Contents

1 - Foreword 4

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2 - Exiting the European Union 5

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3 - Protecting the identity of Northern Ireland ` 8

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4 - Devolution and Representation 9

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5 - The Environment 12

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6 - Infrastructure 13

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7 - Education 16

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8 - Health 17

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9 - Promoting traditional values 20

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10 - Promoting cooperation 21�

11 - Justice 22

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12 - Conclusion 23

Foreword

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On July 1st 2017, the people of Northern Ireland will have a great opportunity. Any democratic election always provides an exciting time, and this election in particular will give an interesting indication as to the performance of existing parties within Stormont during this term.

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This manifesto outlines the DUP’s key ambitions in the coming months, and in the long term, to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland can make an informed decision when they cast their vote on July 1st.

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We hope that our positive message of unity and sensible politics will appeal to the people of Northern Ireland, and that our hard work this term on fighting legislative causes will produce positive results for the people of our nation.

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Regardless of the outcome of this by-election, the DUP will fight for the key manifesto promises outlined in this document, for the benefit of Northern Ireland. We feel that we can work closely with all parties on some or more of the issues facing our unique part of the United Kingdom.

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Let us move together, for Ulster.

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• Paxbritannicus�Leader of the DUP

Exiting the European Union

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One of the key issues facing the entire United Kingdom is the issue of ‘Brexit’. Northern Ireland voted 66% in favour of leaving the European Union, and the DUP is committed to standing against anti-democratic attempts to fight against this result, but also seeks to ensure that post-Brexit Northern Ireland will be stronger and more attractive for businesses.

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• The DUP will fight to leave the Single Market in the upcoming referendum, but will respect the result, leave or remain, and ensure that the people of Northern Ireland have the supreme say on this important issue.

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• The DUP will negotiate to ensure a frictionless border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, to the benefit of businesses and border communities in particular.

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• The DUP has always been a Eurosceptic party, and supports the decision of the British people to leave the European Union. However, the DUP will work with the Westminster government to ensure that any Brexit deal benefits Northern Ireland.

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• The DUP will fight to continue the maintenance of the Common Travel Area between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

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• The DUP will help to negotiate the replacement of funds that the European Union previously contributed to Northern Ireland by the Westminster government.

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Protecting the identity of Northern Ireland

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Northern Ireland is blessed with a unique and special identity as a part of the United Kingdom. So far this term, the DUP has fought for the Ulster Scots language, and will continue to fight to protect a language which many in Northern Ireland hold dear to their identity.

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• The DUP will ensure more protections for Ulster Scots, and an agreement with nationalist parties to accommodate Ulster Scots as an integral part of the Northern Irish identity.

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• The DUP will oppose any legislation which seeks to attack or belittle the identity of any community in Northern Ireland. This includes the initial Irish Language Act, which would have imposed the Irish Language in areas where it is considered to be unnecessary and aggressively Republican.

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• The DUP is committed to the proud flying of our national flag from public buildings, on a 365 day basis.

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• The DUP will fight for a public holiday to be established on the 5th of May each year, to commemorate Northern Ireland being enshrined as a political entity, on the 5th of May 1921.

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• The DUP will help to establish centenary celebrations, projects and public art to commemorate 100 Years of Northern Ireland.

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• The DUP will fight for the right of assembly for all groups in Northern Ireland, on dates such as the 12th of July, and St. Patrick’s Day.

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Devolution and Representation

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The Stormont Assembly offers the people of Northern Ireland representation on local issues, and exists in its current state due to the efforts of many committed to the peace process, including the founder of the DUP, Rev. Ian Paisley. However, the Stormont Assembly is not always the best place to tackle issues regarding Northern Ireland, and the DUP is proud to be represented within the House of Commons.

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• The DUP will oppose a further transfer of powers to Northern Ireland.

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• The DUP will oppose the ‘Full Fiscal Autonomy’ scheme, proposed by Solidarity, which is an attempt to distance Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. As a part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland’s best economic interests are best served within Westminster.

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• The DUP will work more closely with other parties in the future on divisive issues, to ensure that an Executive Collapse does not become a reoccurring issue in Northern Ireland - dialogue is the best way forward.

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• The DUP will oppose a border poll in Northern Ireland - there is no desire for a border poll at this time, and Northern Ireland is much better within the United Kingdom. We will not allow positive change to be sidelined by a radical Republican agenda.

