North Down TUV

17/08/2024

17/08/2024

16/08/2024

16/08/2024

Eye watering cost of interpreters to health service in Northern Ireland

Statement by TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston:

“There are many who seek to dismiss legitimate concerns the public have about the issues caused by migration and particularly the strain which it places on services. Indeed, when I raised the issue during the recent Assembly recall debate the establishment parties sought to shout me down.

“When those voices subside, however, the facts which they seek to ignore remain.

“One such issue is the cost of interpreters in the NHS in relation to dentistry, GP services and access to hospitals.

“I wrote to the Health Minister asking for a breakdown of these costs and the response is frankly eye watering.

“In 2019/2020 we spent £4,092,031, £2,111,123 in 2020/21, £3,415,013 in 2021/2022, £4,147,139 in 2022/2023 and £4,425,608 in 2023/24.

“Over the last five years that totals over £18 million.

“Tellingly, the Minister did not answer my question about how much of that was due to missed appointments as the Department does not hold the data. Mr Nesbit does, however, advise that in such circumstances the interpreter is paid for the first hour and has their mileage covered.

“A band five nurse at the lower end of the scale is paid around £28,407 per annum meaning that we could employ over 150 band five nurses every year with the money spent on interpreters every year.

“Of course there is a legitimate place for interpreters in the health service - particularly when it comes to the deaf - but we cannot sustain unlimited expenditure on this for people who have not paid into the system.”

15/08/2024

Gaston welcomes correspondence from Health Minister on puberty blockers

Statement by TUV North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston:

“I recently wrote to Health Minister Mike Nesbit raising concerns that Northern Ireland could become a “back door” for puberty blockers to enter Great Britain and asking that he bring forward plans to bring us into line with the rest of the United Kingdom and ban these dangerous and damaging drugs in Northern Ireland.

“I welcome the fact that in his response Minister Nesbitt has stated that he shares my “concerns both in the lack of scientific and medical evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of gender dysphoria on young people and on the dangers of Northern Ireland being exploited if it remains out of step legally with the rest of the UK”.

“He has informed me that he advised executive colleagues on the matter and wrote again on 2nd August following the recent court judgement. The Minister has also provided a detailed paper recommending Northern Ireland align with Great Britain and legislate on a UK wide basis by extending the emergency order to Northern Ireland.

“There is now an onus on the Executive to act swiftly on Minister Nesbitt’s sensible proposals which will be welcomed by many across our Province.”

15/08/2024

TUV oppose retention of IRA shrine at the Maze

Statement by TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell:

“The suggestion that the cell in which furniture shop bomber Bobby Sands was imprisoned and the hospital wing in which he died could be opened as a museum will horrify innocent victims.

“It is nonsense for people like the DUP’s Paul Givan to suggest that there will be no shrine built on the site. There is no need to build anything because the buildings linked to Sands are already there! Importantly, when one looks at the successful application to list the buildings the linkage of the buildings to Sands and the hunger strikes was the key reason for the listing.

“To suggest that this would be a suitable location to tell the story of prison officers alongside that of the terrorists is for the birds.

“In the last few days - both at the West Belfast Festival and the home coming celebrations for Irish athletes in Dublin - we have again witnessed the celebration of terror with young people chanting in a way which was deeply offensive and re-traumatising for victims of the Provisional movement. The suggestion that the Maze could become a museum was condemned by many innocent victims eleven years ago - something which was the key reason for plan hitting the buffers and the DUP being forced to change course on the matter. Those victims still matter.

“Yes, the Maze holds potential given proximity to the M1 and scale of the site. However, the site would hold even greater potential if the prison buildings were levelled. Without that happening, the site is blighted.

“Those within the DUP who would seek to spin this - as Paul Givan did this morning - would do well to heed the words of Nigel Dodds who summed up the issue thus:
“However it is dressed up, whatever spin is deployed, the preservation of the H-Blocks - including the hospital wing - would become a shrine to the terrorists who committed su***de in the Maze in the 1980s. That would be obnoxious to the vast majority of people and is something unionist people cannot accept.”

“With our youth recollecting the Troubles as people of my generation did the Second World War it is important to ensure the morals of society are not built upon a foundation of IRA horror".

14/08/2024

13/08/2024

​A policeman who barely survived a lethal IRA explosion has said footage of children engaged in pro-IRA chanting is “a disgrace” and “a scandal”.

10/08/2024

08/08/2024

08/08/2024

07/08/2024

BBC challenged on uncritical coverage of rap group glamourising Republican terror

Statement by TUV vice chairman and East Londonderry spokesperson Councillor Allister Kyle:

“This morning on BBC Radio Ulster the news bulletins and BBC Northern Ireland online news provided uncritical coverage of the “Kneecap” film.

“They even provide a character calling himself DJ Provai of all things with a platform to tell us how Irish is a language not just for one side of the community.

“There are many people in Northern Ireland who still carry the scars of being kneecapped by paramilitaries. There are many more who can testify to just how cross community the activities of the Provos were.

“That innocent victims should have to see a rap group build a career off the back of the IRA campaign is bad enough. For a public service broadcaster to present them as cross community advocates for Irish and report them without so much as a hint of criticism is intolerable.

“I will be writing to the director of BBC Northern Ireland to raise these points with him. I plan to request a meeting at which innocent victims of the Provos can express their concerns to him in person.

“We cannot permit the glorification of terror in this fashion.”

02/08/2024

The EU has warned Sir Keir Starmer his attempt to repair relations with the bloc may fail if he does not fully implement post-Brexit agreements on Northern Ireland, it has emerged.

31/07/2024

No more money for Casement

Responding to speculation in today’s Times TUV deputy leader Councillor Ron McDowell said:

“Just a few days ago the Chancellor spelt out the dire state of public finances. There should be no question therefore of Westminster pumping hundreds of millions into Casement.

“The Government claims they want the whole of the UK to benefit from the Euros. That doesn’t justify spending a vast sum on a project which will leave no footballing legacy in Northern Ireland.

“Originally the GAA agreed to pay 20% of the costs of the project. Now they, the richest sporting organisation on this island, demand an unlimited cheque from Westminster.

“Frankly, the GAA is far too greedy and is taking hard pressed tax payers for a ride.

“The idea that Northern Ireland football fans are supportive of this madness has no basis in reality.”

31/07/2024

Delight at Olympic success

Statement by TUV vice chairman and East Londonderry spokesperson Allister Kyle:

“Across East Londonderry and indeed Northern Ireland people are delighted with Hannah Scott’s Olympic success as part of GB’s quadruple sculls team.

“It is pleasing to see Bann recognised on the world stage through the comments of Hannah and her family.

“It was also great to see the scenes of celebration on the big screen in Coleraine Town centre as Hannah and the team crossed the finish line.

“Her win was very well deserved and I will be asking Causeway Coast and Glens council to recognise her great achievement.”

30/07/2024

Sympathy with Southport victims

Statement by TUV chairman Councillor Keith Ratcliffe:

"Yesterday’s horrific events in Southport have left the entire nation in shock. I want to assure those injured and bereaved of not just my own thoughts and prayers but those of many people across Northern Ireland.

"For anyone to be murdered or maimed in such circumstances is truly shocking but it is particularly horrendous when children are the victims.

"While details of the incident remain scant, whoever is connected in anyway for this incident must be brought to justice."