:00:15. > :00:22.Hello and welcome to the conference. The DUP big day as it
:00:23. > :00:28.meets outside Belfast. Delegates have been listening to the party
:00:29. > :00:34.popper dashed Diane Dodds and Peter Robinson speaks and you will see
:00:35. > :00:39.that in full on this programme. Diane Dodds has just finished
:00:40. > :00:42.speaking and there is a pause just where delegates have finished with
:00:43. > :00:52.one speech and are waiting for the next. Let's explore the issues
:00:53. > :00:58.facing the party with my guest. We did not get much of a chance to hear
:00:59. > :01:02.from Diane Dodds. Some big hitters talking yesterday, a sense of
:01:03. > :01:10.anticipation in the hall for Peter Robinson. What other big challenges
:01:11. > :01:17.he faces? One is to set up a party six months from two elections. It is
:01:18. > :01:23.a challenge for the DUP. They still have to make a decision about
:01:24. > :01:28.whether or not to run two European candidates, they are holding fire
:01:29. > :01:33.and that's largely because they will confront a lot of competing prounion
:01:34. > :01:40.parties and like in 2011 where they competed against the TUV. Diane
:01:41. > :01:46.Dodds only got in without reaching the quota and Nicholson was the
:01:47. > :01:53.beneficiary from the Jim McAllister vote. He has two rally the troops
:01:54. > :02:00.and get them into election mode, he also has to set out his own vision
:02:01. > :02:03.for the party, a year ago it was all about hands across the water and
:02:04. > :02:08.suggesting the DUP can be a warm home for nationalists and Roman
:02:09. > :02:15.Catholics and it will be interesting to see if his speech will be equally
:02:16. > :02:19.emollient or whether in the light of the particular difficulties of the
:02:20. > :02:24.last 12 months, he will be more abrasive. By getting the balance
:02:25. > :02:32.between abrasiveness and a more ameliorative tone, it will be
:02:33. > :02:37.difficult to pull off this time. I think in less than a year we are
:02:38. > :02:41.facing the Scottish referendum and Peter Robinson is keen to get
:02:42. > :02:47.involved in the debate in relation to the future of the union because
:02:48. > :02:51.there is a challenge, the risk of Scotland voting for independence and
:02:52. > :02:54.that would be bad news for unionists everywhere, not least because it
:02:55. > :03:01.proves unsettling in Northern Ireland. And all of this is in the
:03:02. > :03:06.teeth of the final stage of the Haass process. Do you imagine he
:03:07. > :03:11.would give a glimpse of the DUP position on these big key issues or
:03:12. > :03:17.would he keep his cards close to his chest? They will not leak like Sinn
:03:18. > :03:25.Fein input into the Haass talks. We are a month away now from Richard
:03:26. > :03:29.Haass coming back and unveiling what he is able to. Peter Robinson said
:03:30. > :03:35.on Monday in the assembly that in relation to the three issues, he
:03:36. > :03:39.felt more confident about getting something agreed in relation to
:03:40. > :03:46.parades, less confident about flags. And much less confident about the
:03:47. > :03:51.past. That is going to be a long haul for all political parties. So,
:03:52. > :03:56.we might get some sort of glimpse about what the DUP position may be
:03:57. > :04:00.in relation to Richard Haass but he will not disclose the substance at
:04:01. > :04:08.this juncture. OK, lots more from you in the next hour. Let's hear
:04:09. > :04:15.from our man at the conference, Mark Devonport. What is the mood? Well,
:04:16. > :04:22.confident. It strikes you when you look around the hall, 450
:04:23. > :04:27.delegates, the DUP still remains the juggernaut of unionism, it is the
:04:28. > :04:30.biggest party and we expect in the course of the speech to have Peter
:04:31. > :04:36.Robinson are saying it has been that way for a decade and he sees it as
:04:37. > :04:39.going ahead in that mode. In the course of the last two months,
:04:40. > :04:45.they've taken some reverses, the flag dispute in Belfast, some
:04:46. > :04:52.sections of an oil is turned on the DUP and the change of mind over the
:04:53. > :04:55.Maze peace Centre. He will refer to the flags protests, particularly
:04:56. > :05:01.concerning the violence but will play down to the point of not
:05:02. > :05:11.mentioning the maize peace centre. Otherwise, we had from Diane Dodds,
:05:12. > :05:14.the focus is on the May election and the council elections and there are
:05:15. > :05:19.still dangling the possibility they might have a second candidate in the
:05:20. > :05:22.European elections. And that'll be interesting, the Ulster Unionists
:05:23. > :05:32.would be waiting with baited breath to see how that pans out. The hall
:05:33. > :05:38.looks professional, pretty packed? I reckon something in the region of
:05:39. > :05:43.450 or 500 people. They were putting out extra chairs, not counting the
:05:44. > :05:47.exhibitors. It is a professional production. And because of the
:05:48. > :05:51.strength of the DUP, the conference stretches across a couple of days,
:05:52. > :05:57.they had a line-up of ministers talking about their various, Edwin
:05:58. > :06:02.Poots wasn't going into the controversy and reverses he has had
:06:03. > :06:08.in terms of moral issues, he talked about improving the health service,
:06:09. > :06:13.his intention to crack down on what he called inappropriate use of the
:06:14. > :06:17.NHS by patients from elsewhere, especially south of the border and
:06:18. > :06:20.we had from Nelson McCausland who talked of eight People's Bank as an
:06:21. > :06:27.alternative to payday loans or lone sharks. There is a series of
:06:28. > :06:34.different politicians, Simon Hamilton talking about keeping the
