Stephen Dunne, who sits on the Communities Committee said,
“Even a complete philistine would have felt shamed into allocating a few pounds towards the centenary but not this Culture Minister. The Centenary year of Northern Ireland in 2021 has been an opportunity to focus on our very rich culture and heritage, our local sports stars who have, and continue to excel on the global stage, our literature, and our entertainment personalities. All these fit within the remit of the Minister’s Department.
People from Northern Ireland have excelled across the globe in so many fields over the last one hundred years. It is shameful that the Minister has failed to invest one single penny in marking this very important centenary year.
The Minister talks about respecting the traditions in Northern Ireland but evidently these statements are just hollow words.”