One in nine MLAs wish to speak in Irish... and none in Ulster Scots - Allister condemns 'squander' on language

The number has been revealed thanks to a written question from TUV leader Jim Allister, who said it serves to highlight how little demand there is for the Irish language.

The NI Assembly Commission (which runs Parliament Buildings) had done a survey of all new MLAs after the May election.

Ten indicated that they intend to make “substantive contributions in Irish during Assembly business” (meaning either in the main chamber or in committees).

No MLA indicated that they intend to speak in Ulster-Scots.

The commission told Mr Allister: “No evidence has been provided to demonstrate that there is a demand from members for the interpretation of Assembly business in Ulster-Scots.

"Therefore, on the basis of the evidence provided, the Assembly Commission will provide simultaneous and passive interpretation of Assembly business in Irish only at this point.”

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Out of the 90 MLAs at Stormont, 35 are designated as nationalist (27 Sinn Fein, and eight SDLP).

In spring 2021, Finance Minister Conor Murphy told the Assembly that the cost of running a “translation hub” was £160,000.

Media reports at the time suggest that this hub was meant to cover the whole public sector (Stormont departments, local councils, and so on).

The exact cost to the public purse of paying for English-to-Irish translations at present is not clear, though Mr Allister estimates it is substantially higher than £160,000.

"How fortunate that our schools and hospitals don’t need this money!” he said.

“I wish.”

Describing the 10 MLAs mentioned above as “10 English-speaking MLAs who might occasionally wish to speak in Irish”, Mr Allister went on to add: “With Irish language legislation – which was agreed by the DUP as part of the New Decade, New Approach deal – making its way through Westminster, we are set to see even greater squander, particularly an all-powerful Irish language commissioner and staff, with the public sector in particular targeted for Gaelicisation.”

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