On the hustings

Election to the assembly takes place on Wednesday 26 November

BBC News Online takes a look at the political statements in the election campaign to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Sunday 16 November 2003

---

Iris Robinson, DUP, Strangford

Young people may start abusing solvents through curiosity or peer pressure, but the consequences can be catastrophic leading to death in some cases. Young lives can be destroyed through sniffing glue, petrol, aerosols or other substances. I am urging government to take this issue more seriously. I advocate that they introduce measures that will deter young people from entering into a potentially life-threatening cycle of substance abuse.

---

Mark Durkan, SDLP, Foyle
The reality is that it was SDLP finance ministers who gave £680m to health and increased funding by 37%. Sinn Fein's record on health amounts to nothing more than a series of consultations and let downs. In any future negotiations about allocation of departmental responsibilities, the SDLP will ensure that whoever gets the health portfolio will not repeat the mistakes made by Sinn Fein.

---

Mitchel McLaughlin, Sinn Fein, Foyle
The claim by Mark Durkan that there was a Sinn Fein/SDLP agreement on the destination of the health and education departments is complete rubbish. In fact Alasdair McDonnell admitted last week that health was not a priority for the SDLP at the formation of the last executive. The SDLP ran away from the challenge of health, Sinn Fein on the other hand grasped the challenge and began the work of undoing decades of under funding and neglect.

---

Terry Dick, Conservative Party, Belfast East
November 26 will be just like one big MOT, with the same old dodgy parties back looking to have the road worthiness certificate for their Minis and Morrice Minors renewed. But motorists trying to get their cars through the real MOT don't care whether the minister in charge is pro or anti-Agreement, or even is unionist or nationalist. They just want to get it done with the minimum of inconvenience.

---

Lord Kilclooney, UUP, Strangford
I have always campaigned for the UK's withdrawal from the Common Fisheries Policy and would very much welcome the transfer of fisheries powers to the regional assemblies and parliaments. I can confirm that should the Bill be considered in the House of Lords, it will receive my full support.

---

Dr John Barry, Green Party, North Down
The planning system plays an important role in securing high quality of life for the people of Northern Ireland, yet we are unique in Europe because we lack local political control over the important development decisions that shape our towns and villages. Instead of involving local communities in planning decisions, all planning applications are decided by the unaccountable and faceless bureaucracy of the Planning Service.

---