Letter: DUP have to be challenged on Irish Language Act or future generations will wonder why

We had received clear legal advice that we needed to amend and introduce a policy and guidance or face a potential judicial review based on failure to take a decision.

Obviously this issue was being driven by Republicans in their quest to be divisive and waste ratepayer’s money on political stunts.

It was clear during workshop discussions that they wanted to force this through council, following nationalist controlled councils who have 51% threshold (that is, 51% of people in an area must be happy with bi-lingual signage before it can be introduced).

We resisted their quest for haste and ensured a proper policy was considered with 66% required by local residents, with every application giving the council discretion to make a final decision on any application.

This agenda is politically driven by Nationalism with firstly no regard for the ratepayer, given the fact that officers outlined approximate costs for this process which could be up to £1,500 per sign; and secondly, one SF councillor Brona Haughey stated publicly that “it’s just the start” which clearly indicates her narrow priorities.

Following this issue being ratified, I cannot help but think of how a stand-alone Irish Language Act (ILA) would be used if the DUP continue to support this SF demand.

The actions and words of SF/SDLP and Alliance on this should be a wake-up call, not just in the ABC and the eight other councils who have amended their policies, but should make us more determined not to gift the ILA to republicans who have weaponised this minority language to try and sanitise our Britishness.

I challenge Arlene Foster to reassess her favour for this ILA and withdraw her support for it; and if she does not, then surely some MP or MLA needs to challenge publicly her leadership on this serious matter.

I would also encourage the Unionist community to continue to challenge the DUP MPs, MLAs, Lords, councillors and members on this issue and make their views clear on the ILA.

The Unionist community need to stand firm on this issue or our future generations will wonder why we never acted to resist an Irish Language Act which will have far reaching consequences for Unionism.

Attention should be on a business recovery plan for the next few years ahead, instead of wasting money on this minority language.

Paul Berry, Independent councillor and ex-DUP MLA, Armagh

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