Sinn Fein: Unionists see Irish language as 'source of cultural enjoyment'

Rosie McCorley made the claims as she hit out at the DUP, claiming the party’s attitude to the Irish Language is “derogatory” and a major stumbling block to equality.

UP MLA Gordon Lyons claimed earlier this week in the Assembly that the £14,000 being spent on consultation about an Irish Language act was a waste of money.

Ms McCorley said; “The comments made by the DUP MLA Gordon Lyons during the minister’s questions reaffirms the view that the DUP still treat the Irish language as a political football and are insulting towards Gaeilgeorí.

“The fact is that during the recent consultation on an Irish Language Act there were 13,000 responses with 95% of the responses in favour of Act na Gaeilge.

“To continually claim that an Irish Language Act is divisive flies in the face of the facts that many people within the unionist/loyalist community have no fear of the language and actually have realised that it belongs to them and is a rich source of cultural enjoyment.

“Those members of the unionist community are streets ahead of the DUP when it comes to the Irish language and no matter how many times he repeats his anti-Irish views, they take their own counsel from their experience of the language.”

The West Belfast MLA said she hoped First Minister Arlene Foster would “show leadership when it comes to the rights of Irish language speakers and enthusiasts”.

Mr Lyons had stressed the DUP would not be supporting an Irish Language Act.

“Can the minister not see that this consultation was a poor use of resources?

“Because when you consider the political reality it is that such a Bill would require cross-community support, and my party has made it very clear that we will not be supporting any Act like this because, not only (because) of how divisive it will be, but because of the cost of implementing the use of Irish in courts, of Irish in the Assembly, the Irish language commissioner...

“Surely she (the Minister) should face up to political reality?”