First stage of Armed Forces Bill reaches Assembly - David McNarry

Last week I advanced my Private Members Bill - 'The Armed Forces and Veterans Bill' to its first stage in the Stormont Assembly.

The intention is to include Northern Ireland in "The Nations Commitment, Cross-Government Support to our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans". A Key purpose being to ensure that my Bill would end any disadvantage that members of the armed forces, their families and veterans suffer because of service in the armed forces.

The Bill therefore provides a framework for implementation, conferring duties on a range of public authorities and Northern Ireland Executive departments, in particular the Department of Finance and Personnel.

It is my earnest hope that at the Bills further stages, due to commence in September, my Bill will receive cross-party support. I express this hope because I have serious concerns that Irish Republican and Nationalist MLAs will embark upon a course of playing party politics at the expense of our Armed Forces Personnel who are currently disadvantaged here in Northern Ireland. I would urge that my Bill would be given a safe passage through the Assembly.

In a small way my Bill can recognize, respect and react to the needs of service members, their families and veterans based in Northern Ireland which currently differ from the other Nations of the United Kingdom.

The commitments which will make a difference cover virtually all of Stormont's Executive Departments. I will make the case for the services, their families and veterans to be taken account of on many matters. Issues such as veterans normal healthcare, visits to the dentist by children, providing prosthetic limbs to injured personnel. Reminding landlords of a priority that seriously injured personnel are catered for in adapted social housing. Ensuring that special education needs for services children will be uninterrupted when posted to Northern Ireland. Giving an opportunity to service leavers to be accommodated should they wish to progress to higher levels of education.

These listed items are just some of the many my Bill will help to improve the quality of life for our Armed Services, their families and Veterans.

All together some 'five thousand' Armed Forces personnel are stationed in Northern Ireland, along with their families and an increasing number of veterans the overall number of people is sizeable.

It is to address the needs of those deserving men, women and children that my Bill seeks out support from the people of Northern Ireland and from all parties in the Stormont Assembly.