to travel to Helmond Province to visit the Royal Irish Regiment during their last tour of duty in Afghanistan.

    These young men from all backgrounds are an example to every one of us - prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, not just for their country but in the cause of freedom.

    Just as for many years brave soldiers came here to join with the police to defend democracy and protect us from terrorism, these soldiers have travelled half way around the world not only to defend us but to make a better life for people they don't even know.

    More than ever, in the last few weeks we have seen the true nature and high cost of their dedication and we remember those who have lost their lives in the service of Queen and country.

    Those who face terrorism - whether at home or overseas - are more than our defenders, they are our heroes.

    Mr Chairman, last month I attended an investment conference hosted by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in Washington which was attended by potential investors of some of the United States - indeed the world's - biggest companies.

    The distance from home often gives the clearest perspective of what we have to offer as a community.

    For this was not just a sales pitch given by our politicians.

    Our strongest advocates were US business leaders who had already invested in Northern Ireland and wanted to tell their story.

    It's not a story you often hear on the news.

    Here were leaders of billion dollar companies prepared to fly to Washington to sell the benefits of investing in Northern Ireland.

    They spoke of our education system, our cost competitiveness, of what a great place Northern Ireland is in which to live. They spoke of our infrastructure, the relationships with our universities, our skills base, our telecommunication's network and even our golf courses.

    And though you wouldn't read about it in our local newspapers they lavished praise on our pro-business focussed Executive.

    But above all else they spoke of the quality of our young people.

    These are companies that don't take their decisions based on sentiment but on sound economics.

    And more and more are coming here when they see what we have to offer.

    They see something that sometimes we overlook.

    They see the potential of our people.

    Listening to them one by one recount their experiences of investing in Northern Ireland you could not but be proud and confident about the future that we are building.

    It has been said, “It is not easy to plant trees when we won't live to see it's flowering”. But, we don't plant a tree for ourselves, he plants it for future generations.

    We are descended from a people who cut out a civilization from the bogs and forests and through toil and imagination grew our reputation as a powerhouse of industry and trade.

    Let us be prepared to do as our forefathers did and construct a new Northern Ireland.

    Let us make up for the wasted years and make this land of our birth great once again.

    The conflict has ended, but still too much division remains.

    Too much energy has been wasted by strife.

    Just think of the potential that can be unleashed if we firmly establish a way to work together as one united community.

    This last year our sportsmen and women led the way and made us proud of their achievements.

    We must follow their lead and make Northern Ireland the place that it can be, not just for this generation but for the next.

    Just look around to see how the city of Belfast has been transformed - the builders' cranes, new domes, spires and pillars rise on the skyline. International investment takes a welcome hold and international visitors increasingly walk our streets.

    A stable, peaceful and prosperous Northern Ireland is within our reach.

    Let us work together to make it happen.

    A second term, as the largest party in Northern Ireland, is within our grasp.

    A mandate to keep Northern Ireland moving forward is what we seek. The opportunity to strengthen the Union, to defend our heritage, our culture and values - to serve all the people of Northern Ireland.

    The cost of defeat is too great.

    Failure is not an option. We must stay focused on our vision for the future.

    Victory next May will not be handed to us; we must earn it; we must deserve it.

    We will not win alone but together - each one of us in this hall today- taking nothing and no-one for granted.

    Door by door and vote by vote, we must win, not for ourselves, but for unionism, and for Northern Ireland.

    So let us go out from conference, resolved to take this campaign across the length and breadth of the Province.

    The starting pistol has sounded. From Monday, and for the next five and a half months, let victory in this contest be our cause and our crusade.

    Let us take our case to the people, secure a victory next May, and keep Northern Ireland moving forward.

    My Adventures at the DUP Conference (part 2)

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    Nigel Dodds, the Deputy Leader, was up to give his speech to the gathering at La Mon.

    I include his speech below, but there are a few points of interest.  In referencing the issue of a United Ireland, Nigel noted that 'When the Celtic Tiger was roaring it was more in the realms of fantasy than reality. Now that it is placed under the crisis care of the International Monetary Fund, European Union and even the British taxpayer it is indeed as Pat Doherty called it, “the impossible”. That future is dead.'

    Nigel also has a good go at the TUV and the UUP.  But he also added,
    'This is a party conference so a jest or two at the expense of rivals is to be expected. However, the DUP knows that there can be real and tangible benefits to greater co-operation and collaboration between the Unionist parties. The DUP demonstrated in advance of the Westminster campaign its willingness to work towards those benefits. Others didn’t. Despite this we were willing then to act and remain so now.'
    Will this be a new tack of all the Unionist parties?  And more importantly how will the different strands of unionism work together whilst remaining identifiably separate?

