McGuigan accuses Council of 'going against their policy'

Speaking during a Full Council meeting, the Sinn Fin representative also hit out at Council saying that it was simply ‘dragging its feet’

on an issue that had already been debated and agreed two years ago.

The issue was raised after it was revealed during a Health and Environmental Services Committee meeting that six streets in Rasharkin and Dunloy had ‘initiated procedures for the erection of a street nameplate’ other than English.

Under Council’s Policy, Naming of Streets and Numbering of Properties adopted on February 5 2007, it states; ‘where two thirds or more of respondents to a survey support the erection of a sign in a language other than English and that language is either Irish or Ulster Scots, Council will normally agree the request’.

However in response to the news that over a third of responses had been received in Rasharkin and Dunloy, members of the Committee proposed to amend their current policy. It was also recommended to undertake an equality assessment to establish if any harm is felt by the minority community in Rasharkin by the erection of the street names and that Council erect only those street signs for which there was a budget.

Unhappy with the proposals Cllr McGuigan said: “Council debated long a hard about this issue over a year ago and a recommendation was put down by the Committee.

“However we are here again and I don’t see the need to continually have the same argument. It has been said time and time again. Cllr Finlay is simply dragging his feet. It is Council policy and therefore it shouldn’t be delayed any further.

“I propose we do not accept these recommendations and continue with the policy Council already has.”

Cllr McGuigan also criticised the call for an equality impact assessment stating ‘this has already been done when the policy was agreed’.

Cllr Bill Kennedy suggested that Council ‘send it back to Committee’, however Cllr McGuigan disagreed.

He stated: “With all due and respect we have a policy. All questions of concern have been answered on numerous occasions. There is no reason why we can’t simply go ahead with the current policy. It is two years later and Council is still dragging its feet.”

However Alderman Frank Campbell disagreed explaining: “There is no further delay. We have made the decision to go ahead with the irish street names if we have the funding.

“But the policy does need to be looked at and any Council is entitled to have that allowed.”

Cllr McGuigan asked the Chief Executive for advice questioning: “Can an individual specify for an equality assessment to be carried out?”

The Chief Executive explained that ‘Council can look again at a equality assessment’ continuing: “We basically have a recommendation here which we can accept or not or refer back to the Committee. If Council want to review its policy then that new policy has to have an equality assessment carried out.”

Having listened to the discussion, Cllr Mervyn Storey hit back stating: “I think Cllr McGuigan has talked about this issue to death.

“Council needs to voted on three recommendations. If members are opposed to them then they can vote accordingly.

“Why is there so much concern - is there a fear for this new policy? Whether the signs are up or not doesn’t bring any good or benefit to any member of this community. There are other more important issues to be discussed.”

Responding Cllr McGuigan stated that he had ‘not talked the issue to death’, however ‘Cllr Storey and his party keep bringing it up and objecting to it’.

Concluding the three recommendations were put to a recorded vote with eight for and four against (McGuigan, Cavlan, Connolly and McLaughlin).