27/11/2011 Democratic Unionist Party Conference

Hello and welcome to the conference. We are here on the outskirts of

East Belfast, where the DUP have spent two days listening to debate

and discussion and speeches from the party's leading figures. In a

moment, we will hear from the party leader and First Minister Peter

Robinson. First, Yvette Shapiro has been looking at the issue of power

and how the DUP have been reading it. The DUP is basking in the glow

of real power. It is the biggest party in the assembly, and his

ministerial team is in charge of key departments at Stormont. Sammy,

Nelson, Edwin, Jonathan. Well done, all of you. This concentration of

power is not lost on the lobbyists. They can't afford to miss an

opportunity to bend a minister's ear. More than 70 organisations are

represented here today, each paying up to �600,000 to take an

exhibition stand. Most of them say it is worth it because it gives

them face-to-face access to ministers who are normally

surrounded by advisers and civil servants. We go to all of the party

conferences. It is essential that we build relationships with

ministers and people coming through the system so that they can

understand and make that connection with local businesses. The DUP is

quite schizophrenic on the environment. On the one hand, they

like to be pro-business. Some of them assume that means you have to

be anti- environment. We need to break that logjam. Being pro-

government does not mean being a anti environment. The DUP take a

strong ideological position on some issues, but there are elements

within the DUP who did not buy into that. Attacking your property is

one of the key pledges -- tackling fuel poverty is one of the DUP's

key pledges. You confident that there will be

delivery on those promises? believe consumers want to see

delivery. One of the things we are hearing time and time again is that

the current mandate must help people at a time when so many

citizens are suffering and there is such a lack of money. There is a

real test for the current political mandate to deliver on issues like

fuel poverty. The ministers are centre stage, but other powerful

and younger figures are rising through the party ranks. These men

were elected to the assembly and -- in May and were immediately given

party chairmanships. It is great that they have confidence in young

members to take those roles. They are responsibilities that we will

grasp and do to the best of our abilities. It is great to see that

the party can be progressive. have always been a member of this

party. My grandfather was a founding member, so I am a third

generation DUP member. I believe this party stands for the important

issues. It Roberta Dunlop is no stranger to political conferences,

but this is her first DUP event. The former Ulster Unionist

councillor has just defected to the party. Peter Robinson delivers what

he said. He wants all people in Northern Ireland to work together,

for Catholics to vote for the DUP. Well, I have Catholic friends who

are Unionist voters. Don't know if they did for the DUP, but if Peter

Camp -- Peter can deliver what he said, I will be happy. Have been

consolidated its power base, Peter Robinson wants the DUP to present a

different face to the world and look beyond a traditional Unionist

boundary for agreement on votes. Some are undoubtedly singing from

the same song sheet, but it is what the party does, not what its leader

says, that will count with the electorate.

We need now is the first minister, Peter Robinson. You are being

described as a visionary by your finance minister. Well, we are a

party of collective decisions, a party that moves forward together.

