Broughshane Twelfth Speech
The most dangerous threat to Britishness in Northern Ireland is the creeping "application of cultural apartheid", in the form of the Irish language agenda, Ulster Unionist MLA David McNarry said at the Broughshane Twelfth demonstration.
In his address, Mr McNarry, an Assistant Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, confronted the continued republican "onslaught" against all things British – despite the new era of peace.
He expressed deep concern about the political use of Irish language and culture by Sinn Fein.
"Orangemen and unionist were not and should not be against Irish culture or freedom of expression. But a grave situation has developed in which the culture is being used by republicans in the new-look war in Britishness.
"This is one of our three major challenges: along with getting rid of the IRA 'Army Council' and protecting policing and justice, as and when it is devolved to Stormont.
"So long as there is an IRA 'Army Council' then so long will there be an uneasy peace. By maintaining the veiled threat of the 'Army Council', republicans intimidate the political process."
This corrupts democracy, he declared, but unionism had to work with the system in place because Direct Rule had not delivered for the Union.
Mr McNarry also said Sinn Fein's sole agenda for having devolution of policing and justice powers was to break the link between the British Crown and law and order in the Province.
"Unionists must continue to act as guardians of the British justice system and our police service," he said.
"Policing and Justice in Northern Ireland must always be solidly linked to the United Kingdom and the Crown."
The UUP MLA said this was the No 1 battle, the No 1 threat was now Sinn Fein's use of Irish language and cultural to attack the unionist way of life. He said Gerry Adams was using "the intensity of an Irish language onslaught to strangle our sense of Britishness".
Mr McNarry offered a dire warning that Sinn Fein wanted an Irish Language Act "to run rampant throughout our country" – and would have got it under Direct Rule.
"The plan was that in all schools, public places, especially where republicans are in control, British cultural symbols will be thrown out to be replaced with romantic Provo symbols.
"In courts, in street names, road signage, emergency warning signs, the list is endless, republicans will push to have dual English and Irish language displayed, to make unionists uncomfortable and erode the British identity."
He added: "The use of the Irish language may well become a dominant feature in job applications to the disadvantage of English only speaking people" – if Sinn Fein is not stopped. The relentless pursuits of an Irish Language Act is all part of a premeditated plan."
"If left uncountered the Irish language issue will plague Northern Ireland in the same way the reckless chase for Irish unity by the Provos has resulted in sectarianism, bitter division, and violent conflict."
"My challenge to the Prime Minister Gordon Brown is for him to deny that he is willing to go over the heads of Stormont by doing a deal with (Gerry) Adams (on the Irish Language Act)," said the UUP MLA.
"But unionists, in the meantime, must choose their lines of engagement carefully. Don't, for example, get suckered in to thinking that for every concession on the Irish language, a concession to Ulster-Scots would balance it out.
""With the IRA 'Army Council' intact, with Gordon Brown doing deals and with Gerry Adams staking his reputation on delivering an Irish Language Act we are facing a daunting time ahead."
"If handled badly this issue could plunge us all into political chaos and wreck the limited stability so far achieved," he concluded.
SEE FULL TWELFTH COVERAGE IN MONDAY'S NEWSPAPER WHERE READERS CAN ENJOY A 24-PAGE PICTURE SUPPLEMENT WITH MORE THAN 100 IMAGES FROM ACROSS THE PROVINCE
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Friday 25 May 2012
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