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• The DUP will support the Petition of Concern reforms proposed by First Minister /u/SPQR1776, on the grounds that it will improve the current system and ensure fairness on divisive issues.

The Environment

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Northern Ireland is blessed with a beautiful natural environment, with areas such as Antrim and the Mourne Mountains being of particular natural beauty. Similarly, climate change is a key issue, right across the world, and it is important that Northern Ireland does its part in the fight against climate change.

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• The DUP recognizes the beauty of Northern Ireland, and will fight for the establishment of a national park in the Mourne Mountains, which will bring more jobs, tourism and a greater conservation effort to the area.

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• The DUP will work towards the establishment of a Greenways Network across Northern Ireland that provides traffic free spaces for cyclists and pedestrians for both leisure and commuting.

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• The DUP believes that the Northern Ireland Executive must do more to reach the national woodland creation target. The DUP is committed to increasing carbon sequestration and creating greater incentives for farmers to plant trees in marginal land.

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• The DUP wishes to invest in a scheme of advertisement against littering in Northern Ireland, in the mould of the ‘Don’t Mess with Texas’ campaign, in an attempt to curb a problem which not only harms the image and wellbeing of our natural environment, but which also increases costs to local councils.

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Infrastructure

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Infrastructure is important to making sure that Northern Ireland is more attractive to businesses and tourists. One of the biggest problems facing Northern Ireland at this time is the lack of infrastructure development, when compared with the rest of the United Kingdom.

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• The DUP will support the building of new roads to connect key towns and cities, to ensure that Northern Ireland remains competitive and appealing. Key road development proposals that the DUP support include: the Enniskillen Southern Bypass, the York Street interchange in Belfast, and the Ballynahinch Bypass.

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• The DUP will support the construction of a Belfast Transport Hub, which will act as a gateway for Belfast, offering improved access for commuters and tourists, as well as creating investment opportunities.

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• The DUP is committed to removing the Rural Digital Divide. Affordable and reliable broadband is an essential part of modern life, and it is important that rural communities have easy access to this. The DUP will introduce a Rural Broadband Voucher, to allow rural homes and businesses to access reliable and cheap broadband.

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• The DUP will introduce a ‘Living Over the Shops’ scheme in which landlords are able to access financial assistance in turning suitable spaces above offices and shops into residential accommodation, to increase affordable housing and to make town centres in Northern Ireland more vibrant.

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Education

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A strong and forward-thinking education system is the best way to encourage the next generation, and to ensure that the future is in good hands. Education offers our children the right start in life, and it is not only an important issue, but one of the the most important issues in the modern day.

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• The DUP will continue to propose legislation which will unite young people across community lines, in the mould of the Cross-Community School Co-operation Bill which was recently proposed by the DUP.

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• The DUP will support greater autonomy for schools, and encourage schools to take control of their own budgets and resources, to ensure that the specific needs of each school are more easily catered to.

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• The DUP will work cross-party in establishing more digital literacy skills within the education system of Northern Ireland. In the modern era, it is important that all young people are digitally able, and the DUP will seek to establish new qualifications - vocational and academic - as a party of a cross-party initiative to equip the future generation of Northern Ireland.

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• The DUP will defend those parts of our education system which work from unnecessary changes. Traditionally, education in Northern Ireland has been a key strength, and the DUP view it as important to uphold the policies and institutions which have helped to maintain this high standard.

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Health

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The DUP take our commitment to healthcare in Northern Ireland seriously. Health matters to each and every one of us, and we all, either directly or indirectly through a friend or family member, rely on our Health and Social Care system on a regular basis.

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• The DUP will support initiatives on common sense cross-border health services cooperation. Whilst the DUP always support the sanctity of our United Kingdom, it is important that those in border communities receive the best possible healthcare and emergency services.

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• The DUP will conduct cross-party discussions, and discussions with the Northern Ireland executive, on adopting a ‘Health in all Policies’ initiative, such as that found in South Australia, to ensure that the health of the people of Northern Ireland is always a priority.

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• The DUP will always oppose moves to privatize health care, either in Northern Ireland, or anywhere else in the United Kingdom. Healthcare should be free at the point of use.

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• The DUP will work with the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure adequate funding increases for Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland. Any future executive in which the DUP was directly involved would increase funding of Health and Social Care.