The policy is not mine, it is that of the party. I just have the

honour of being the leader. So is this the end of no surrender

Unionism? It was a tremendous role of him peasant -- Ian Paisley that

brought us to this point. Unionists will always react differently. If

someone is attacking them of putting their back against the wall,

they will react differently than if they are in a peaceful society. The

way you react in those situations is different. Ian brought us

through that difficult time and into leadership at Stormont. Now I

believe we have an excellent opportunity of uniting the

community. You talk about wanting Catholics to vote for you, yet you

made the statement about emblems. Is that not a contradiction,

because many Catholics would want to see reform of the Prison

Service? With respect, that says more about your view on life in

Northern Ireland, where you equate somebody who is catholic as being

somebody who is anti-British. I do not believe that. Surveys show that

people are moving away from that view. The majority of the Roman

Catholic community want to remain within the UK. They are happy to be

part of the Union. I want to engage those who recognise the value of

the union to Northern Ireland so that they can be part of this. We

look forward to working together for a better society in Northern

Ireland, those of us who want to see the Union prosper. How do you

see this new society operating? You wanted a commission on shared

education, but in the programme for government, it is a ministerial

group who will talk about it. You are at odds with the education

minister and Sinn Fein about integrated education. I do not

think that is right. But even if it was so, the programme for

government shows the direction of travel. It shows that we are taking

the issue seriously not just in terms of the ministerial lead Group,

but we have also given a commitment that every schoolchild will have

the opportunity to be part of education in shared programmes. We

have given the commitment in terms of increasing the number of shared

facilities between schools of different backgrounds. So the

commitment is there. I saw the Deputy First Minister on a number

of occasions on public platforms, indicating that he agrees with the

concept of shared education. The difficulty that all of us see is

that we have to move from where we are to where we would like to be.

And you can't always turn the ship quickly. It has to be a step-by-

step process. The process we have outlined can take us from where we

are to where we want to go. said in your speech that it is an

end of "them and us", what we have had for decades in Northern Ireland.

But at the same time, you say Ulster will never be defeated. Is

there not a mixed message there? Again, I believe the union is vital

for the future of Northern Ireland. We prosper within the Union. If you

look at the general mess across Europe in terms of the economies of

Europe, you see the value of being part of a stable UK. I do not see

the dichotomy you are directing attention to. I believe we will

never be defeated in terms of those who would try and trundlers into a

united Ireland through terrorism. It will not happen. We believe

democracy has to be the final determining factor as to the

direction people want to go. Given a peaceful democratic way, people

will say we want to be part of the UK. They will say that both from

the Catholic and Protestant traditions. What has changed you

personally from "never" to an end to "them and us" and a shared

future? I take you back to what I said earlier. The way you react

when somebody is trying to kill you or bomb you or push you where you

do not want to go, the way you react is completely different from

the way you react in a peaceful situation where you have stability

and the right to take decisions democratically. You have the

ability to persuade people. We want to convince people that the union

is the best option. That is the difference between the Unionism

that had to say No surrender because it's back was against the

wall at people were forcing them in a direction where they did not want

to go, and the Union -- unionism today where we are in a peaceful

society and we can encourage people to be part of the Union in a

peaceful and democratic society. you think you will be the last

First Minister who is a Unionist? First of all, I never said that. I

can understand how someone who is not from Northern Ireland picks up

the elements and comes to that conclusion. We have just had an

election. We increased the gap between our position and that of

Sinn Fein. So we are in a stronger position today. And we will never

be the last Unionist First Minister if we can engage wider sections of

our community in support of the Union. I want to encourage those

many Roman Catholics who believe the union is best suited for

Northern Ireland to be part not just of accepting and acquiescing

in the union, but being part of the political structures, part of

moving forward together. Is there confusion in the opposition? You

said there should be some sort of proper opposition, yet Nigel Dodds

was saying an effective opposition will not help us. What does the DUP

want? There is no difference whatsoever. I spelt out what I was

saying. I do not want an opposition within the executive, which is what

we have at present. There are some who think they can be part of the

executive, but they can also be the official opposition. If we are

really to move forward, we have to be team players pushing in the same

direction. That is what opposition is able to confront if they want to

set up outside the executive, let them tell the people what their way

is. But then they would need funding and structures in place,

and it would take you and Sinn Fein to agree to that. The mechanisms

are there within the assembly. All the parties get funding. I would

not think the issue is simply down to funding. If we mature as a

society, we want to normalise politics in Northern Ireland.

Whether it is set up on the basis of having a majority, ultimately

that will be a matter for the people to decide which parties they

support and for those parties to decide which coalitions they form.

Where will the DUP be in ten years? The DUP has been stronger year-on-

year. This is the largest conference we have about had. We

have nearly outgrown the hotel. They might build an extension next

year. We are a growing party, and we are growing in support. I

believe we have the policies and people to take Northern Ireland

Ford. Will you still be leader? That is for the party to decide. It

is down to the grace of God as to whether I am about at all. Care,

concern and compassion were the buzz words in Nelson Mickelson's

speech. Earlier, I asked the Social Development Minister how that will

tie in with welfare reform. There are several aspects of welfare

reform that relate in that way. Firstly, it is important to

encourage people to get into work if that is possible. The

introduction of universal credit is based on the presumption that

people will always be better off if they are working than not in work.