:06:35. > :06:40.rates down. Quite apart from the DUP's party political affairs. We
:06:41. > :06:45.looked at the conference agenda earlier and chatted in the office
:06:46. > :06:49.and Simon Hamilton spoke this morning instead of Sammy Wilson but
:06:50. > :06:55.Sammy Wilson gave the big tub thumping speech, getting members on
:06:56. > :06:58.their feet and making fun of other parties and politicians but we did
:06:59. > :07:06.not see his name on the agenda this time. If the out of favour? Well, I
:07:07. > :07:12.don't think he is speaking, I have not seen his name down for a speech
:07:13. > :07:17.and previously conferences have been notorious for Sammy Wilson's
:07:18. > :07:22.appearances, previously in sunglasses. Some people said he is
:07:23. > :07:25.not here, but I saw him milling around amongst the various
:07:26. > :07:31.exhibitors outside the main hall a few moments ago. He is here, he does
:07:32. > :07:36.not feature as strongly as if he was finance minister, he is a free agent
:07:37. > :07:40.now. He make dashed may make a decision as to whether he will
:07:41. > :07:44.concentrate on Westminster or the assembly. It is interesting he does
:07:45. > :07:49.not appear to be doing the warm up act for the leader which has been
:07:50. > :07:51.his brief in the past. In the hall there is a warm up happening at the
:07:52. > :07:56.moment, an introductory film taking place. Presumably delegates are
:07:57. > :08:05.settling into their seats, any notion of how long the leader will
:08:06. > :08:11.speak for? I think he will run right until the end of your programme! He
:08:12. > :08:15.sees that if he cuts down the ability to commentators to
:08:16. > :08:21.pontificate about what he says, he will be able to maximise his
:08:22. > :08:28.publicity. Maybe a quick word with a leading member of the DUP, I will
:08:29. > :08:33.bring him in shortly. You have a microphone already. Oh, no, you are
:08:34. > :08:40.not! I would use this microphone. Jeffrey, confident but a couple of
:08:41. > :08:50.reverses, including the maize peace centre. That is the cut and thrust
:08:51. > :08:55.of politics. You have to take the rough and smooth. Overall, the party
:08:56. > :09:01.is in great shape. The forum today, we are getting ready for the
:09:02. > :09:05.elections, Diane Dodds are any and candidates, the council candidates
:09:06. > :09:09.and so on the soap the DUP is in good shape. What about running a
:09:10. > :09:15.second candidate in the European election? We will take a view on
:09:16. > :09:19.that as we get closer to the elections. We are in discussions
:09:20. > :09:23.with other parties, we want to maximise Unionist representation in
:09:24. > :09:29.Europe and we will look at how that can best be achieved. You might be
:09:30. > :09:35.teasing the Ulster Unionists about this? No, it is something we will
:09:36. > :09:39.give serious consideration to. We want Northern Ireland is to have the
:09:40. > :09:44.best representation and Diane Dodds is an effective NEP and we will put
:09:45. > :09:49.up a second if necessary. Is there scope for a deal, a free run in
:09:50. > :09:55.Westminster constituencies and you not running another candidate? We
:09:56. > :10:00.are in ongoing discussions with other parties about how to maximise
:10:01. > :10:05.Unionist representation, not just in Europe, Westminster, the assembly
:10:06. > :10:09.and local councils. It is not just the DUP, it is the wider community
:10:10. > :10:16.interest, they want the best representation. There was publicity
:10:17. > :10:20.in the summer after Peter Robinson provided his famous letter from
:10:21. > :10:25.America about the maize and it suggested his time might be limited
:10:26. > :10:31.as a leader, how times changed? That was never the case. That was just a
:10:32. > :10:36.storm in a teacup that some people tried to brew up. Peter is secure as
:10:37. > :10:42.leader and there is huge support in the party and he will continue to
:10:43. > :10:46.lead the party into the future. We mentioned Sammy Wilson, not playing
:10:47. > :10:52.the court jester role, should be read into that? Not at all, Simon
:10:53. > :10:58.Hamilton addressed the conference this morning, that would have been
:10:59. > :11:06.Sammy's previous slot, I work closely with Sammy in the House of
:11:07. > :11:12.Commons, he is happy, strong, supporting the leadership and Sammy
:11:13. > :11:15.will continue to have a viable contribution to the DUP. Sammy
:11:16. > :11:22.Wilson must decide between Westminster and the assembly. Is it
:11:23. > :11:28.a difficult decision? Of course because the assembly is where the
:11:29. > :11:31.action is today. It is a great privilege to represent Northern
:11:32. > :11:38.Ireland in Westminster. We need a strong team in Westminster. Your
:11:39. > :11:44.leader is coming on. Back to the studio. Thank you. These are life
:11:45. > :11:49.pictures from the conference centre. Peter Robinson, the party leader,
:11:50. > :11:54.walking through the hall and shaking hands with members of the party and
:11:55. > :12:00.being embraced by one enthusiastic member and another! We are watching
:12:01. > :12:06.these pictures together in the studio. No shortage of union flags
:12:07. > :12:17.and flash photography. No, not like Belfast City Hall. In that respect,
:12:18. > :12:21.they are reasserting what we knew about the identity. It is
:12:22. > :12:30.interesting Peter Robinson has made such a strong recovery from a
:12:31. > :12:35.difficult period. There he is. Accepting the applause of his party
:12:36. > :12:41.members, a bit of music in the grand, I cannot identify it. We are
:12:42. > :12:53.here to watch his speech. He is about to start. Thank you, everyone.
