A statement from DUP Group: Promotion of Ulster-Scots & Ulster British in Newry Mourne and Down District Council (Cllr Callum Bowsie, Cllr Glyn Hanna, Cllr Jonathan Jackson, Cllr Alan Lewis, Cllr Henry Reilly).
The DUP group in Newry Mourne and Down District Council has welcomed recognition for the Protestant, Unionist Loyalist community within the council.
The councillors group in a joint statement said: “For the first time in the council’s 10-year history, the British, Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist traditions will be formally recognised within the council’s democratic processes.
“Following extensive work by our DUP team, tonight the full council agreed to establish an Ulster-Scots working group, which if carried through, will be called the Ulster-Scots & Ulster British Working Group.
“Earlier this year, public consultation on the promotion of Ulster-Scots was carried out by the council following pressure from the DUP. It showed that over 80% of respondents supported the promotion of Ulster-Scots in the district.
“As we had previously expressed, the desire for an Ulster British dimension in any potential working group was also particularly evident in the responses.
“While many in our district are proud of the influence their Scottish ancestors played in establishing key industries and customs in this part of Ulster 400 plus years ago, many are equally proud of their wider British identity.
“It also reflects their love for the United Kingdom, their loyalty to the Crown and the cultural expressions and values that flow from that.
“Therefore, given that a significant minority within our district identifies as British, and considering the official title of the new ‘Commissioner for the Ulster-Scots & Ulster British Tradition’, the DUP has proposed that this British dimension is reflected in the scope and naming of the new Ulster-Scots working group, which would be a first for any council in Northern Ireland.
“These terms of reference require final agreement when members of the new working group meet for the first time in the coming weeks. We trust that the wishes of our community in this regard are respected by the nationalist parties in the majority.
“It was of course the persistent lack of respect towards unionists on NMDDC which led our party to leave the so-called Equality & Good Relations Reference Group five months ago.
“As has now been acknowledged in a joint letter to us from the other parties, “the EGRRG does not operate as effectively without the DUP’s input”. Consensus politics must be applied on issues of equality.
“In June, we made clear that we would not be rejoining this non-statutory reference group until our concerns were addressed around the imposition of Irish signage in largely PUL communities, the free rein of republican motions heard in the council chamber, and the procedures for community consultation on issues affecting unionists not being followed.
“Tonight’s unanimous vote recognising the need for Council to better promote the traditions of the PUL community is welcome progress.
“Going forward, we need to see comprehensive strategies and policies put in place, just as Irish has enjoyed for many years.
“Time will tell whether this new working group can make a tangible difference to how the district’s rich Ulster-Scots/British heritage, culture and language is promoted through the council’s events programme, tourism strategy, community funding, and public displays.
“These are the types of changes that will foster genuine good relations within Newry, Mourne and Down.”
