Minister's comments must be withdrawn
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has totally overstepped the mark with her comments about the loyal orders.
Speaking at a GAA function on Saturday, Ms Ritchie is quoted in the Irish News as saying she condemned all attacks on GAA and Orange Order property. But she says the growing tendency in the media and elsewhere to suggest an equivalence between the GAA and the Orange Order was "deeply concerning".
"While the loyal orders have some progressive people around who wish to move them forward to a better place, they remain unlike the GAA, sectional and sectarian and deeply divisive in our community," she went on.
Assuming the comments have been reported accurately, they will cause offence to most people within the Protestant community.
Ms Ritchie is not the first high profile individual to use distinctly unpleasant and perjorative language when talking about the Protestant community. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams made disparaging comments in New York last week and president of the Republic Mary McAleese caused controversy with remarks that she made in the past.
Away from the political arena, former Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan has also got into trouble for her view on Protestants.
It sometimes looks as if the Protestant community is fair game for having scorn poured on its beliefs and traditions.
Words may not kill, but when they are ill chosen they can hurt and inflame a situation.
Leaders in the community have a responsibility to be extremely careful with their public utterances.
Ms Ritchie's comments come at a very tense time in our community. Both the Orange Order and the GAA – and most politicians – have unreservedly condemned all attacks on halls in the community.
Ms Ritchie has certainly condemned the attacks but her choice of language about the loyal orders and her timing is totally unacceptable and shows a distinct lack of judgment which will surprise many people.
The remarks are deeply hurtful and must be withdrawn with immediate effect.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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