In his recent letter, Mr Russell, taking his lead from Jim Allister, makes three incorrect claims concerning recent events.

Firstly, it is false to claim that Brian Cowen "muscled in" on any events at Stormont concerning the visit of George W Bush to the Province. If the Irish had muscled in, Mr Cowen would have been waiting at the steps of Stormont Castle to meet the President. He was not.

President Bush was welcomed by our First Minister and the Deputy First Minister. Mr Cowen was confined to a bit-part role inside the castle along with other dignitaries.

In relation to the announcement concerning Irish language broadcasting, Mr Russell would do well to remember what Sinn Fein – and indeed the TUV – were claiming was going to happen over this issue. Some of Mr Russell's party members were claiming that Irish was going to be elevated to co-language status with English in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Fein was asserting that all-embracing language legislation affecting every facet of our lives was on its way.

The plans of the Direct Rule administration – which Mr Russell's party would like to return us to – made it plain that this was indeed going to happen. Thanks to devolution, the DUP binned an Irish Language Act and the best Gerry Adams can manage is a handout from the government at Westminster to save face.


If we ascribed to the policies of the TUV, we would be powerless to stop the Direct Rule/Sinn Fein Irish language agenda being imposed upon us.

Finally, the DUP has made it perfectly clear that the internal affairs of Northern Ireland are of no concern to the government of the Irish Republic. That is why our party leader refused to meet Dermot Ahern to discuss Northern Ireland matters.

This was the right and proper thing to do. It seems strange that, at a time when Sinn Fein's agenda is grinding to a shuddering halt, we have people like Mark Russell arguing that we should return to Direct Rule and have a republican agenda imposed upon us.

Simon Hamilton MLA,
DUP, Strangford