Follow us on our website and Twitter for all the latest from the DUP Conference this weekend.
The two-day session at La Mon hotel will feature speakers including Ian Paisley, Nigel Dodds and party leader Peter Robinson.
Issues including health care, education and the economy will be addressed.
On Friday and Saturday DUP members joined journalists, speakers and anyone else who wanted to in tweeting their views on and snippets from the conference. Below you can read a selection of the commentary, which will be updated throughout the day.
Glyn Roberts (trade chief): Very productive conference -well organised and appreciated the many party members who visited our stand to support our work
Cameron Watt: Positive commitment from Nelson McCausland to ensure NI gets fair share of £10Bn loan guarantees to fund new homes
Connal99 commented on the News Letter coverage of Friday at the conference. Read the full story here. Connal99 said: Sammy Wilson attacks media for not being pliant enough & strays into misogyny for good measure. All the fun of the conference.
Michelle McIlveen: Sec of State for NI Theresa Villiers MP addressing conference said, “We will not be neutral on the Union” #bettertogether
Christopher J Madden: The majority of Catholics in NI may wish to remain within the Union, but that certainly doesn’t mean they want an NI led by the DUP
Councillor Gary Middleton: Had an excellent day at our party conference. Biggest conference ever. Party stronger than ever and still growing
Vernon Coaker: “@SimonHamilton: Great to have Shadow Secretary of State @VernonCoakerNI speaking at #DUP12” - Thanks Simon, great see you again.
Read an extract from MP Vernon Coaker’s speech here
5pm latest
DUP councillor Peter Martin: One thing I’ve noticed about our DUP conferences over my 8 years in the party is that the average age is dropping massively.
Open Unionism: According to Peter Robinson “most catholics support NI in the UK”. And working with Sinn Fein is the “correct thing” to do.
Stratagem NI: Diane Dodds MEP tells delegates at #DUP12 Conference that NI’s relationship with Europe has to change radically
Stephen Donnan: DUP12 on BBC1. Big Bang Theory on Ch4. That was an easy decision.
Aine McGrath: Including #LGBT people... “@jamesmcclure1: Robinson: “We must embrace the WHOLE Community”! That’s just laughable!”
Ransom Stoddard: Peter Robinson looking as relaxed and as confident as I’ve seen him #DUP12
Chris Ryder: St Peter tells #DUPciples cross border relations never been better then questions EU funding for Narrow Water bridge. Consistent?
Connaire McGreevy: I see a lot of the old 1973 Northern Ireland parliament flags at #dup12 Someone needs to remind them that’s the past and time to share space
After pictures were tweeted of Union flags laid out on seats for delegates at the conference David Murphy said: And the DUP wonder why people feel that the union flag is exclusive. I should point out that I don’t believe that any flag is exclusive, but flags can clearly be used in an exclusive way.
2pm latest
Vernon Coaker: Spoke at conference dinner last night. Westminster still matters to NI and NI must still matter to Westminster.
Read Nigel Dodds’ full speech (released before delivery) here
Michael Cairns: DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds gets a round of applause for highlighting the successes of Rory McIroy and Darren Clarke.
Ben Mallon: Nigel Dodds MP takes to the stage. ‘Standing still is not an option. The future must look different from the present reality’
Sam McBride: Edwin Poots says health is going in right direction and “won’t be knocked off course by over-zealous headline writers”
Read Edwin Poots’ speech (released before delivery) here
Children in NI: Great to hear Minister Poots recognise the importance of Early Intervention.
Ben Mallon: ‘The legal system will NOT change in relation to abortion in Northern Ireland’, Edwin Poots MLA
Open Unionism: Poots pays tribute to the staff in the Altnagelvin for their work last night after the fire.
Midday latest
Alan in Belfast: Speaker from Integrated Services (Health) says 31 days to go to Christmas “& women in the room will know that means serious shopping”
Alan in Belfast: Outbreak of earpieces at #DUP12. Listening to Radio Gregory? or just getting around La Mon Hotel’s mobile blackspot?
DUP: Conference hall filling up quickly during first panel discussion of #DUP12 on health.
Alan in Belfast: Saturday conference begins with a reading from John 1 and a prayer - about 120 in the hall before doors closed
Karen Smyth: Just looked out the window. Glad I’m not heading up to #DUP12 till later! #frosty
MWAdvocate: Arlene Foster - DBIS/Vince Cable have decided that EU regional aid should not apply to all of Northern Ireland. DUP addressing issue at Westminster and Brussels
Carldevlinwhyte: DSD Scrappage scheme has created significant employment (tweeted from business breakfast)
Councillor Lee Reynolds: Between the outdated radios gear we have and my moustache the transformation into a 1980’s peeler is complete #DUP12
Saturday 9am latest
Glyn Roberts (Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association): Shadow Sec of State @VernonCoakerNI made an excellent speech tonight @duponline #DUP12
Vernon Coaker MP: At #DUP12 this evening to address conference dinner. Nice to do a walk-about of exhibition earlier with First Minister Peter Robinson MLA.
Sam McBride: Sammy Wilson claims NI’s journalists are “negative” about the Executive and studied at “the Victor meldrew school of journalism”
John McMullan: ‘No quack’ cures from DUP #welfarereform #pensionreform are not a choice. They will happen - it’s not play acting: Wilson.
