It was inspiring to hear first-hand about their success stories but also the challenges they face in building and creating jobs across Northern Ireland. Their determination and innovation remind me why it is so important that government at every level provides stability, fairness, and practical support.
That is why, in Parliament this week, I again pressed the Secretary of State about the Government’s continuing failure to deal with the growing list of problems created by the Windsor Framework. Northern Ireland deserves solutions that work, not more delay and denial.
With broken Government promises to implement past agreements, the Windsor Framework continues to create barriers for local consumers. The Government must secure practical fixes that restore our place within the UK Internal Market. The idea that the latest Corsa model from Vauxhall will not be for sale in Northern Ireland showrooms next February because of the Windsor Framework, crystalises the imperative that the Government knuckles down and cares less about Brussels and more about its British citizens.
Whilst I was focused on finding solutions for the future, Sinn Fein however was focused on trying to rewrite the past.
The not-guilty verdict in the Soldier F trial dominated the headlines. Michelle O’Neill described the outcome as “an affront to justice.”
Sinn Fein speak loudly about justice when it suits them, but their concern is selective and deeply inconsistent.
Only days earlier, Michelle O’Neill refused to agree with DUP MLA Diane Dodds that the IRA’s attempt to murder her and her husband, Nigel Dodds, in the Royal Victoria Hospital in 1995 made them innocent victims. Nigel and Diane were visiting their seriously ill child in intensive care when the IRA opened fire. That was an act of terrorism, pure and simple. Of course, Diane and Nigel are innocent victims of terrorism but our “First Minister For All” seemed unable to accept that.
Whilst demanding soldiers are put in the dock, Sinn Fein’s compassion or call for justice doesn’t extend to the victims of the Enniskillen Bomb, the La Mon bombing, the Teebane murders, or the many Protestant farmers along the Fermanagh border who were systematically murdered by the IRA?
Rather than campaigning for justice for those families, Republicans are held a Winter School to celebrate IRA man Jim Lynagh in the very community he once terrorised. That truly is an affront to justice and democracy. Lynagh was psychopath that the IRA couldn’t even control.
At the same time, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, who publicly named Soldier F in Parliament despite the court’s anonymity order, says he has no regrets. That was a grossly irresponsible act. Colum should think long and hard about his irresponsible actions and should apologise to the House of Commons.
During Operation Banner, around 300,000 soldiers served in Northern Ireland. Over 1,400 were killed and more than 6,000 were injured. These figures remind us of the scale of sacrifice made to uphold law and order and to protect all our people from terrorism.
Finally, some of my colleagues are off to Israel this week to see first-hand the efforts being made to end the terrorism of Hamas and speak to people on the ground who have been at the forefront of this war.
