"The decision to list the Maze buildings was taken under Direct Rule: this would be the same Direct Rule which planned to impose an Irish Language Act and which TUV wants to take us back to. The DUP in Lisburn opposed the buildings being listed and indeed argued against it at the Council. Neither I nor my colleagues will be lectured on fear of offending Sinn Fein from the likes of Keith Harbinson, who went on the airwaves and groveled to Barry McElduff over the Irish language. There are strict laws governing how buildings, once listed are de-listed. It is a total misrepresentation for anyone to claim that at the stroke of a pen a building can be de-listed by a Minister. Thanks to devolution, the Unionist community has a veto on the development at that site. The TUV would surrender that Unionist veto by taking us back to Direct Rule. The DUP will ensure there is nothing at the Maze site that would cause hurt or offence to anyone least of all the innocent victims of terrorism. We oppose any sort of shrine or attempt to whitewash the history of that place.”
