Lord Empey & Danny Kinahan MP have said that the Northern Ireland Executive must act to implement outstanding areas of the Armed Forces Covenant.  The Covenant, first introduced in 2011, still does not have full meaning for veterans in Northern Ireland.  

Lord Empey said: 

“This is a disgrace and a scandal. I note Sammy Wilson's Bill brought forward at Westminster today but the problem lies in the Executive. A total failure even to respond on an issue such as this is unforgiveable. 

“The Ulster Unionist Party raised the issue of Section 75 over four years ago and got assurances from the MOD who stated in a letter to me: 

“While it is not for the Ministry of Defence to decide on the application of Section 75, we understand that it would not operate in principle to prevent a public authority within the meaning of the 1998 Act from making special provision for Service people.” 

A report from the NI Affairs Committee in 2013 also stated: 

“We have been reassured that the Northern Ireland equality framework does not create a greater barrier to implementation of the Covenant in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the UK. It is important this is understood by those involved in the delivery of services to the Armed Forces Community.” 

“We fully understand that this was not a legal opinion but nevertheless we believe that there is good reason to believe that departments in Northern Ireland are quite entitled to provide services specifically aimed at service personnel or former serving personnel. While the 2012 report appears to back track on this commitment, no obstacle should be placed in the way of providing these brave people with the help that they need, and if a change in the law is clearly needed it will have our support. 

“That does not take away from the total failure of this discredited Executive to properly engage with the Ministry of Defence and ensure a proper annual report to Parliament.” 

Danny Kinahan MP said: 

“This is about Service people in Northern Ireland having the same access to services under the Armed Forces Covenant as their counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales.   It is a very basic equality issue and it shouldn’t be a battleground with anyone, not least the Nationalist parties locally. 

“Despite the NI Affairs Committee review and the annual report to Parliament I am still hearing from local veterans that there is not parity – this is simply not good enough and must be dealt with.”