Sam McBride: Sammy Wilson - “If you listen to the media sometimes you’d think there was no thought that went into government in Northern Ireland” #DUP12
Sam McBride: Sammy Wilson says John O’Dowd is “the kind of boy you’d love to send for a walk through Edwin Poots’ farmyard at midnight”. He also says DUP is a party “at ease with ourselves” & comfortable with an Irish minister present
Alastair Ross: Sammy takes to the stage to lighten the mood
Koulla Yiasouma: Debbie Watters getting applause she deserves on policing issue - we need both community & intelligence policing.
Koulla Yiasouma: Yeah, let’s criminalise children. And call for capital punishment if they’re really bad...
Koulla Yiasouma: Debbie finally getting the applause she deserves on policing issue. Says that we need both community and intelligence policing. #DUP12
Niacro: P Givan says judiciary recognise that there is a lack of public confidence in sentencing decisions & more info is needed #DUP12
StratagemNI: The panel on justice now discussing tougher sentences for attacks against the elderly
Trevor Cummings: excellent open and honest reflection on the justice system in NI
Niacro: correction: P Givan says more young people could be dragged into paramilitary activity if age of criminal responsibility is increased #DUP12
Ben Mallon: Prison must be a punishment, rather than a reward. A deterrent must be put in place. #DUP12
Sam McBride: Paul Givan says DUP will block David Ford’s plan to favour community sentences over custodial sentences of less than 3 months #DUP12
Koulla Yiasouma: 80% of ex prisoners re-offend in a year have to do something different says Debbie Watters
4pm latest
Niacro: P Givan says more young people could be dragged into paramilitary activity if age of criminal responsibility is lowered. Now looking at restorative justice at #DUP12 - D Watters explains focus on victim, community and family impact.
Niacro: P Givan says too many young people think they are beyond the law - law should provide safety net for society
Koulla Yiasouma: For the record Paula and I are very depressed by some of this debate. Thank goodness for Debbie
Niacro tweeted: L Lee says breakdown of society and family values are to blame for children becoming involved in crime. Says age of criminal responsibility should stay at 10 for serious crimes but petty crimes should be dealt with differently.
Koulla Yiasouma reported part of Paul Givan’s speech on criminal justice. She tweeted: The ‘liberal élite’ must not have their way and raise the age of criminal responsibility. Set aside Age of Criminal Resp & work to make real difference for YP. Looking forward to the debate. Debbie Watters on panel #DUP12 answering question age of criminal responsibility. Should raise it because it’s about what works & makes communities safer.
Official DUP: First panel discussion of #DUP12 is underway on “A Robust Legal System” including Laurence Lee - solicitor for Jon Venables, in James Bulger case
Jennifer Gilmour: Afternoon session of the DUP conference kicks off with Justice discussion.
3pm latest
Elsewhere Dave Malcolm feels the DUP’s indication that it may run two candidates in Europe is a direct result of a fear of the UK Indpendent Party garnering support. Dave said: The #DUP are scared of #UKIP Garnering support in Northern ireland! They should be! Read the News Letter story here.
There is much mention in the twittersphere of Irish TD Simon Coveny’s invite to the DUP Conference. It is hailed as a historic first and follows DUP Stormont Junior Minister Jonathan Bell’s address at Fine Gael’s conference back in April.
Friday afternoon’s speakers include Paul Givan (Towards a Better Justice System), Finance Minister Sammy Wilson, and Education Committee Chair Mervyn Storey.
BBC’s Julian O’Neill said: DUP @CllrLeeReynolds says committee decision to ban flying of union flag at #Belfast City Hall ALL YEAR round will not pass full council on Dec 3
Jon Tonge: DUP membership survey at conference #dup12 #Leverhulme Trust pic.twitter.com/KpYVCpXS
Gordon Lyons: At #DUP12 event- question and answer session with DUP Ministers.
1pm latest
News Letter political correspondent Sam McBride said: Peter Robinson knocks back David Cameron’s attempts to secure 8 DUP MPs’ support for Westminster boundary reforms. Read the full story here
Diane Dodds: #DUP12 off to a strong start. Full house for Rural Affairs Breakfast. Thanks to @simoncoveney for his informative speech and Q & A
Kilsally disagreed with Peter Robinson’s comments, carried in today’s News Letter, labelling John McCallister’s talk of an Opposition at Stormont ‘crankery’. Kilsally tweeted: Got to disagree with @DUPleader, some forms of opposition - will lose my vote if don’t move on it. Read the full story here
Diane Dodds: “It’s refreshing to hear from an Agriculture Minister who knows what he is talking about” - Ian Paisley MP
Simon Hamilton: Very impressive performance by @simoncoveney at #DUP12 . Helped even a ‘townie’ like me understand CAP Reform!
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster says research and development budget is key for NI agri food sector
Diane Dodds: Now joined by Arlene Foster, Paul Frew and Ian Paisley for panel Q & A at Rural Affairs breakfast
Simon Coveney TD tells #DUP12 that his invite to speak at Conference is a sign of ‘normalisation’ between NI and ROI
Minister Simon Coveney: Food sector becoming commodity premium food producers #ruralaffairs #DUP12 Food and drink sector can be ‘THE’ driving force in Irish economy #DUP12
Glyn Roberts: If you are attending @duponline conference this weekend visit our stand with Ulster Chemists Association for a free health check
Claire Millar: For all journalists going to DUP Conf last year @clivemcfarland promised to bring haribo sweets this time round! Remind him!
Diane Dodds: Great crowd gathered for Rural Affairs breakfast, kicking off #DUP12 The business breakfast on Friday morning featured Simon Coveney, the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine, as the first Irish minister to address the DUP’s official party conference.
For updates on the conference visit www.newsletter.co.uk today and follow us on Twitter.
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