Allister Challenges Foster on Exclusion of 12th and Ulster Covenant from Showcase
03 February 2012
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“I am appalled that the Northern Ireland Tourist Board has excluded the 12th July from the Our Time, Our Place showcase.
“Other shocking omissions include Scarva – a major event attended by in excess of 100,000 people every year and renowned throughout the Province for the quality of the bands which parade – and the centenary of the Ulster Covenant.
“What makes the exclusion of these events of major significance to the Unionist community all the more glaring is the inclusion of the St Patrick’s Day parade in Belfast, the West Belfast Festival and an Irish traditional spring festival.
“We hear a lot of talk about a “shared future” but, going by this example, it seems that as far as the Northern Ireland Tourist Board is concerned only events which celebrate the Nationalist and Republican tradition should be promoted. The rich history and cultural heritage of the majority of Northern Ireland’s population is totally ignored.
“If, as the Tourist Board seem to suggest, it was the responsibility of organisers of events to apply for inclusion in Our Time, Our Place why was the Orange Order, as a key stakeholder, not contacted and told that they needed to do so?
“And why didn’t the DUP Minister with responsibility for tourism ensure that events which are hugely significant to the Unionist community were included in the Our Time, Our Place showcase? Are the DUP so busy attending GAA matches and pandering to Republicans that they have totally forgotten about the 12th and Ulster Covenant? It would seem so.
“I have today tabled an urgent oral question to Arlene Foster asking how this situation arose on her watch and what she intends to do in order to rectify it. It will be up to Speaker William Hay whether the question is heard on Monday or not”.
Note to editors:
Mr Allister’s urgent oral question to Mrs Foster was as follows:
To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment why the 12th July, Scarva and the centenary of the Ulster Covenant are excluded from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s Our Time, Our Place showcase and what she intends to do to rectify this.