:12:54. > :13:00.APPLAUSE Well, thank you Diane Dodds for your
:13:01. > :13:07.kind introduction and thank you for all of the work you are doing in
:13:08. > :13:13.Europe over the past 4.5 years. On behalf of everybody that is here
:13:14. > :13:17.today, and those who are not, I can pledge we will work each and every
:13:18. > :13:32.day to make sure that come the European election, you receive the
:13:33. > :13:39.mandate you so richly deserve. Colleagues, if there's one thing
:13:40. > :13:43.that marks this party out it is our capacity to confound critics and win
:13:44. > :13:49.in the face of adversity and against all of the odds. After decades of
:13:50. > :13:56.hard work, and ten years at the top, I am pleased to report a conference
:13:57. > :13:56.that the DUP is still going stronger each passing day!
:13:57. > :14:13.APPLAUSE On this day, and at this
:14:14. > :14:19.conference, we pause not just to celebrate a decade of the DUP as
:14:20. > :14:23.Northern Ireland's largest party, more importantly to plan for the
:14:24. > :14:30.future of our province and to plan for the future of our party. As
:14:31. > :14:35.Unionists, all eyes are fixed on the goal of a better Northern Ireland,
:14:36. > :14:39.safe in the UK. That is what brought us together into politics and it is
:14:40. > :14:45.a cause that motivates us still. We've come a long way in a short
:14:46. > :14:50.period of time. To all those who have been on the journey from the
:14:51. > :14:55.start, and has stood with us through all weathers, I say, thank you for
:14:56. > :15:07.your loyalty and dedication. APPLAUSE
:15:08. > :15:11.To those who have joined us along the way, I say, thank you for
:15:12. > :15:16.helping us to make this party not just a voice in unionism but the
:15:17. > :15:36.voice of unionism. APPLAUSE And to those who have
:15:37. > :15:49.joined us in recent days, I say welcome on board. With your help,
:15:50. > :15:55.our best days still lie ahead. Party chairman, I really do not want the
:15:56. > :16:00.party to look back a decade or two from now and say, those were our
:16:01. > :16:04.glory days. I want us to be able to say, those were the days we built a
:16:05. > :16:13.platform that launched the party to even greater heights.
:16:14. > :16:20.Looking around at the talent we have, at all levels within the
:16:21. > :16:26.party, I believe we can look forward to the future with real optimism. It
:16:27. > :16:31.has been our capacity to attract new members and supporters that has kept
:16:32. > :16:36.us moving forward. We never rest, nor do we ever grow complacent. We
:16:37. > :16:42.move onto the next goal and the next target. We are focused on our
:16:43. > :16:43.objectives. Our objectives are to preserve the union and build a
:16:44. > :17:01.better Northern Ireland. Amid the challenges and
:17:02. > :17:06.difficulties, it is easy to forget that never has the union been
:17:07. > :17:10.stronger or our place in the United Kingdom being more secure. When
:17:11. > :17:14.times are difficult, we must never lose sight of this fundamental
:17:15. > :17:19.reality. The setbacks and knocks we take our small when compared with
:17:20. > :17:24.the bigger picture. Mr Chairman, there is no doubt that the last year
:17:25. > :17:30.has been difficult. This afternoon, my job is not to attribute blame or
:17:31. > :17:35.to offer solutions. As a society, we are on a journey to a better
:17:36. > :17:42.future. After decades of conflict, we knew the road would not be smooth
:17:43. > :17:47.or straight. Success is seldom for the faint-hearted. There are those
:17:48. > :17:52.who have urges to give up because obstacles are too high or challenges
:17:53. > :17:58.too hard. That would be the greatest mistake we can make. Real progress
:17:59. > :18:03.is being made. We sometimes need to list our gaze and fix our eyes on a
:18:04. > :18:08.longer and wider horizon, to see just how much and by how far our
:18:09. > :18:13.province has progressed. There is also a danger we grow complacent
:18:14. > :18:18.about what has been achieved. It is easy to take for granted the level
:18:19. > :18:27.of peace and stability we have. This past year, we have also seen the
:18:28. > :18:31.consequences of a community. -- as a community. The harsh reality is
:18:32. > :18:36.there is no such thing as a world where difficult decisions can be
:18:37. > :18:41.left to others. There is no such thing as being able to say we can
:18:42. > :18:42.transform our society without the discomfort of listening to opponents
:18:43. > :19:04.carping and criticising. Nobody should be misled. That is the
:19:05. > :19:09.history of the past and a warning for the future. We ignore that at
:19:10. > :19:14.our peril. I want to see a better Northern Ireland. I continue to
:19:15. > :19:18.believe the traditions that make up our community are interdependent. If
:19:19. > :19:24.we are to move forward, we must move forward together. For unionism to
:19:25. > :19:29.play its fullest part, we must provide confident and positive
:19:30. > :19:30.leadership. We should not be defensive about who we are and what
:19:31. > :19:44.we believe. We should be proud of what we have
:19:45. > :19:48.achieved. We should be certain of ourselves and optimistic about the
:19:49. > :19:53.future. I really hate it when I hear people talking Northern Ireland
:19:54. > :19:54.down. I am proud to be from Northern Ireland and I am proud of Northern
:19:55. > :20:15.Ireland. Earlier this year, we played host to
:20:16. > :20:21.the world 's political leaders. The event was hosted in County
:20:22. > :20:29.Fermanagh. Now officially judged to be the happiest place in the United
:20:30. > :20:31.Kingdom. And you can see why. The Prime Minister 's decision to choose
:20:32. > :20:37.Northern Ireland to host the G8 summit, was it just a manifestation
:20:38. > :20:42.of our place within the United Kingdom? It was that but it was the
:20:43. > :20:45.personal commitment and confidence by David Cameron in Northern
:20:46. > :20:51.Ireland. It was a demonstration of just how far we have advanced as a
:20:52. > :20:56.society. We all know that decision would have been unimaginable just a
:20:57. > :21:00.few years ago. Even more so that it would become the most peaceful G8
:21:01. > :21:10.summit in history. Good old Northern Ireland.
