Hours after DUP brief that they will veto Irish language act, party U-turns in face of pressure from Sinn Féin

The developments come just a fortnight after Arlene Foster had used two Irish words – Sin é (that’s it) – in the Assembly to state that the long-contested language legislation would be brought to the Assembly before next May’s election.

Yesterday morning Stephen Nolan reported that the DUP had briefed him that it was taking an Irish language act off the table while the Northern Ireland Protocol remains. The BBC presenter said that he had been told “from the very top of the DUP” that they were floating the idea to see how Sinn Féin would react.

Within 90 minutes, Sinn Féin told the DUP that “there will be no renegotiation and backsliding on commitments made” and that the legislation “must be delivered in line with commitments made in the New Decade, New Approach agreement”.

There is a significant chance that if the Irish language legislation is not delivered then Sinn Féin would collapse Stormont because the party had made that the central reason for refusing to allow the restoration of devolution until last January’s New Decade, New Approach deal saw the DUP accept that there would be an Irish language act in all but name.

Just over two hours later, the DUP U-turned, briefing UTV that “it is not party policy to halt the Irish language act as part of its campaign against the NI protocol”.

Meanwhile, the chairman of a body which represents most loyalist paramilitaries has stood over his claim that Arlene Foster told them she is prepared to collapse Stormont if the protocol is not removed, something the DUP denies.

At lunchtime the DUP issued an oblique statement which made no mention of blocking an Irish language act and instead said the party remained committed to last January’s deal – which includes a de facto Irish language act.

The statement said: “The DUP is committed to the balanced upholding of all aspects of the devolution settlement. Each Strand can only fully function when the others are working properly. They are all interdependent.

“We have seen the erection of barriers between GB and NI on trade and the application of laws governing our country as well as blatant disrespect for the unionist identity.

“We remain committed to New Decade New Approach. All of these issues must be addressed and resolved along with the NDNA commitments if we are to achieve stability for Northern Ireland.

“The way forward is through dialogue and political discussion.”

Speaking on the Nolan Show yesterday morning, SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole said the DUP’s anonymous briefing of their stance was “pretty shabby” and “doesn’t show a great deal of confidence or candour on the part of the DUP”. He added: “They should come out and be clear about where they are on an Irish language act.”

Alliance MP Stephen Farry said that the Irish legislation had been “a core issue” behind why Stormont was down for three years and said the DUP stance “undermines the foundations of devolution”.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said: “Irish language rights are not bargaining chips or political fodder to be held hostage until the DUP get what they want.”

TUV spokesman John Brennan said that the issue was a “red herring”, but added: “It is interesting, however, that both internally and now publicly the DUP are no longer attempting to maintain the fiction that they have not agreed to an Irish Language Act as part of the New Decade New Approach deal.”

Leaked internal DUP minutes show fear of looming electoral collapse, and dismay at party’s direction

Brandon Lewis interview: Denial of the Irish Sea border is gone as SoS says parts of frontier are being ditched for good

Ban on British soil entering Northern Ireland is over for good, says NI Secretary of State Brandon Lewis

Sam McBride: Northern Ireland is now a proxy battleground for the EU and the UK – and that is dangerous

TUV leader Jim Allister’s aide had messages between Jamie Bryson and Sinn Féin, court told

Under cross-examination from loyalist Jamie Bryson, libel lawyer Paul Tweed refuses to name five Nama case clients

Sam McBride: After darkness, light: Reasons for real hope as Northern Ireland vaccine rollout accelerates – but first expect political rows

Sam McBride: Northern Ireland is in a breathtakingly undemocratic position which dishonest Boris Johnson knows is indefensible – yet he knowingly chose it

Sam McBride: Read the small print – the Irish Sea border may be impossible to remove, even if MLAs vote it down

Sam McBride: Shackled to Brexit, Arlene Foster can’t admit that it has been disastrous for Union – but Irish Sea border is radically reshaping NI

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor