Butler condemns McCausland's 'bigots charter'
Published: 30 September, 2009
Lagan Valley Sinn Fein MLA Paul Butler has slammed Nelson McCausland, the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, for questioning funding for GAA clubs that are named after republicans.
Speaking today Mr Butler said:
"Since taking office three months ago Nelson McCausland has went out of his way to cause offence to the nationalist community.
"He has refused to enter a Catholic church; he has failed to bring forward a strategy for the development of the Irish language despite pressure from the Council of Europe; his department sent out personal invites to Orange Fest and he took part in sectarian parades through nationalist districts in Belfast.
"The latest chapter in McCausland's bigots charter is an attempt to place pressure on the GAA to rename their sports grounds. Is it little wonder the nationalist community have no faith in him as a minister? Sinn Féin will block any attempts by Nelson McCausland to implement a sectarian charter within DCAL. Nelson needs to remember that he is not in a DUP administration. He needs to remember that this Executive is jointly headed by Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness.
"Nelson McCausland is not the minister for some cultures or some sports. He has a responsibility to respect all cultures, traditions and sports. This means he must recognise and respect nationalist and republican history, culture, traditions and sports. He should get on with doing his job properly rather than chasing Jim Allister's shadow with his increasingly sectarian and bigoted behaviour."
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