:21:11. > :21:21.It is said that a week is a long time in politics. I have two say,
:21:22. > :21:26.for me, the last ten years have just flown by in an instant. On Tuesday,
:21:27. > :21:31.we mark a decade since the DUP was entrusted with the leadership of
:21:32. > :21:35.unionism and with the responsibility for leading our province. In that
:21:36. > :21:45.time, Northern Ireland has been transformed.
:21:46. > :21:54.It has not been the result of some fortuitous event. Nor is it the
:21:55. > :22:00.consequence of an uncalculated policy. It is because of our
:22:01. > :22:03.carefully devised and executed strategy. It happened because we
:22:04. > :22:07.charted a course to a better future. We took the difficult
:22:08. > :22:12.decisions. It happened because we held out for the right terms. We
:22:13. > :22:18.stood together, not just in good times but in tough times as well. We
:22:19. > :22:20.refuse to be knocked off course. We won and kept the respect and trust
:22:21. > :22:39.of the Ulster people. You see, leadership is not about
:22:40. > :22:44.doing the safe, quick and easy things. It is about doing the right
:22:45. > :22:50.things. Because of the decisions we have taken, we stand stronger and
:22:51. > :22:56.more united today than ever before. Not just able to look back on past
:22:57. > :23:02.glories but building for the next generation. The DUP is the only
:23:03. > :23:03.Unionist party with the strength, skills and strategy, and indeed the
:23:04. > :23:20.vision to succeed. We are now realistically the only
:23:21. > :23:25.serious, plausible and viable Unionist party. In short, we're not
:23:26. > :23:29.simply the largest unionist party, we are the only Unionist party
:23:30. > :23:44.capable of leading unionism. We are the only party in Northern
:23:45. > :23:49.Ireland representing people and councils, assembly in Westminster
:23:50. > :23:54.and Europe. I particularly want to thank Nigel, not just for his always
:23:55. > :24:00.supportive role as deputy party leader, but for the dedication and
:24:01. > :24:05.expertise in leading our party in the House of Commons. He has proved
:24:06. > :24:06.one thing. When he is knocked down, he just get right back onto his feet
:24:07. > :24:32.again. A decade ago, the challenges being
:24:33. > :24:36.faced appear insurmountable. Steadily and surely, we provided the
:24:37. > :24:41.leadership to put things right. We delivered a fair deal for the people
:24:42. > :24:46.of Northern Ireland and demonstrated leadership that is working. Ten
:24:47. > :24:51.years on, I am not here to claim mission accomplished but I do
:24:52. > :24:55.unambiguously claim we are on course and on target. We are getting it
:24:56. > :24:58.right. We showed strong leadership in challenging times and we're
:24:59. > :25:11.keeping Northern Ireland moving forward.
:25:12. > :25:17.So, today, it is fitting that we reflect on what has been achieved.
:25:18. > :25:22.While at the same time carefully laying the foundations for the next
:25:23. > :25:27.generation. Just ten years ago this week, unionism was facing a massive
:25:28. > :25:32.decision. To ensure more of the same defeatism and decline or make a new
:25:33. > :25:39.start and take a new direction. History will record that the
:25:40. > :25:45.election in November of 2003 was a typical moment for unionism. On that
:25:46. > :25:50.cold, autumn day, voters went to the polls to signal the start of a new
:25:51. > :26:04.Iraq. The DUP was mandated to bring about change. -- a new era. For the
:26:05. > :26:06.first time ever, the DUP emerged as Northern Ireland 's largest party
:26:07. > :26:20.and the authentic voice of 21st-century unionism.
:26:21. > :26:29.I am sure many of you remember just five years earlier, as we filed out
:26:30. > :26:35.of the Kings Hall in Belfast, how our political obituary was being
:26:36. > :26:41.recognised. Yet, in 2003, against all the odds, we emerged three
:26:42. > :26:47.assembly seats ahead of the Ulster Unionist party. There were those who
:26:48. > :26:52.said this result was a one-off. A flash in the pan. Before long, the
:26:53. > :26:56.natural order of politics in Northern Ireland would return. They
:26:57. > :27:01.said that the DUP holding three assembly seats more than the Ulster
:27:02. > :27:09.Unionist party would not last. You know, they were right. Today we hold
:27:10. > :27:33.25 Assembly seats more than the Ulster Unionist party.
