GAA: Durkan accused of bias over GAA rate relief

Northern Finance Minister Mark Durkan was today accused of providing ‘‘iniquitous’’ rate relief for GAA club buildings while levying charges on Orange Order halls.

Edwin Poots attacked Mr Durkan (SDLP, Foyle) after he insisted rates could only be eased where such properties are used for wider community purposes.

Mr Poots (DUP, Lagan Valley) claimed the Minister was defining GAA and sporting use as being reasonable to derate while seeking proof that Orange halls serve alternative purposes.

‘‘Surely this is unfair and iniquitous for the minister to go full steam ahead and not derate Orange Halls and continue to give the GAA full rate relief,’’ he told the Assembly.

But Mr Durkan declared it was untrue to claim the GAA enjoyed total rate relief.

He also took a swipe at the DUP-linked Free Presbyterian Church’s public abhorrence of a popular modern dance.

‘‘Many activities go on in many halls, possibly even line dancing, and I don’t know whether the member believes that that broader community activity should be eligible for rate relief.’’

The row flared after George Savage (UUP, Upper Bann) appealed for rates to be lifted from Orange Halls which he claimed are the only public facility available in many rural areas.

‘‘These halls are primarily cultural venues and as such deserve to be derated in the interests of fairness and equity,’’ he said.

Mr Durkan said he recognised many community halls have funding difficulties, with rate relief available where halls are used for wider community purposes.

‘‘But it has to be only in respect of those particular purposes,’’ he added.

‘‘There are no plans to automatically derate any particular category of hall on the grounds that it is cultural or anything else.’’