P.A.
Minister for Communities Gordon Lyons defended a Loyalist Community Council meeting earlier this month.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons defended the meeting with groups linked to loyalist paramilitary groups and denied prioritizing consultations over other groups.
The meeting followed a meeting earlier this month with the Loyalist Community Council (LCC), which included representatives from the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Defense Association (UDA).
The minister faced questions about the meeting when he appeared before the community scrutiny committee on Thursday.
He told MLAs that the LCC represents people who want to leave paramilitary activities and wants to show them what can be achieved through politics.
“There is no role for militia groups.”
The minister told the committee: “Trying to help people move forward does not mean we support what they are doing.”
He added: “While I respect the fact that some people may have different views than mine, I believe that I have a duty to support those who are truly committed to keeping elements away from crime.”
Mr Lyons said the meeting focused on deprivation and housing issues, and at the outset made it clear that “democratic processes are the way to deal with today’s problems”.
“I think there is no role for paramilitary groups, but there is a role for people who are trying to bring groups together, and they should be helped,” he said.
Alliance MLA Kelly Armstrong has challenged the City of Lyons over a meeting with a group representing a group that has threatened housing officials and evicted people from their homes.
“Have you asked them to stop this activity?” she said.
In response, the minister said, “This activity must stop; there is no place for it in our society.”
He was also questioned by SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan about meeting with the LCC ahead of other groups.
Mr. Lyons denied that he prioritized meeting with the LLC over other organizations that requested consultation but were turned down.
He said he has received a total of 763 invitations from organizations seeking to participate in events and meetings since taking office, and has accepted 395 of them.
The Minister also revealed that he will meet with the GAA next Thursday to discuss the redevelopment of Belfast’s Casement Park.
Earlier this month, DUP MLA and Education Minister Paul Givan faced criticism for his meeting with LCC after refusing to meet 205 times with other groups and organizations.
Mr Jivan told the BBC’s The View on Thursday that LCC “want to educate the community and that’s why they came to see me”.
Asked if he thought loyalist paramilitary groups were strong role models for boys and young people to look up to, he said: “Absolutely not.”