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• The DUP recognizes that health and social care are not issues of unionist and nationalist, but of life and death. The DUP would attempt to consult all parties on any healthcare reform proposals to ensure that all in Northern Ireland are addressed.

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Promoting traditional values

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The DUP have always espoused and sought to maintain traditional values within Northern Ireland. We are, as one of the most religiously devout parts of the United Kingdom, a unique case for consideration, and if elected to the Assembly, the DUP would continue to pursue those values which many in Northern Ireland hold dear.

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• The DUP will always support legislation which protects the rights of the unborn child. Fundamentally, the DUP views abortion as a grave encroachment on these rights, and would seek to ensure that the only cases in which abortion is available are cases in which the mother or child’s life is in danger due to a birth, or in cases of rape or incest.

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• The DUP will oppose attempts to legalize such acts as necrophilia, paedophilia, polygamy or bestiality, which are not only harmful to the moral health of our society, but which are immoral in the eyes of the vast majority of people.

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• The DUP considers marriage to be a holy church institution, and would always support the right of individual churches or church ministers to disallow same sex marriage. However, the DUP also views civil partnerships as an alternative which should be managed by the state.

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• The DUP would fight for the right of religious communities in Northern Ireland to speak and act as they wish on key social issues. It is important that all communities be allowed to follow their religious conscience and moral views on issues that they may disagree with, provided that they are non-violent in doing so.

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Promoting cooperation

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It was with the help of the Democratic Unionist Party’s founder, Rev. Ian Paisley, that the current state of peace in Northern Ireland was achieved. However, this was not done alone, and whilst the DUP have a confrontational past, of opposition to injustice, we also recognize the need to co-operate with all communities on some issues.

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• The DUP will consult with all parties in the Assembly on issues concerning health and education, to ensure that any DUP policy regarding these issues is informed by the representatives of all communities.

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• The DUP will continue to promote cross-community work and cooperation in schools and education, to ensure that the next generation of people in Northern Ireland are happy to work together, regardless of religious or political views.

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• The DUP will be sure to fight for the rights, freedoms and traditions of the people of Northern Ireland, and to improve the Union for Protestants, Catholics and those of no or another religious denomination.

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• The DUP will support an Irish Language Act - provided that it is does not force communities which do not approve of or use the Irish languages to adhere by rules which are unsuitable for communities such as these.

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Justice

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As a nation which has known turmoil in the past, the DUP’s commitment to improving justice and policing in Northern Ireland is one which the party considers to be very serious. The police service which keeps us safe and the legal system which keeps Northern Ireland fair are a key tenet of DUP policy, and we are proud to stand for due process.

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• The DUP firmly support a change in the policing system, which would allow police officers to be present in communities and known to the public. More community interaction will be sure to bridge the gap between a troubled past and a future of cooperation.

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• The DUP recognize that the current system has many aspects that are failing victims, and would look to establish problem solving courts such as domestic abuse courts and drug courts, which will tackle repeat reoffending and save taxpayer money in the long term.

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• The DUP will increase the maximum period of imprisonment for offences involving violence or neglect directed at the elderly or otherwise vulnerable.

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• The DUP would work to create a register of Animal Cruelty Offenders to help better protect against re-offending and violence against animals.

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• The DUP will revisit legislation on parades and protests in the remainder of the term, and help to come to a cross-party consensus on how parades and protests should be handled.

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Conclusion

Our commitment to working with all in Stormont is a necessity, and our desire to improve the Union for all in Northern Ireland is a commitment that we are both willing and able to act on.

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Already this term, the DUP has presented more than 40% of the legislation which has come before this Assembly, and following this by-election, the DUP are committed to drawing up legislation and conducting talks again within the first week of welcoming the newly elected members to Stormont, regardless of the result.

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Despite having only a single Assembly seat, the DUP are the dominant force within the Assembly. Only the DUP consistently address the big issues, both in the Assembly and in Parliament. Under my leadership, the DUP have not missed a single vote and have not failed to attend a single debate, a claim which no other party can make.

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So far, the DUP have provided positive and consistent representation within Stormont. We will not stop here, and we are committed to acting as the strong voice of Unionism for years to come.

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Thank you. This would not have been possible without the people of Northern Ireland.

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• Paxbritannicus�Leader of the DUP