Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie MC has said that Sinn Fein’s track record provides firm evidence that there would be no place for Armed Forces Veterans in Sinn Fein’s vision of a United Ireland.
Doug Beattie MC MLA said:
“Should veterans in Northern Ireland be represented at the Cabinet Office Covenant Reference Group (CRG) giving a voice to veterans and their families who - through no fault of their own - face difficulties related to their service?
“That was the question I put to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 6 December 2016. The question wasn’t asking for preferential treatment, it didn’t amount to a request for funding or resources and neither would it have an effect on the workings of the Executive or Assembly.
“It was a simple request that an individual be nominated to sit on the CRG to represent veterans and their families in an attempt to outline the difficulties they face. Sinn Fein said no and voted against.
“Maybe they didn’t understand the question, maybe they are just mean spirited or played to their electorate, or maybe it showed just what Sinn Fein really think about those who served in the Armed Forces, and their families.
“Of course you could say this was a one off, but more recently at Derry City & Strabane Council they voted to stop the Armed Forces providing career advice to anyone who wished it. The actual motion would have no practical effect, but it did serve to highlight their attitude to a section of our community that numbers in excess of 150,000 people and is held in high regard by the unionist community.
“Sinn Fein may well ponder the fact that British soldiers are still operational on the streets of Northern Ireland protecting people from Republican terror attacks on a weekly basis. They know fine well that it is British soldiers who are called in to deal with any improvised explosive devices that are planted. Sinn Fein obviously feel the need to disguise that concession to reality from their support base, by being openly hostile to anything that is seen to support the Armed forces community.
“So when I am asked would I - a proud soldier - feel safe or valued in a United Ireland with Sinn Fein having any influence whatsoever, then the answer would be no. It is clear they would have retribution on their mind which would marginalise and isolate people like me. If you think that is not the case, then just look to their policies on members of the Armed forces and ask why they are not willing to hold out a hand to the armed forces community?
“It’s a fair question, an honest question and a question of equality. It’s a question to Mary Lou McDonald who calls us her ‘unionist brothers and sisters’ but not it seems if you are linked to the Armed forces.
“Although I am most certainly not linking the Irish language community to the Armed forces community, it is quite clear that Sinn Fein’s equality agenda is one sided. In calling for an Irish Language Act citing the fact that Scotland and Wales have similar, they conveniently forget that they oppose Northern Ireland’s veterans’ community having representation on the CRG in the same way the veterans’ community in England, Scotland and Wales.”