SF minister’s Jubilee stance ‘bigoted’

Published Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Comments
Toggle font size
Print

The Culture Minister has come under fire at Stormont, for what Jim Allister described as her "bigoted" stance over the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Video available to UK viewers only.
We’re sorry. This video is unavailable from your location.

To find out if this video is available to you, we need to know what region you live in. Please enter your postcode below (including space).

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for confirming your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are sorry but this video is not available on u.tv in your region. Your region is listed below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you in Northern Ireland?

1. Why is my postcode required?

We are asking you to insert your postcode before watching some videos to confirm you can access the video content via u.tv.

This is because some videos on u.tv are only available in Northern Ireland.

Don't worry, we won't store or use this information for any other purpose.

If you are not in Northern Ireland, the content may be available to watch at itv.com or stv.tv.

2. Why am I directed to itv.com or stv.tv when I try to view certain clips?

The videos, which are not available on u.tv to users outside Northern Ireland, will be available to those users on itv.com (for users in England and Wales) or stv.tv (for most users in Scotland).

We need to know where you are in order to make sure you are getting the right content.

If you think we've got your location wrong, then please click here.

Need more help? Contact us

During the discussion on Monday, Carál Ní Chuilín explained to the chamber what her department as planning for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The Sinn Féin minister told MLAs that there was no extra money for the celebrations which would mark Queen Elizabeth's 60 years on the throne.

During the discussion, which lasted just short of 10 minutes, Minister Ní Chuilín said it would be up to councils to decide how to spend their funding.

The Minister continued the session without mentioning the Queen at all - a point which was not missed by the TUV leader.

"Could I remind the Minister that the pledge of office that she took included the words 'promoting the interests of the whole community?'" said Jim Allister.

"She has managed to answer questions thus far on the Diamond Jubilee without even mentioning it.

"Can I ask her - previously she has said on record in a written reply, that there will be no extra funding for communities wanting to celebrate the Jubilee, and she will not meet the Queen.

"Has she changed her bigoted stance on any of those issues?" he asked.

But, when prompted by the speaker to respond, Minister Ní Chuilín refused to be drawn into Mr Allister's line of questioning.

"I don't feel that there's an answer that I can give to Mr Allister's question other than field some nonsense. So I'm not going to play with him," she said.

Sinn Féin members of Belfast City Council said last week that they would support celebrations for the Diamond Jubilee, approaching commemorations in a "balanced and measured way".

© UTV News
Comments Comments
7 Comments
OldSod in Fermanagh wrote (450 days ago):
Norman.D, you seem to know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. The monarch is the rightful and lawful head of state, full stop. If you don't like the cost of it, then fair enough, but the cost of any head of state will always be there, no matter if we have a president, queen etc. I don't know what it is like in Bangor, but I have not seen anybody go hungry in the parts of Northern Ireland I have seen,.... go to the 3rd world if you want to see real poverty. Times are hard, but trust me, we don't know what real poverty is in Northern Ireland. Public spending on events such as the Queens Jubilee, Derry City of culture etc are positive for the local economy. It gets money circulating, a boost for entertainment venues, cultural institutions and the catering/ hospitality industry. All at a pittance in comparison to the welfare budgetary black hole. There has only every been one diamond jubilee in history before, there may never be another again. As for this article, to be fair to Sinn Fein, they did say they would support Jubilee celebrations (even though the price of such support will be a celebration of 1916- which I'd rather commemorate than something from the troubles).
R in Belfast, N.Ireland wrote (451 days ago):
I'm an Irish Nationalist and to be honest don't really care whether this event is celebrated or not in our country- as it simply (in my opinion) is as irrelevant to me as celebrating the Spanish Queen's Jubilee would be. However, where others want to celebrate this, then yes, it should be supported, which Sinn Féin have actually in record come out as saying they would be prepared to do. Expecting Ms. Ní Chuilín to be over-enthuastic in her dealings with this event is just ridiculous and naive at most. And Rodney please, have some mutual respect, as I have shown, by at least spelling the woman's name correclty. Remember Irish is the historical language of EVERYONE in this island. That said, enjoy your celebrations!
Ulysses32 in Belfast wrote (452 days ago):
Surely the funding of celebrations is the responsibility of Councils and not the Executive. Didn't Belfast City Council, with Sinn Fein no less, already show their support for civil celebration plans? http://www.u.tv/News/Sinn-F%c3%a9in-support-Jubilee-plans/47a4bd56-34e7-4f99-b4ad-241343233d7c Darth Allister really needs to get a life and actually do something constructive for a change. I am sure if we receive a visit from royalty as part of the Royals-on-tour there will be enough hard-earned taxpayers money frittered away for that. And Rodney, it is Carál Ní Chuilín. Perhaps you have a problem with etiquette or just a troll with bigotted undertones. Ah well, who cares....
norman.d in bangor wrote (452 days ago):
its time the royals were history it costs millions to keep them inluxury the royal list gets longer while people struggle to heat and eat this jubilee will cost millions it wont put a loaf on peoples table when their jobs and benefits are cut
dawn in belfast wrote (452 days ago):
lost for words. how dare she ignore the celebration that would be wanted by so many to mark Her Majesty's time on the throne. does she not realise that she lives in a british country under British rule or perhaps lives in her own wee make believe land?
POST A COMMENT:
Name:  
Email address*:    
Location:  
Validation:
House Rules:  
Your Comment:  
[All comments are moderated and will not appear immediately. Your name, location and comment will be displayed on this page if your post passes moderation.]
MOST POPULAR GALLERIES
UVF centenary parade
Sat 20 April 2013
BGT auditions - Week 2
Sat 20 April 2013