:27:34. > :27:43.It is too easy to remember how it was back then. The constitutional
:27:44. > :27:48.future was uncertain. That was the bitter legacy that this party
:27:49. > :27:51.inherited from the Ulster Unionist Party. We were told we could not
:27:52. > :27:56.make progress. We were told that no one would negotiate with us. Some
:27:57. > :28:01.are urged us to say no to everything and others wanted us to say yes to
:28:02. > :28:06.everything. We bided our time and held our ground. Now a fuse the ball
:28:07. > :28:14.and faint hearted folk fled our ranks but the rest of us held our
:28:15. > :28:15.nerve. -- a few feeble and faint-hearted folk. Our terms were
:28:16. > :28:32.met. There were some who feared it would
:28:33. > :28:39.not work and still others who secretly dreaded that it would. I am
:28:40. > :28:44.equally proud to say that we did not invade our responsibility to say yes
:28:45. > :28:51.when our terms were finally met. Six years on, we can take the measure of
:28:52. > :28:56.where we are. Devolution in Stormont has underpinned piece. It has
:28:57. > :29:00.cemented constitutional stability. It has strengthened support for the
:29:01. > :29:05.union. It has been the bedrock of jobs and international investment we
:29:06. > :29:09.have attracted. It gives Unionist leading role in determining the
:29:10. > :29:18.future of Northern Ireland. Does anybody seriously think that we
:29:19. > :29:21.would have achieved any of this is devolution had not been restored? Be
:29:22. > :29:25.in no doubt, without Stormont, rates would be higher, grammar schools
:29:26. > :29:30.would be abolished and student fees would have trebled. Who imagines
:29:31. > :29:36.what if we had not taken a different course. If we had done what others
:29:37. > :29:41.wanted us to do, we would be having the PMS savers looking for money and
:29:42. > :29:52.finding none. He believes that the part-time police reserve would have
:29:53. > :29:57.received which unity? -- gratuity. Without Stormont, you can be sure
:29:58. > :30:01.the government would have had its hands on the levers of power and
:30:02. > :30:05.those of us who live here would be left powerless and marginalised. I
:30:06. > :30:13.almost feel I no longer need to make the case for devolution. Those who
:30:14. > :30:19.once claimed to be an ultra plea opposed to its existence are now
:30:20. > :30:22.part of the furniture - pleased as punch to be there. They love it so
:30:23. > :30:36.much you could not prise them out with a crowbar.
:30:37. > :30:43.Steadily but surely we are building a country that the world sees as a
:30:44. > :30:47.sound business investment. You do not have to take my word for it.
:30:48. > :30:51.Look at the progress that has been made even in the most difficult
:30:52. > :30:55.economic times. If only sometimes we could see ourselves as the rest of
:30:56. > :31:01.the world sees us, I believe we would have more confidence about
:31:02. > :31:06.what we have and what we can achieve. During this past month, we
:31:07. > :31:12.have been remembering the terrible events of 20 years ago. No sane
:31:13. > :31:18.person wants to go back to those days. That is why it is so important
:31:19. > :31:24.that the DUP keeps on succeeding. The world of 2013 is a very
:31:25. > :31:29.different place to a decade ago. In 2003, we were in opposition and
:31:30. > :31:33.powerless. Today we are in government and in power. That is the
:31:34. > :31:40.transition and transformation that we have undergone. There are still
:31:41. > :31:45.some in the Assembly who think they can trash everything and take
:31:46. > :31:49.responsibility for nothing. Whatever superficial attraction that might
:31:50. > :31:58.have, it makes no contribution to the lives of ordinary people.
:31:59. > :32:06.And what ever that approach may be called, it certainly is not called
:32:07. > :32:12.leadership. Short-term, cynical political expediency will never
:32:13. > :32:17.bring long-term results. I know you know that but more importantly the
:32:18. > :32:21.wider public knows it too. They can see through those who oppose
:32:22. > :32:25.everything but propose nothing. Some folks take all of the benefits of
:32:26. > :32:30.being in the executive while pretending to the world they are in
:32:31. > :32:35.opposition. It is bad enough that Gerry Adams claims never to have
:32:36. > :32:49.been in the IRA, now two parties claim they are not in the executive.
:32:50. > :32:55.DUP has been elected to take decisions. We are the responsible
:32:56. > :32:59.party of government. Our agenda must not be dictated by those who shout
:33:00. > :33:03.the loudest or dominated the airwaves. But by the overwhelming
:33:04. > :33:08.majority for whom living their lives, doing their jobs and raising
:33:09. > :33:22.their families is a high priority. APPLAUSE
:33:23. > :33:27.Mr chairman, this month is the midpoint of the current assembly
:33:28. > :33:33.term. And you will remember our challenge was delivery. In the
:33:34. > :33:38.media, every problem difficulty the assembly and executive faces is
:33:39. > :33:43.examined in great detail and magnified beyond recognition. Yet
:33:44. > :33:48.scant attention if any is given to our many successes and the progress
:33:49. > :33:52.we have made. It's not just that we've created stability for the
:33:53. > :33:56.first time in a generation, we have laid the foundations for peace and
:33:57. > :34:00.prosperity. The facts demonstrate there's been real tangible and
:34:01. > :34:08.substantial progress on a wide range of measures and projects. In 2011,
:34:09. > :34:13.this party set out its seven key pretties for the assembly term. They
:34:14. > :34:21.were summed up in 14 words, more jobs, low rates, fixed education,
:34:22. > :34:26.better health, work together and strengthen unionism. We declared we
:34:27. > :34:35.should be judged on our delivery so we justifiably will be judged in
:34:36. > :34:40.2016 on the basis of how we perform against the goals we set out during
:34:41. > :34:45.the 2011 campaign. This halfway stage, in my view, is an ideal time
:34:46. > :34:53.for us to take stock of progress. I know if you were to believe the ever
:34:54. > :35:02.present discordant band you would say I will produce a short list.
:35:03. > :35:07.Today, we are publishing a report on how we are performing against these
:35:08. > :35:13.benchmarks. It is not just against these key tests we are delivering,
:35:14. > :35:20.right across government the DUP, led departments primarily are making
:35:21. > :35:25.real progress so to confound and to silence detractors who say we
:35:26. > :35:32.achieve nothing, we are publishing a list of 30 of this term main
:35:33. > :35:36.achievements. In 2011, we put growing the economy and job creation
:35:37. > :35:42.at the centre of the campaign. As we emerge from the global recession,
:35:43. > :35:47.unemployment is lower than the UK average and a number of people
:35:48. > :35:48.claiming unemployment benefits has decreased for nine consecutive
:35:49. > :36:02.months. This happened because we are making
:36:03. > :36:06.Northern Ireland one of the most attractive places for companies to
:36:07. > :36:10.invest in. It's not just because of financial incentives, it is during
:36:11. > :36:16.large parts to the skills of the workforce, loyalty and universities
:36:17. > :36:21.and business friendly environment, access to ministers before and after
:36:22. > :36:25.companies invest and our technological infrastructure and
:36:26. > :36:30.cost competitive based. I want to pay tribute to Arlene and her team
:36:31. > :36:45.in invest Northern Ireland for all that they do in taking our message
:36:46. > :36:51.to the world. We set ambitious targets, already in this assembly
:36:52. > :36:58.term we have supported the creation of over 17,000 new jobs, we have
:36:59. > :37:01.secured ?1 billion of investment commitments and over ?200 million of
:37:02. > :37:05.private sector investment in research and develop in. We have
:37:06. > :37:10.taken the Northern Ireland message not just to the USA and Canada but
:37:11. > :37:18.the places as far afield as China, India, Brazil and the Middle East.