Too many people are trapped in the benefit cap and are losing out. We

also need to bear in mind that as regards the introduction of welfare

reform in Northern Ireland, we are tied partly with Great Britain. But

there are things we can do to ameliorate the worst effects of the

Conservative programme of welfare reform. It is difficult to get a

job. Unemployment is rising. There are hundreds of people chasing one

job in some cases. But there is a disincentive for some people to go

into work because if they do, they end up financially worse off. By

reforming the welfare system, you can ensure that the benefit trap is

removed. Fuel poverty is a big issue for people, particularly at

this time of year. You criticised the Westminster Government for

cutting the winter fuel payment. Can the assembly not bring in one

of its own? There are things we may be able to do, using the social

protection fund. We are looking at that at the moment and we hope

proposals will come forward soon. So people could expect to get help

with their fuel bill? Better to wait until the announcement comes

as to how that money will be distributed. But it is very much on

the agenda. The majority of people get their heating from oil. Would

you like to see a regulator for all ills? We currently do not have one.

The oil market is important in Northern Ireland because for most

people, that is the fuel they use. It is very different to the

situation in Great Britain. The situation will improve somewhat now

that there is an extension of the gas network to the west of the

province. But as regards oil, we do not fully understand the nature of

the oil market in Northern Ireland at the moment. There is a lot of

work to be done. We had asked officials to look at it and make

some recommendations. Would you support a regulator? We need to

find out if that will make a difference. There is no point if it

does not. The other aspect of all is that for many, the cost of of a

single pillar of �500 is beyond their reach. That is why I was

pleased to announce that we are taking forward a possible form of

pay as you go. That would change the situation from that at the

moment where many have to go and buy cans of oil at the petrol

forecourts, and are paying three to four times over what they would

normally pay. I am joined now by our political

editor Mark Devonport. You have covered many DUP conferences in

your time. How does this one shape up? It is obviously a confident

gathering. They have a big turnout. They are also politically in a

comfortable position. They just topped the poll in May. They have a

few years to prepare for the European elections, which will be

the next Test. Peter Robinson really tried to continue that

message, which he pointed out last year of the DUP being a party for

all of Northern Ireland. He sees himself as a soaking up support

from across the spectrum. And do you think an end to "them and us"

is achievable? It is a nice aspiration. Probably not realistic

in the short-term. We will still have nationalist politics in the

future. Even those nationalists who are comfortable with their position

in the UK, the DUP would have to lose a lot of historic baggage

before it started appealing to them. He said it was the end of the year

are of no surrender politics, and yet that was a strong image from

Ian Paisley of never never never. It will take a long time to live

down. There were some mixed messages on that front. Yes,

because while Peter Robinson was being statesmanlike and welcoming

to all, he allowed other politicians in the DUP to do the

hit job on their critics, notably the deputy leader Nigel Dodds. So

while Peter Robinson talked about the need for an honest opposition,

Nigel Dodds was talking about critics of the party and engaging

in opposition for opposition's sake. Peter Robinson was talking about

people needing to become persuaders, and Nigel was criticising an

opponent for attending a Sinn Fein event, which might be the sort of

thing the Unionists have to be if they want to persuade Sinn Fein of

the validity of their core has. Every conference has its lighter

moments. Simon Hamilton has made a special request, so you can

throttle him as he goes out. I have to sing for the next 45 seconds.

Well, I can assure you, folks, I will not let you down. But I will

not let myself down either by singing. And I have no intention of

doing that. But if I had a few minutes to spare, I have a good

back-up team here in Willie McRae. He can sing. Somebody said, no, we

would prefer your speech. That is the end of the conference season