Statement by TUV East Belfast Assembly candidate and Castlereagh East Councillor Andrew Girvin:
“Yesterday we had two announcements which summed up the priorities of Stormont.
“On the one hand members of the DCAL committee were advised that a museum may close if the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure’s budget is cut by the projected 10% in 2016/17. The report also warned that there would be a reduction in school programmes, library book stock and funding to some sports and arts organisations.
“Yet on the very same day Culture Minister Carol Cullan announced that she would be granting £160,000 to an “Irish language cultural hub” in West Belfast!
“This graphically underscores how Sinn Fein/IRA are using their position in government to favour pet projects which promote Nationalist culture while other genuinely worthwhile schemes – and potentially even one of our museums – face closure.
“It has been clear for years that the Culture Minister is only interested in promoting Irish culture. Her steadfast opposition to the formation of a Northern Ireland Boxing Association and open protesting at Loyal Order parades shows that she is unfit to hold office.
“The blatant bias of the Minister cannot be allowed to continue.”