South Antrim Ulster Unionist MP, Danny Kinahan, has urged the Government to do all in its power to ensure that Northern Ireland military veterans are not disadvantaged simply by where they live. 

Mr Kinahan was speaking at a Westminster Hall debate this afternoon on the Armed Forces Covenant Annual Report 2015. 

Mr Kinahan said: 

“Northern Ireland has engaged much less with the Armed Forces Covenant than the other devolved administrations. One of the main areas of concern is health service provision. The Welsh Government is particularly strong in providing fast-tracked access to NHS services to service personnel and veterans. In Scotland, government funding for veterans services is very effective. Northern Ireland is behind the game in both these areas. 

“While every local council in Great Britain has signed the Community Covenant, in Northern Ireland five out of eleven councils have voted in favour of implementing it. 

“Perhaps most damning of all is that the Northern Ireland Executive has chosen not to be represented on the Covenant Reference Group, which oversees the implementation of the Covenant and will be responsible for distributing the £10million per annum Covenant Fund. 

“It is this shameful neglect of our current and former servicemen and women that has forced them to deal with their own problems and suffer in silence on so many occasions. Our local veterans often face very different attitudes to their counterparts across the Irish Sea and the existing security situation can make them feel apprehensive towards disclosing their military lives. We must all work together to find a way for them to access and benefit from all of the provisions within the Covenant or continue to let down those who were prepared to pay the ultimate price for their country. 

“I don’t just want to fight for equality for our veterans, I also want to celebrate and recognise them and all of their endeavours”.