South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Ó Donnghaile Slams McNarry Motion

Published: 9 October, 2007

East Belfast Representative and Cultural Officer for South and East Belfast Sinn Féin, Niall Ó Donnghaile, has slammed the motion that David McNarry has proposed at todays Assembly sitting.

"UUP member David McNarry's motion is a direct attack on the right of Ministers to use Irish in their business and opposes the introduction of an Irish Language Act.

"An anti Irish language agenda is unacceptable and flies in the face of the equality and human rights agendas which are an integral part of the Good Friday Agreement.

"Sinn Féin MLAs will vigorously oppose this outrageous motion from David McNarry. Irish speakers and supporters of the language have rights.

"The Good Friday Agreement created a responsibility on government departments to take resolute action to promote the Irish language including encouraging its use in public life.

"I believe it is inappropriate for the Irish language to be used as a political football by any party, particularly when such farcical debate takes away from the real business of the Assembly.

Sinn Féin, will as it always has promote support and protect the right of the Irish people and their representatives to use the Irish language in and indeed outside the country's political institutions."