:37:19. > :37:22.In a weeks time, we are taking up an invitation to visit Japan. As a
:37:23. > :37:25.result of the pro-business climate we have created, we have attracted
:37:26. > :37:37.more jobs than any similar period in the whole provinces history.
:37:38. > :37:44.We are also building a new economy around our creative industries, we
:37:45. > :37:49.have constructed new film studios in addition to the existing
:37:50. > :37:54.facilities. As well as international investment, we are starting to see
:37:55. > :38:01.our own indigenous businesses developing again. As a result of
:38:02. > :38:06.decisions the DUP took, in relation to industrial rating, we are saving
:38:07. > :38:11.billions every year. Thanks to the extension of the small business rate
:38:12. > :38:16.relief scheme, we are saving millions more. We persuaded the
:38:17. > :38:21.coalition to devolve responsibility for passenger duty on long-haul
:38:22. > :38:25.flights, we reduced it to zero and saved our air link to New York. That
:38:26. > :38:31.was crucial for international investment and tourism. Sammy Wilson
:38:32. > :38:37.and Nelson McCausland deserve real credit for helping home-buyers by
:38:38. > :38:40.introducing an extension of the co-ownership scheme which has
:38:41. > :38:47.assisted the purchase of 2000 affordable homes to a value of ?200
:38:48. > :38:58.million. Well done, Sammy and Nelson.
:38:59. > :39:07.And the DSD has delivered social homes by providing over ?300
:39:08. > :39:13.million. By not introducing water charges, and by freezing rate in
:39:14. > :39:19.real terms we have the lowest household taxation of any party of
:39:20. > :39:24.the UK, our local taxes this year are less than half of the average
:39:25. > :39:30.bills in England and less than 60% of those in Scotland and Wales. That
:39:31. > :39:46.is saving householders between two and ?3000 over the assembly term.
:39:47. > :39:49.And I am delighted that Simon, who is making his mark in the Department
:39:50. > :39:54.of Finance and personnel, is extending the freeze on the regional
:39:55. > :40:07.rate to help hard-working households. Keep it up, Simon! The
:40:08. > :40:11.coalition welfare reform programme will have a significant implication
:40:12. > :40:15.here in Northern Ireland. But we have a package which, if it is
:40:16. > :40:20.accepted, is the most generous you will find anywhere in the UK. We
:40:21. > :40:25.also want higher education to be open to all, that's why when the
:40:26. > :40:30.coalition allows student fees to increase to over ?9,000 a year, we
:40:31. > :40:40.refused to fund -- follow. We froze the fees in real terms.
:40:41. > :40:49.The total number of students accepted to Northern Ireland
:40:50. > :40:54.institutions increased to over 10,020 12 with 1500 new
:40:55. > :41:02.undergraduate places being provided by 2015. And an additional 300 Ph.D.
:41:03. > :41:06.Places. I pay tribute to Edwin Poots full stop he undertook what is
:41:07. > :41:08.undoubtedly one of the most thankless tasks and he took on the
:41:09. > :41:39.role as health minister. In 2011, despite significant budget
:41:40. > :41:44.cuts, we made sure the health service received an increase in
:41:45. > :41:49.expenditure. As a result, there are 110 more doctors, 565 more nurses
:41:50. > :41:55.working in the health service today. There are more dentists,
:41:56. > :41:59.nursing support staff and ambulance staff as well. The number of people
:42:00. > :42:04.spending longer than 12 hours in an emergency department in September
:42:05. > :42:10.last was less than 10% of what it had been in the spring of 2011. The
:42:11. > :42:15.number waiting for an outpatient appointment has been cut by over
:42:16. > :42:21.4000 since June 2011. Access weighting has been reduced by
:42:22. > :42:26.12,000. We are delivering a long list of major health infrastructure
:42:27. > :42:32.projects, including the Southwest Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, new
:42:33. > :42:38.wards at the Ulster Hospital and the new Omagh hospital and radiotherapy
:42:39. > :42:42.Centre in Londonderry and I was delighted when Simon announced the
:42:43. > :42:59.go-ahead for the new quarter of ?1 billion Children's Hospital.
:43:00. > :43:06.Meanwhile, this executive is the first to publish a community
:43:07. > :43:10.relations strategy and together building a united community we set
:43:11. > :43:16.out the vision for a shared future but put in place tangible actions to
:43:17. > :43:21.make it happen. The shared education campus has begun and there is a
:43:22. > :43:26.commitment to commence ten new shared education schemes this term.
:43:27. > :43:29.In January, I'll use project was started -- started delivering,
:43:30. > :43:42.10,000 young people benefiting when the project is up and running.
