Ulster Unionist Welfare spokesperson, Michael Copeland MLA has outlined his Party’s reasons for abstaining from voting on Sinn Fein’s proposals to send the Welfare Reform Bill to the Human Rights Commission.

Michael said:

“Our decision to abstain from today’s vote should be seen as an attempt to ensure that no stone is left unturned in our attempts to defend the rights and protect the interests of all our citizens. Given the choice, we would have much preferred to have had these avenues explored by the Social Development Committee, rather than reducing the Assembly to little more than a soapbox on what we consider to be the most important piece of legislation to come before the Assembly this session.’

“The major power blocks could be accused of staging a sham fight at almost every stage of this proposed legislation.  The truth is that every aspect of this Bill will already be sent to the Human Rights Commission by the Speakers Office.  For my Party to endorse the games of Sinn Fein and the DUP by voting for or against today’s motion would simply be to involve ourselves in this posturing; this is something we are not prepared to do.’

“Yet again we have seen a degree of political manoeuvring from the two largest political parties over the issue of welfare reform; none of which is doing anything to ease the very real concerns about the disproportionate, adverse impact that the imposition of this Bill will have on the entire Northern Ireland community.’

“Sinn Fein have sought to send the Bill to the Human Rights Commission, a body that has in the past and continues to attract much concern from my Party.  However as bodies both it and the Equality Commission exist to identify the effects that legislation may have on specific sections of our community.’