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24/10/2007
Giant Headache For Causeway Developer
The developer at the heart of the proposed new Giant's Causeway Visitor Centre has insisted that no inducement was given to First Minister Ian Paisley or his son to gain their support for the scheme.
While the Northern Ireland First Minister and the Junior Minister had both lobbied on his behalf, he insisited it was purely because they believed in the project.
Seymour Sweeney has been mired in controversy since Stormont Environment Minister Arlene Foster, of the DUP, announced recently that she was "minded" to grant permission for his multimillion-pound scheme.
Amid rumour and speculation, Mr Sweeney called a news conference in Belfast to insist there had been no wrongdoing involving him and the Paisleys.
He also insisted his decision to join the DUP three or four years ago was not commercially based and said: "There is no special relationship between Ian Paisley Snr, Ian Paisley Jnr and myself. There is nothing to hide."
He said his only relationship with the political father and son had been as a constituent.
"If you have got a constituency problem in Northern Ireland and you go to the Paisleys with that, irrespective of class or creed, you will not find a more resolute and determined pair of public representatives to support you and lobby on your behalf - always providing they believe in the project.
"The Paisleys have never made any secret that they think this is a good scheme."
He added: "If there was anything untoward or underhand, do you really think that I would be sitting in the private members' dining room at Stormont having a cup of coffee with one of them and then going over to talk to another MLA when he came into the room?
"There is no special relationship other than that of constituent to MP, MLA and MEP as was."
He said "no money whatsoever has been given by me or any of my companies to any political party, including the DUP. There is no sponsorship of any kind whatsoever".
He said all he paid to the DUP was an annual subscription - the same as every other member.
(BMcC)
While the Northern Ireland First Minister and the Junior Minister had both lobbied on his behalf, he insisited it was purely because they believed in the project.
Seymour Sweeney has been mired in controversy since Stormont Environment Minister Arlene Foster, of the DUP, announced recently that she was "minded" to grant permission for his multimillion-pound scheme.
Amid rumour and speculation, Mr Sweeney called a news conference in Belfast to insist there had been no wrongdoing involving him and the Paisleys.
He also insisted his decision to join the DUP three or four years ago was not commercially based and said: "There is no special relationship between Ian Paisley Snr, Ian Paisley Jnr and myself. There is nothing to hide."
He said his only relationship with the political father and son had been as a constituent.
"If you have got a constituency problem in Northern Ireland and you go to the Paisleys with that, irrespective of class or creed, you will not find a more resolute and determined pair of public representatives to support you and lobby on your behalf - always providing they believe in the project.
"The Paisleys have never made any secret that they think this is a good scheme."
He added: "If there was anything untoward or underhand, do you really think that I would be sitting in the private members' dining room at Stormont having a cup of coffee with one of them and then going over to talk to another MLA when he came into the room?
"There is no special relationship other than that of constituent to MP, MLA and MEP as was."
He said "no money whatsoever has been given by me or any of my companies to any political party, including the DUP. There is no sponsorship of any kind whatsoever".
He said all he paid to the DUP was an annual subscription - the same as every other member.
(BMcC)
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25 September 2003
Ian Paisley Jnr hits out at prisoner funding
Leading DUP member, Ian Paisley Jnr has hit out at the amount of money prisoner groups have received from Peace 11 funding.
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05 March 2008
Ian Paisley Announces The End Is Nigh
Ian Paisley has dramatically announced his intention to step down as First Minister less than half way through his term of office. Speculation raged after Mr Paisley invited journalists to a media briefing amidst mounting pressure from his party and growing speculation from the media he was soon to step down.
Ian Paisley Announces The End Is Nigh
Ian Paisley has dramatically announced his intention to step down as First Minister less than half way through his term of office. Speculation raged after Mr Paisley invited journalists to a media briefing amidst mounting pressure from his party and growing speculation from the media he was soon to step down.
04 March 2008
Paisley Senior Pushed By Party
Ian Paisley is facing a new bout of pressure to step down as the leader of the DUP from his own party. There is growing speculation senior members of his party are considering plans to see the now 82 year-old politician to conclude his leadership amid further controversy surrounding Ian Paisley Jnr.
Paisley Senior Pushed By Party
Ian Paisley is facing a new bout of pressure to step down as the leader of the DUP from his own party. There is growing speculation senior members of his party are considering plans to see the now 82 year-old politician to conclude his leadership amid further controversy surrounding Ian Paisley Jnr.
26 February 2008
Donaldson Made Junior Minister
A relative 'new boy' to the Democratic Unionist Party, Co Down MP Jeffrey Donaldson has been sworn in as Northern Ireland's new Junior Minister. A former Ulster Unionist, Mr Donaldson, who is the Lagan Valley MP, defected to the DUP in 2004 after a high-profile fall-out with his then party leader, David (now Lord Trimble).
Donaldson Made Junior Minister
A relative 'new boy' to the Democratic Unionist Party, Co Down MP Jeffrey Donaldson has been sworn in as Northern Ireland's new Junior Minister. A former Ulster Unionist, Mr Donaldson, who is the Lagan Valley MP, defected to the DUP in 2004 after a high-profile fall-out with his then party leader, David (now Lord Trimble).
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