Post by conghaileach on Jun 7, 2007 20:27:33 GMT
Newsletter
04 June 2007
Letters to the Editor
Unite against language Act
"THIS is only a device for stalling." That was how Sinn Fein's Paul Maskey wrongly described my proposal to last week's Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee calling for an inquiry into the Irish Language Act.
Maskey's opening salvo sparked the rejection of my proposal by a rock solid pan-nationalist front of Sinn Fein and SDLP members, combining with the not-so-impartial chairman Barry McElduff to out-vote the Ulster Unionist and DUP members by a 5-4 majority.
Losing the vote does not mean that an Irish Language Act imposed as part of the St Andrews Agreement will be implemented by the Assembly. However, notice to turn the Act into law has been served as the declared intention of a joint Sinn Fein/SDLP pact.
Seeing is believing and believe me, what I saw across the table from both Sinn Fein and SDLP members has given great cause for alarm. Witnessing republicans and so-called constitutional nationalists resurrecting a pan-nationalist front and watching a display of defiant triumphalism was a setback, as was their evident sectarian attitude, determined at all costs to push the Irish language down unionist throats.
Sinn Fein are now equal partners with the DUP in the Office of First and Deputy First Minister; Sinn Fein are now in charge of education, where they will promote the Irish language way beyond its status of a minority language. They are ready to launch the Irish language as yet another rights issue. They are not fazed by unionist opposition to an Irish Language Act.
On the contrary, republicans are wallowing in this new-found controversy. They must be delighted to have recruited to their cause an all-too-willing ally in the SDLP's Dominic Bradley, joining in their all-out arrogant dismissal of unionist feelings toward this legislation.
Not only is the formation of a pro-Irish language pan-nationalist front a warning to unionists. It sends out a chilling reminder to all unionists of how a previous axis of pan-nationalism destabilised our country.
Therein lies the crux of the matter. The devil of this divisive Irish Language Act is in bold as well as in the small print and it is staring unionists point-blank in the face!
Heed my words now fellow unionists – repair the weakness of not having a pan-unionist working relationship to match and confront the emergence of a new pan-nationalism.
Unite as unionists, or risk waking up to find the Irish language taking over your lives in both permanent and prominent manifestations of visible displays unfolding before your eyes.
Co-existence in a shared future under an Irish Language Act awaits you.
David McNarry, MLA,
UUP chief whip and deputy chairman Assembly Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
www.newsletter.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=3901&articleid=2926329
04 June 2007
Letters to the Editor
Unite against language Act
"THIS is only a device for stalling." That was how Sinn Fein's Paul Maskey wrongly described my proposal to last week's Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee calling for an inquiry into the Irish Language Act.
Maskey's opening salvo sparked the rejection of my proposal by a rock solid pan-nationalist front of Sinn Fein and SDLP members, combining with the not-so-impartial chairman Barry McElduff to out-vote the Ulster Unionist and DUP members by a 5-4 majority.
Losing the vote does not mean that an Irish Language Act imposed as part of the St Andrews Agreement will be implemented by the Assembly. However, notice to turn the Act into law has been served as the declared intention of a joint Sinn Fein/SDLP pact.
Seeing is believing and believe me, what I saw across the table from both Sinn Fein and SDLP members has given great cause for alarm. Witnessing republicans and so-called constitutional nationalists resurrecting a pan-nationalist front and watching a display of defiant triumphalism was a setback, as was their evident sectarian attitude, determined at all costs to push the Irish language down unionist throats.
Sinn Fein are now equal partners with the DUP in the Office of First and Deputy First Minister; Sinn Fein are now in charge of education, where they will promote the Irish language way beyond its status of a minority language. They are ready to launch the Irish language as yet another rights issue. They are not fazed by unionist opposition to an Irish Language Act.
On the contrary, republicans are wallowing in this new-found controversy. They must be delighted to have recruited to their cause an all-too-willing ally in the SDLP's Dominic Bradley, joining in their all-out arrogant dismissal of unionist feelings toward this legislation.
Not only is the formation of a pro-Irish language pan-nationalist front a warning to unionists. It sends out a chilling reminder to all unionists of how a previous axis of pan-nationalism destabilised our country.
Therein lies the crux of the matter. The devil of this divisive Irish Language Act is in bold as well as in the small print and it is staring unionists point-blank in the face!
Heed my words now fellow unionists – repair the weakness of not having a pan-unionist working relationship to match and confront the emergence of a new pan-nationalism.
Unite as unionists, or risk waking up to find the Irish language taking over your lives in both permanent and prominent manifestations of visible displays unfolding before your eyes.
Co-existence in a shared future under an Irish Language Act awaits you.
David McNarry, MLA,
UUP chief whip and deputy chairman Assembly Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee
www.newsletter.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=3901&articleid=2926329