Conference, this morning I want to give you an insight into something that we as a group in Mid Ulster have been grappling with as we work towards a positive outcome.
Our Council has an inbuilt nationalist majority.
Life is not easy, but as Ulster Unionists we know it is our duty to continue to provide positive leadership.
A particular area of controversy has developed around the Bonfire Consultation process.
Bonfires have been part of a long tradition across Mid Ulster and communities come together to mark various events.
In August 2017 a special environment committee was called by Sinn Fein members within Mid Ulster Council to discuss “concerns” regarding Bonfires within Mid Ulster.
Sinn Fein was seeking to pursue its political agenda to marginalise and thwart any outward expression of unionist culture and to promote its own republican agenda.
At all times the Ulster Unionist Group on council had a clear direction and strategy, which entailed seeking to actively continue with the Bonfire Working Group made up of elected members, and to use this to engage with local communities where bonfires were a feature of celebrations and commemorations.
We have always recognised the importance of continued community engagement and realised the inherent dangers in imposing a solution.
At the Council meeting of February 2018 our group proposed pursuing the option of continued community engagement on the ground and sought to avoid criminalising people.
Quite incredibly every other party went for options that didn’t involve community engagement. Even the DUP refused to take their place on the Bonfire Working Group, leaving us as the only Unionist voice in there.
At the May meeting we proposed that the consultation be deferred to allow further engagement to take place on the ground, but this was once again voted down.
Sinn Fein chooses to forget that there have been very few issues with regard to bonfires in Mid Ulster. Engagement with local communities has brought results on the ground with buy in from local communities and we have been able to work successfully to reduce the number of tyres on bonfires.
In Mid Ulster we certainly have not witnessed any of the shameful scenes that were on display in Londonderry in August, when republicans lit a huge bonfire which contained stolen poppy wreaths, flags and the names of murdered police and prison officers.
At this moment the Council is engaged in a public consultation process.
Whatever its outcome, our group will continue to work in the best traditions of Ulster Unionism to provide leadership and seek to deliver solutions that are workable and designed to improve the lives of all our citizens from whatever tradition they come.
Conference I thank you for your time and attention.