11/06/2012

Sinn Fein: Royal Stormont Party Decision 'Insensitive'

Plans for a Diamond Jubilee party to welcome the Queen at Stormont were announced without Sinn Fein being consulted, it has emerged.

Martin McGuinness said the "insensitive" announcement put his party in a difficult position.

Yesterday, Sinn Fein culture and sport minister Caral Ni Chuilin said she would not be attending the party in the grounds of Stormont as it had not been approved by the Executive.

She said she only heard about the event through the media following its announcement on Friday.

On the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, she said: "I assume this is something that has been concocted by the NIO in discussions probably with the DUP. What we need to remember is that Stormont is a shared site, the fact that this has been done without any discussion with ourselves sort of jars with me to be honest."

Mr McGuinness was critical of the Northern Ireland Office for its handling of the visit.

He said: "As we speak, we do not have a do-able proposition in relation to this."

MLAs including Peter Robinson are expected to attend the event on June 27, for which 10,000 free tickets will be handed out.

Mr Robinson said it would be a "fantastic celebration" of the Queen's reign and he expected there to be "exceptional demand for tickets".

He said: "The Jubilee event at Stormont will be an historic and unparalleled opportunity for the people to express their devotion and appreciation to Her Majesty for six decades of service."

(NE)

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