Tensions grow in language act debate
TENSIONS were last night rising between the DUP and Sinn Fein, after the unionist party made it clear it will stand in the way of the bid to pass an Irish Language Act.
DUP MLA Peter Weir exchanged words with Sinn Fein MLA Francie Brolly on what is going to be one of the hot-potato issues of the new Assembly term.
Mr Brolly said Mr Weir and the DUP should stop playing soundbite politics with the language proposals and start realising this was an issue of real importance to people.
But the DUP man made it clear his party is not going to be persuaded of the need for legislation to enhance the Irish language and create the conditions for it to be used on street signs, Government buildings and on official papers.
Mr Weir said: "Sinn Fein's Francie Brolly seems to be oblivious that the St Andrews Agreement (which proposed the Irish Act) was an agreement between the British and Irish governments.
"At no time was the DUP party to discussions about any Irish language legislation.
"The DUP is opposed to the creation of legislation which would place Irish on a par with English in Northern Ireland.
"The 2001 census indicated that just over 10 per cent of the population have some knowledge of Irish while less than half those people indicated that they could read, write, speak and understand the language."
Yet, he continued, the Act would be "politically divisive and stir-up community tensions".
"We must also consider the staggering costs involved and the value for money," Mr Weir added.
"While the Executive and the Assembly sets about building Northern Ireland plc we should channel finance to projects which build communities rather than tensions.
"The DUP is in the business of creating legislation which is for the benefit of Northern Ireland plc rather than political expediency."
Mr Brolly responded: "The DUPs opposition to a cultural tool such as the Irish language is peculiar to say the least.
"This is an opportunity to show real leadership and the likes of anti-Irish language campaigners, such as Peter Weir and (the DUP's) Nelson McCauseland, should show maturity rather than appealing to the lowest of sectarian instincts.
"The bottom line is that the DUP's blinkered approach to what was agreed at St Andrews can be countered by simply looking at the text of the agreement."
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Monday 28 May 2012
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