    Nigel also made a serious point on the changes in voting patterns
    The DUP knows, whether it is on the streets of Belfast or the lanes of Tyrone, the day when votes could be expected has passed. Every vote must be earned. The DUP will earn them by offering a positive message, the best team and a vision for a better future. We must give people the reasons to vote, to get out of the arm chair and away from the television to go to the polling booth and to vote DUP.
    It has been noted for some time now that the main voting pool has been reducing whether or not it is the 'garden centre prod' or perhaps the disengagement of the working classes.  Nigel did strongly point out that the DUP 'electoral task in 2011 and beyond is to slay the enemy of apathy.'

    What are your thoughts on the speech?

    Nigel Dodds Speech to the DUP conference, 27 November 2010
    Before I begin with my speech I wish to take a moment to acknowledge the valiant service of our Armed Forces in Afghanistan. Their dedication to a dangerous task thousands of miles from home is an inspiration. Their sacrifices we shall never forget and our thoughts and prayers are with them.

    As we gather at the La Mon Hotel once again we have much to reflect upon. It was only seven years ago that the voters entrusted Unionism and Northern Ireland to our leadership. There was many a critic ready to predict failure. They were proven wrong, for the Democratic Unionist Party has risen to the challenge. Of course, this does not prevent them from predicting our demise again and again but they will be proven wrong again and again.

    Under the DUP’s strong leadership there has been clear, steady and identifiable progress. How do we achieve this when others had repeatedly failed? We succeed because of the inner strength of this party, the strength to say No when it has to and Yes when it is right to. This party provides Unionism and Northern Ireland with what it needs - a united and strong team working for it at all levels – in Councils, Assembly, Westminster and the European Parliament. The outcome is a peace and stability which others desired but only we delivered. Stormont is back and about to complete its first full uninterrupted term. The square of policing and justice has been circled.

    What drives this inner strength? This strength is derived from a confidence and optimism that the future can be better. This party has a deep faith in itself and in its core beliefs – we believe we can meet any challenge whether it was negotiating a new Agreement or now tackling the economic downturn. We have met many significant challenges in recent years – but we have overcome them all and we will continue to build on these successes.

    Let us be in no doubt the primary challenge in the next Assembly term will be transforming our economy. Ulster families are hurting. Jobs have been lost. Pay has been frozen. Inflation has drastically reduced or wiped out any pay and pension increases. Fuel and food costs are rising. House prices have fallen. The DUP recognises the tough choices they are facing. Government must respond likewise. That is why the DUP says to those demanding water charges be introduced that they have no idea what people are already having to cope with. The last thing hard-pressed families need is an extra £400 bill.

    The global downturn is challenge enough but now we have the Tory and Liberal Democrat cuts on top. When the DUP highlighted David Cameron’s cuts comments in the infamous Newsnight interview his Ulster Unionist cheerleaders accused us of scaremongering. The reality is worse than even our predictions with capital cuts of 40% as well as the deep cuts in revenue spending of significant concern.

    However, we should not overlook the amnesiacs of the Alliance party in all this. The day before the election the Alliance party revelled in their fraternal links with the Liberal Democrats and tried to milk Cleggmania for electoral benefit. They gladly accepted Nick Clegg’s ringing endorsement on the eve of polling day. Now they wander around asking who’s Nick?

    This poor choice of friends by others does not distract us from what we need to do. The DUP has produced the most comprehensive set of proposals of how we tackle the budget deficit and keep our economy moving forward. Our Rising to the Challenge document not only shows how we can protect the vulnerable, protect front-line services and protect our economy but sets out an ambitious agenda to create 7,000 new jobs.

    For our task on the economy is not simply about dealing with the global downturn. Our task is not simply about managing the Coalition cuts. Our task is to transform our economy by growing our private sector. The DUP will end the perception that Northern Ireland is the sick man of the Union and make it the shining beacon of what a region of the United Kingdom can achieve. For let us be clear what the DUP are seeking to build is Northern Ireland’s second century.

    In the past Sinn Fein leaders would talk again and again of Irish Unity by 2016. When the Celtic Tiger was roaring it was more in the realms of fantasy than reality. Now that it is placed under the crisis care of the International Monetary Fund, European Union and even the British taxpayer it is indeed as Pat Doherty called it, “the impossible”. That future is dead.

    In 2012 we will mark the centenary of the Ulster Covenant. This document defined the first century of modern Unionism. The creation of Northern Ireland in 1921 was the ultimate consequence of the Covenant, the Unionist campaign and the supreme sacrifice made on the battlefields of the Great War. In the next Assembly term we will be taking the decisions that will build the Northern Ireland of 2021 and after.