:43:43. > :43:47.Earlier this year, we announced a number of key social change
:43:48. > :43:53.initiatives, 234 previously unemployed graduate teachers are now
:43:54. > :43:58.working in numerous sea and literacy and the first projects in the social
:43:59. > :44:04.investment fund have been approved and work can begin in local
:44:05. > :44:08.communities. We have agreed an exciting project creating 8000
:44:09. > :44:13.affordable childcare places which will be delivered by hundreds of new
:44:14. > :44:19.social enterprises. In the last 2.5 years, we have allocated half ?1
:44:20. > :44:25.billion to roads projects and last month Simon was able to announce an
:44:26. > :44:29.upgrade to the aid 26. We have undertaken a major reforms in the
:44:30. > :44:35.health service and local government. We have opened titanic Belfast which
:44:36. > :44:41.has attracted over a million visitors from 145 countries. The new
:44:42. > :44:49.Giants Causeway visitor centre has increased visitors since it opened.
:44:50. > :44:55.Earlier this year, we hosted and Londonderry is a UK city of culture.
:44:56. > :45:04.Next year, I hope you noticed the board outside, we will welcome the
:45:05. > :45:22.grand jeer at Italia. -- Giro D'Italia. The DUP is delivering.
:45:23. > :45:28.I have only had time to touch on a few of the programmes we have
:45:29. > :45:33.delivered. More full list, pick up your copy as you leave conference
:45:34. > :45:38.today. I challenge your press to publish the list.
:45:39. > :45:58.People want results, not excuses. For us, it is not just record to
:45:59. > :46:02.stand over, it is a firm foundation for us to build upon. Next year sees
:46:03. > :46:10.the start of a new round of elections which will shape the
:46:11. > :46:17.future of this province. The 2003 Assembly elections really do matter.
:46:18. > :46:21.In May we will fight council elections on new boundaries. Fewer
:46:22. > :46:25.councils but with more power. That makes them the most significant
:46:26. > :46:30.local government elections for a generation. In January, we will
:46:31. > :46:35.start selecting our candidates to fight this. Even in big electoral
:46:36. > :46:40.areas, you can be absolutely sure that every single vote will count.
:46:41. > :46:41.You only have two look at Belfast to see what happens when people sit at
:46:42. > :47:01.home. We cannot guarantee the result of
:47:02. > :47:05.any election. Let's make sure we do everything that is within our power
:47:06. > :47:15.to turn out every vote on election day. Local government elections are
:47:16. > :47:21.often contested by a crowded field field of candidates. The DUP is
:47:22. > :47:22.uniquely placed. We are the only Unionist party large enough to
:47:23. > :47:36.deliver for the unionist people. At local government, as elsewhere,
:47:37. > :47:41.we will work to deliver the best possible services at the lowest
:47:42. > :47:45.possible cost. We will work with others to get things done and
:47:46. > :48:01.protect and defend the symbols of our nation.
:48:02. > :48:05.APPLAUSE In a democracy, issues are
:48:06. > :48:10.determined at the ballot box. That is the right and proper way. That is
:48:11. > :48:15.why it is so important we encourage people to turn out and vote. Next
:48:16. > :48:19.May it will not only be the first election to the new councils but the
:48:20. > :48:24.next election to the European Parliament. For many, Europe is seen
:48:25. > :48:32.as distant and remote, whilst playing an ever greater role in the
:48:33. > :48:39.laws that affect all of our lives. I am proud of the record of Diane
:48:40. > :48:48.Dodds and of her role. APPLAUSE
:48:49. > :48:54.For the last four and a half years, she has raised the bar and sets new
:48:55. > :48:57.standards of representation in Brussels and Strasbourg. Fighting
:48:58. > :49:02.for Northern Ireland and Europe, and for our people back home, I am
:49:03. > :49:08.absolutely convinced there is not a hard working MP in all of Europe. --
:49:09. > :49:19.harder working. Her record in Europe is
:49:20. > :49:24.outstanding. Her record of delivery is second to none. She is not just
:49:25. > :49:30.the champion of the farmer and fishermen in every sector of
:49:31. > :49:33.business, that is why I am delighted that she was unanimously reselected.
:49:34. > :49:37.I take nothing for granted but I have little doubt that she will be
:49:38. > :49:50.awarded by the electric all she has done. -- rewarded by the electorate
:49:51. > :49:53.for all she has done. With the further fracturing of the Ulster
:49:54. > :49:58.Unionist Party in the last 12 months, and the emergence of yet
:49:59. > :50:04.another breakaway Unionist party, there are those who suggest we
:50:05. > :50:13.should run a second candidate for Europe. We will not take a final
:50:14. > :50:20.decision on this until the New Year. When we do, it'll be on the basis of
:50:21. > :50:27.what is right for unionism and not just on the DUP. I believe that
:50:28. > :50:32.unionism is stronger when it stands together, not against anyone but in
:50:33. > :50:38.defence of our shared beliefs. I do not believe in false unity. Nor do I
:50:39. > :50:42.believe in creating division for its own sake. We work well with other
:50:43. > :50:46.unionists in the mid-Ulster by-election, as we do on many other
:50:47. > :50:51.councils. I believe we work well with Danny Kenny on the executive.
:50:52. > :50:58.It does not mean he votes with us on everything. Of almost 1000
:50:59. > :51:04.decisions, taken since the last election, he has voted against us on
:51:05. > :51:09.only one executive paper. Recorded a disagreement once but did not cause
:51:10. > :51:15.a division and abstained just once. That is better than a 99% record of
:51:16. > :51:22.support. I bet two M Nesbit wishes all his party colleagues were as
:51:23. > :51:30.loyal as him. -- I bet you Mike Nesbitt wishes.
