The SDLP have combined youth with experience in their choice of candidates to contest the Assembly election in East Derry.

The sitting member John Dallat will be joined by teacher Orla Beattie from Glack.

Aged 27, Orla joined the SDLP at the age of 18 and is secretary of the constituency council. As a teacher in a small primary school she knows the value of rural schools and is totally opposed to the closures arising out of the recently published Bain Report.

Orla will campaign for the rights of children and especially those with special needs. She will fight for the resources which are needed to cut the unacceptable waiting list for children waiting for assessment.

As part of the rural community Orla fully backs the SDLP campaign against Planning Policy Statement 14 which has put a halt to single dwellings in the countryside. She believes it is possible to have a balanced community without draconian measures which have seen the cost of house building spiral out of control.

If elected Orla will campaign vigorously to have a fair share of public money invested in rural roads.

Orla Beattie stated:
“The public transport service does little to link the rural communities with the outside world. It fails to acknowledge that people need to meet appointments at health clinics or catch trains or indeed the local ferry service where there is no connection whatsoever.”

John Dallat in welcoming Orla as a running mate said:

“I am delighted Orla Beattie will be joining me on the SDLP ticket. She is young, truly professional and totally committed to the SDLP. She joins a growing list of young candidates who appreciate the visionary policies of a party and has never faltered in her belief that only the SDLP will lead us out of a dark past which set back progress towards a new Ireland where division ceases to be the talking point and co-operation, partnership and trust between our communities are the motivating principles for the future.

“I want to see the decentralising of civil service jobs into Coleraine and Limavady and an end to job losses in the public sector. Together with Orla we will continue the campaign for a decent road and rail infrastructure, a proper approach to the scandal in social and affordable housing and decent financial and health care for older people.

“We both agree that there must be an end to direct rule ministers robbing people with unfair and unjustified water charges and that can only be done when a local assembly is up and running and voters need to weigh up which parties are capable of doing that.”

The SDLP last night co-opted 21 year old Matthew McDermott onto Lisburn City Council. Mr McDermott takes the seat left vacant by Patricia Lewsley. Matthew is now the youngest Councillor on the island of Ireland. Speaking after his co-option Cllr McDermott stated:

“I am delighted and honoured to take my place on the council as an SDLP representative. I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor Patricia Lewsley who worked tirelessly to promote a spirit of equality in the council chamber. She also fought hard for her constituents. I intend to do the same. As a young person from the Dunmurry area I am well aware of the concerns, needs and hopes of the community. In the coming weeks I will be raising a number of priority issues which I will be addressing in council including housing, under investment, and job training programmes for the area.

There is much work to be done and the council is the forum to push much of this work through. I look forward to working with my colleagues Brian Heading and Peter O’Hagan in providing a strong, united, nationalist voice on the council.”

PROFILE

Matthew McDermott is a 21-year-old student reading for a degree in International Studies at Queen’s University Belfast.

He has been an active member of the SDLP and SDLP Youth for three years and sits on the youth executive. He is also a Councillor for Queen’s Students Union.

Matthew grew up in Poleglass and now lives in Lagmore, in the DEA of Dunmurry Cross.

Matthew is active in local and international politics, both at Queen’s and for the SDLP.

Matthew volunteers for HomePlus, a homeless outreach service in Belfast City Centre and also works part-time for the Daughters of Mercy Charity, providing assistance to residents in temporary accommodation, namely hostels, who are seeking re-housing.

He has a two-year-old son, also called Matthew and enjoys the challenge of fatherhood and it’s rewards.

He enjoys history, particularly modern history and Irish history and is a keen sports fan.

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El Blogador - “SDLP For The Future”
Lisburn Today Newspaper - DUNMURRY SEAT TAKEN BY IRELAND’S YOUNGEST COUNCILLOR

SDLP Derry Councillor Seana Hume has said she is not surprised at the figures released from UCAS showing a fall in university applications. Speaking today Cllr Hume stated:

“The SDLP have said all along that top fees would place a financial barrier in the access of education to those on lower incomes- the figures released from UCAS vindicates this position. Top-up fees will cripple our education system- large swathes of people will not be able to afford to go to university.

“Some students will be facing fees of £3,000 per year over the course of their studies. Coupled with the student loan debt and debts to banks for overdrafts, many students will be facing financial ruin before they even begin their professional career. As someone struggling to pay back a student loan I can sympathise with the thousands of students facing an even bigger debt under the introduction of these top up fees.

“Students in today’s society are faced with the great burden of debt, and it is this burden which closes the opportunity of education to many young people. The SDLP have always been the leading advocates of equal access to education for all, and we want to ensure that student support goes to those who need it. Education should be open to all who want to study, irrespective of income or social status.

“Top fees are an example of how direct rule has failed the people of the North. This is why we must get our Assembly up and running, so that local politicians elected by the people can make decisions that reflect the views and needs of people in their constituencies. We need to end these ridiculous top-up fees so that all our young people have the opportunity to further their education without the worry and fear of rising debts.”

SDLP youth are today meeting with children’s commissioner Patricia Lewsley. Leading the delegation will be Matthew Mc Dermott set to become the youngest councillor in Ireland at a meeting of Lisburn City Council tomorrow night. Speaking before the meeting Mr Mc Dermott stated:

“We are looking forward to meeting with the commissioner. There are a number of serious issues such as self harm, homelessness and mental health issues we intend to raise with Ms Lewsley. We believe as young people we have a duty to work with and put pressure on this office to ensure that together we are working toward the best future for all the young people in the North of Ireland. Following this meeting we hope to meet with Minister for Children Angela Smith.”

Young people should be able to stand for elections across the island of Ireland when they reach voting age, the SDLP’s Newry and Armagh representative Councillor Sharon Haughey has said today.

25-year-old Sharon Haughey stated:

“It is completely unfair that young people in Ireland cannot stand for election to the Northern Ireland Assembly or Dáil Éireann until they reach the age of 21. From the age of 18, young people across Ireland have full voting rights and in the north can even become MP for their constituency, yet are denied the right to become legislators on this island.

It is important that young people are encouraged to become more actively involved in civic society and in recent times much work has been done to encourage young people to come out and vote in elections, both north and south. It is a complete contradiction therefore that those same young people are barred from standing for election themselves.

Democracy is all about giving people the right to have their voices heard. It’s not good enough to tell young people that they can vote for whoever best represents their views as long as its not themselves or anyone from their age group. That is not democracy, it is discrimination.

This is an important issue for young people across this entire island and I along with SDLP Youth will ensure that this becomes part of our party’s manifesto for the forthcoming elections. Legislation must be introduced both north and south to ensure the rights of young people are upheld on this matter.”