28/04/2017

DUP Accused Of 'Genuflecting To Irish Language Brigade'

Jim Allister has accused the DUP of "genuflecting to the Irish language brigade".

The TUV leader made the comments in response to DUP leader Arlene Foster meeting with Irish language groups, which he said should "serve as a warning to all those who oppose the De-Britishisation of Northern Ireland".

Mr Allister said" "TUV is unequivocal in opposing the imposition of an Irish Language Act under any guise. The Irish language is already feted with special funding, a North/South executive body and a privileged Irish medium education sector.

"Insatiable Sinn Fein and its satellites demand more: official status for Irish in Northern Ireland; Irish in our courts, on our road signs and on all government documents; preferment of Irish speakers in the public sector with adverse employment consequences for non-Irish speakers and huge commitment of public money to finance this de-Britishisation programme.

"Having brashly decreed it would not "feed the crocodile" and that it was "Never, Never, Never" to an Irish Language Act, the DUP is clearly weakening its stance and readying to pay the price after the election. Unionists beware."

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

13 February 2018
There Will Be No Stand-Alone Irish Language Act - Foster
The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has insisted that her party would not sign off on a stand-alone Irish Language Act, a key Sinn Féin demand throughout the 13-month impasse. She also rubbished speculation about the shape of Irish language laws which may emerge from Stormont's power-sharing negotiations.
08 November 2004
Northern Irish language film sector outperforms Southern
Northern Ireland’s Irish language film production sector will continue to out perform its Southern counterpart's output unless a number of measures are implemented by the Irish Government, a producer’s union in the Republic of Ireland has claimed.
09 March 2017
Call For Irish Language Act To Be Brought Forward Immediately
Sinn Féin is calling for legislation for an Irish Language Act to be brought forward immediately. The party made the call after a new Council of Europe (CoE) report urged the government to encourage the Executive to introduce language legislation.
27 April 2017
Foster 'Uplifted' After Meeting Irish Language Students
DUP leader Arlene Foster said she had been "uplifted" after meeting Irish language students at a school in Newry. Mrs Foster met with pupils from Our Lady's Grammar School on Wednesday, 26 April. In February she said more people spoke Polish than Irish in Northern Ireland and declared the party would never agree to an act protecting the language.
07 March 2022
New Strategy's For Irish And Ulster-Scots Languages
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced the publication of the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Panels for an Irish Language Strategy and an Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage & Culture Strategy.