    Unionism will not need mass demonstrations in 2012. What it needs is a strong, united visionary team using every lever of power at its disposal to secure and build Northern Ireland’s second century. The initiative lies with us. The momentum lies with us. The better future lies with us. We must seize the initiative. We must drive the momentum. We must deliver the better future.

    The DUP will be the party of Unionism’s second century. We will take the best values of traditional Unionism and bind them with the new approaches needed for the years and decades ahead. Second Century Unionism will not be driven by the twists and turns of a tortuous peace process but by principle and by a politics that is responsive and relevant to the everyday lives of the people of Northern Ireland. A Unionism that supports the basic building block of society, the family, and with the answers people need on education, the economy and the constitution.

    We will drive forward the change that is needed. It is the DUP that sets the political agenda on the size of government in Northern Ireland cutting departments, quangos and MLAs. It is the DUP that sets the agenda on the future of our education system with the call for a Commission to plan a single education system. It is the DUP that sets the agenda on moving Stormont towards a voluntary coalition. On voluntary coalition I add this: there are fears of what such a system would mean. It is our job to identify them and address them. We must become the persuaders for change not just its advocates.

    In terms of delivering the TUV and UUP will not be the parties to deliver a better future for Northern Ireland, let alone Sinn Fein or the SDLP

    Following their electoral drubbing the TUV is pretending to change. TUV spokespersons now speak of the terrorist past of republicans. TUV spokespersons describe voluntary coalition as a longer-term goal. Jim Allister talks of:

    “..moving Northern Ireland forward”

    Where have I heard about that before? Jim is even trying to drop the sneer and smile. Granted it’s a smile that makes Gordon Brown’s facial contortions seem genuine but Jim perseveres.

    These are some of the very positions Jim rejected and condemned us for in 2007. Three years of egotism, splits and backbiting with the end result of adopting our positions one by one. If he has genuinely moved then what is the point of the TUV? If he hasn’t, then a vote for the TUV remains the self-destruct button of Stormont and Unionism.

    Then we have the Ulster Unionist Party. They have a new leader now, although, you wouldn’t be blamed for not noticing. Regardless they still have all the same old problems and the same old pomposity. Sadly for the UUP when they heard the phrase “steady as you drift” they didn’t realise it was a criticism. Instead they treated it as a masterplan.

    This is a party conference so a jest or two at the expense of rivals is to be expected. However, the DUP knows that there can be real and tangible benefits to greater co-operation and collaboration between the Unionist parties. The DUP demonstrated in advance of the Westminster campaign its willingness to work towards those benefits. Others didn’t. Despite this we were willing then to act and remain so now.

    Why do we need a Second Century Unionism? We need to move Unionism forward to tackle the real opponent in the 2011 Assembly election and beyond. Our true opponent is not fellow Unionists nor the Alliance party nor even Nationalism. It is a silent enemy. It is a tempting enemy. It is a growing enemy. It is the enemy with the reasons for not voting. This enemy is the comfy armchair and television.

    The DUP knows, whether it is on the streets of Belfast or the lanes of Tyrone, the day when votes could be expected has passed. Every vote must be earned. The DUP will earn them by offering a positive message, the best team and a vision for a better future. We must give people the reasons to vote, to get out of the arm chair and away from the television to go to the polling booth and to vote DUP.

    In conclusion, our electoral task in 2011 and beyond is to slay the enemy of apathy. Our task is to energise the voters to back our vision for Northern Ireland’s second century. With our strength, our confidence, our faith and hard work, together we can do it. Through this the DUP will keep Northern Ireland moving forward.

    My Adventures at the DUP Conference (part 1)

    20 comments

    I was not able to get down the the La Mon Hotel on the Friday (26 November) but have heard it was a good day with a number of discussion seminars going on in areas such as farming, food and environmental policy, health and policing.  They also had a communications training for delegates only.

    I turned up for the main day on Saturday.  And it was an interesting morning, mostly in the experience in getting to the hotel in the first place.  With snow and ice filling my sight as i walked out to the car this morning i had a foreboding, then I remembered that today I will mostly be driving a Land Rover. Sorted.

    The drive was pleasant and the beauty of the La Mon nestling amongst the snow white hills of Castlereagh meant I could mostly forget the bitter cold.  I would have taken a picture but got distracted after I bumped into Mervyn Storey in the car park and had a wee natter on my way in.

    My early morning was taken up with an FSB sponsored breakfast where I hopefully did not bore Jimmy Spratt too much as we had a chat around the Justice system.  I also had a great chat with Alastair Ross.

