The Ulster Unionist Party Executive met in Belfast on Saturday 3rd January 2015 to discuss the Stormont House Agreement. After reasoned and mature debate about the issues before it, the Party Executive unanimously supported the following resolution:
Ulster Unionist Party Executive Resolution– 3rd January 2015
The Ulster Unionist Party Executive acknowledges the poor financial management of the leadership of the Northern Ireland Executive. It notes the Stormont House proposals of 23rd December 2014 and expresses severe reservations about the potential outworkings of the proposals.
The proposals include many aspects of uncertainty. We call on the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly to provide timely and transparent clarification on the issues.
The Ulster Unionist Party Executive supports the Party Assembly Group in assessing any relevant legislation or policy that comes forward from the proposals, and deciding, when required, what direction to take on such legislation or policy; and where necessary the Leader recalling this Executive to provide updates.
The Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, said:
“We have four main areas of concern regarding the Stormont House Agreement.
“Firstly, this Agreement is a declaration of intent regarding direction of travel. The detailed route maps will only become clear when the enabling legislation is tabled. We want to see how that works out, bearing in mind previous experience. We need look no further than St Andrews, to see that what was agreed in Scotland in 2006 was not what was legislated for in 2007.
“Secondly the finances still aren’t sorted. The facility to borrow billions does not mask the fact that massive further cuts in public expenditure are expected in the financial years beyond 2015/16.
"Thirdly, there`s a suspicion, again based on previous bitter experience, that side deals may have been discussed outside the main body of talks. Members remain badly stung by the OTR letters that were smuggled through the system outside of formal negotiations.
“Fourthly, this is primarily a deal between Sinn Fein, the DUP and the government. The Ulster Unionist Party was not at the heart of the talks process. We see no reason to become the main cheerleaders and sales force now.
"We will do what's right for Northern Ireland and monitor the implementation to ensure it brings forward better, fairer times for the people."