:51:31. > :51:40.APPLAUSE Earlier this month, on Remembrance
:51:41. > :51:45.Day, we once again remembered the sacrifice so many have made. The
:51:46. > :51:50.generation that fought in the great War has passed on but we remember
:51:51. > :51:54.them still. We also remember those in this generation that have given
:51:55. > :51:58.and are still giving so much, whether in the Armed Forces, the
:51:59. > :52:02.police or other services. I know that I speak for us all when I say
:52:03. > :52:07.how proud we are those who defend country and its values. Whether it
:52:08. > :52:22.is half the weight around the world or back here at home. -- the way.
:52:23. > :52:29.This party will never forget them, nor will we forget their service and
:52:30. > :52:34.their sacrifice. Mr Chairman, it has been clear over the last year, that
:52:35. > :52:39.we continue to live with the legacy of the past. This is not simply an
:52:40. > :52:43.abstract political debate but one that can undermine our plans for the
:52:44. > :52:48.future. If we were to realise our full potential as a society, we must
:52:49. > :52:54.work with them and not against each other. That is not always easy. Very
:52:55. > :52:59.often, people aren't too keen to give offence or take offence. What
:53:00. > :53:03.we need is a debate not a bad offence but about respect. That does
:53:04. > :53:07.not just apply to political opponents, it has to apply to
:53:08. > :53:12.opponents as well. We must move forward in the clearest possible
:53:13. > :53:13.terms. There can be no distinction between terrorism today and
:53:14. > :53:33.terrorism in the past. There can be no distinction between
:53:34. > :53:39.violence by loyalists and violence by dissident republicans. There must
:53:40. > :53:49.be respectful people 's rights to express cultural identities and to
:53:50. > :53:56.live in peace. Support for the rule of law cannot be conditional. I know
:53:57. > :54:02.from speaking to victims first-hand, events now decades-old, dill hoard
:54:03. > :54:10.them on a daily basis. For them it is not about the past. -- still
:54:11. > :54:15.caught them. One cannot fail to be moved by the suffering they have
:54:16. > :54:21.ensured. Nothing can bring back murdered loved ones. For many who
:54:22. > :54:26.have suffered during the Troubles, scars remain. I do not know if we
:54:27. > :54:32.can agree a way forward on the past but surely we can, at least, agree
:54:33. > :54:39.that people must not be re-traumatised in the future.
:54:40. > :54:48.APPLAUSE I hope that we can find a way to
:54:49. > :54:53.respect those who have suffered the most - a victim centred approach.
:54:54. > :54:57.Ultimately, we may not be able to agree with everyone about the past
:54:58. > :55:00.but we are absolutely clear that no one will be allowed to use the
:55:01. > :55:15.process to rewrite the history of the past. Everybody should remember
:55:16. > :55:20.that it was this party that opposed the Belfast agreements, prisoner
:55:21. > :55:25.release scheme, which flung open the gates for terrorist prisoners. We
:55:26. > :55:29.will block any proposal for an amnesty for terrorist. --
:55:30. > :55:47.terrorists. Victims do not just deserve respect,
:55:48. > :55:52.they deserve justice. I firmly believe that we must offer hope and
:55:53. > :55:57.opportunity to everyone. Communities must not be left at the mercy of
:55:58. > :55:59.those who would exploit them for their own advantage - people whose
:56:00. > :56:13.only loyalty is to crime. Those who deal in drugs deal in
:56:14. > :56:18.death. Those who trade in prostitution and extortion to base
:56:19. > :56:22.communities. Those who agitate and organise unrest and disorder are a
:56:23. > :56:33.scourge on our society, blighting the lives of young people.
:56:34. > :56:40.There is a better way. We must ensure the pathway to it is open to
:56:41. > :56:46.all. One of the greatest tragedies over this last year is how
:56:47. > :56:49.legitimate protests descended into violence and economic destruction.
:56:50. > :56:53.This simply damaged the cause and tarnished the image of Northern
:56:54. > :56:59.Ireland. Most Unionists were appalled by the decision in Belfast
:57:00. > :57:04.but they were also disgusted by a tax on the police. It is not only
:57:05. > :57:11.morally wrong, it is self-evidently counter-productive. Support drained
:57:12. > :57:13.away from a genuinely good cause. Those who orchestrated the violence
:57:14. > :57:30.sabotaged a sound and just cause. Protests are valid and legitimate in
:57:31. > :57:34.any truly democratic society. Violence and lawbreaking are not. I
:57:35. > :57:38.know it is always easy to point out the faults and flaws of political
:57:39. > :57:46.opponents but how often do we ask ourselves if you are doing all we
:57:47. > :57:51.can to deliver a better future. This is not particularly easy in the heat
:57:52. > :57:55.of battle and debate. In the decades ahead, the direction of the province
:57:56. > :58:00.will be determined, not on the basis of labels of the past, but by what
:58:01. > :58:08.will provide the best future for to citizens. It is clear from every
:58:09. > :58:14.recent... There we must leave that speech at the DUP conference. We're
:58:15. > :58:20.almost out of time. Just that final paragraph we got is really look to
:58:21. > :58:24.the future by the party leader. Absolutely - a speech of three
:58:25. > :58:31.parts. One was celebrating the devolution in general and the DUP in
:58:32. > :58:35.particular, rallying the troops. The third bit which was progressive, I
:58:36. > :58:38.heard a phrase on the radio this morning, he is looking through the
:58:39. > :58:43.windscreen rather than in the rear-view mirror. He is looking
:58:44. > :58:47.forward to a common sense of citizenship in Northern Ireland.
:58:48. > :58:52.Thank you very much for that. That is it. Join me tomorrow for Sunday
:58:53. > :58:57.Politics. I will be speaking to Peter Robinson about his conference
:58:58. > :59:00.speech. For now, from everyone here, thank you for watching. Goodbye.