    After registering properly I went into the main hall and picked up a conference timetable a speeches. Where upon i bumped into Alan Meban (who did a great blog on getting to the La Mon). And the blogfest of geeks began. For a moment, before the lights went out during the panel discussion on 'Reforming Government and Financing Public Services'.  Simon Hamilton, the panel chair, quickly quipped that it the hotel power was under pressure because of the number of DUP in the building.  The panel discussion ended with a speech from Sammy Wilson - as per usual he was on form giving everyone in the room a good laugh whilst being hard hitting.  His main theme was that the DUP are best placed to fix Northern Ireland.  

    Alan is also updating the DUP conference on Slugger.

    Are you sure you're not dead?

    3 comments

    Just a little bit of my Star Wars tomgeekery.  Thought you all might appreciate a laugh after the past few days of utter economic depression.

    Are our schools killing creativity?

    8 comments

    My friend Matt on his blog brought this to my attention.

    Sir Ken Robinson gives a very interesting lecture in the RSA and argues that education is structured along production lines which was a structure of education designed during the Enlightenment and the inductrial revolution.  He argues that children are being educated out of creativity through the very structures that are there to provide them with knowledge.

    Is this something Northern Ireland can learn from?  Certainly it hits a chord with me.  

    Whilst the Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure seems to regard innovation and creativity as important, I recognise pure enthusiasm for creativity and its potential is not a panacea to all our economic woes, it is a key ingredient.  If Northern Ireland is to be at the leading edge of research, business and economic growth then it needs to be recognised that innovation and creativity will be extremely important.  Lack of investment in our next generations will see a stagnation in lateral thinking, creativity and the ability to assess risk. 

    Let me explain a little.  Hazard is the potential to cause harm; Risk is the likelihood of harm.

    In our economically driven world a hazard is for instance going bust.  That is a hazard every business has to face.  Risk is the likelihood of going bust. In order to have the capabilities to manage risk, we need to have the ability to assess risk and even take a calculated risk in order to succeed.  I think our education system, wonderful that it is and helped get me to where i am now, is woefully unprepared to provide for the creativity and risk taking that we need to succeed.  We are driven towards inaction.   Inaction means avoidance of risk, which means we do not go bust, which means we do not fail.  The risk of failure and its stigma is putting people of following ideas that could be the next big thing.

    I am not saying that our education is just producing mindless automatons but the overall aim of education needs to be rethought.  Why do we have education?  What is the actual point of education?  If it is based around getting a job then why not apprentice from 11 onwards?  Very Orwellian indeed.

    As Yoda once said 'Do, or do not. There is no try'.  Maybe our education system, with a little imagination, will produce well rounded kids who have confidence to 'Do' and take risks and create something great.


    Ian preparing a return to the Alliance Party?

    7 comments

    In his latest post on his blog, Ian Parsley has explained that he has resigned from the Conservative Party in Northern Ireland.  This is not entirely a surprise as Paula Bradshaw, his partner, resigned from the Ulster Unionist Party and recently joined the Alliance Party in early November this year after failing to be selected by the South Belfast Ulster Unionist Association to run for the Northern Ireland Assembly elections to take place in May 2011.  Paula and Ian had both been 2010 Westminster candidates for the UCUNF project.  No UCUNF candidates were elected.  Some of the Westminster candidates have found themselves on the Assembly election ticket whilst others have not.

    Ian has been a local Councillor in North Down Borough Council since 2005, first as an Alliance councillor and then as a Conservative councillor.  In his present state of resignation that will mean he will be an independent councillor, until someone takes him in.  

    This now takes the total tally of Conservative Councillors down from three to two (Dierdre Nelson and Peter Bowles).  

    He had previously been the 2009 European candidate for the Alliance Party before joining the Conservative Party in September 2009 when he was employed by the Centre for Social Justice, which eventually published an interesting document 'Breakthrough Northern Ireland'.

    A lot of work seems to have been put into this and it will be interesting to see if Ian continues in this role as well or if he has also resigned from this as well in which case it will be interesting to see who is supposed to drive forward the policy recommendations.  Will the CSJ maintain a presence in Northern Ireland? or will we once again be forgotten about?  

    Does his resignation, along with a slap to the Conservatives and a wistful reminiscence of his time in the Alliance Party point to a wish to rejoin the Alliance Party?  Indeed the last few paragraphs of his blog post point out his regret at leaving the Alliance Party in the way he did and he apologises for the hurt he caused.  Definitely sounds like he is looking to rejoin the Alliance Party.  

    He is a capable politician, amiable gentleman and has a vision.  I hope he finds a home he is able to continue his work from, whether or not that will be from a home in the Alliance Party?  I am not too sure. 

    There is also a good run down on this by Aldous Duke on Slugger O'Toole

     

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