Ulster Unionist Party comment on Grand Central Station Signage
The debate over signs and the Irish language lingers on… unresolved. It is at the very heart of what drives us as a people, sometimes unifies, often divided.
The recent controversy over the funds spent on signage at the new Grand Central Station has once again lit the touch paper.
We all know the issues and the well rehearsed arguments. The £145,000 spend on dual language signage for the new transport hub is a drop in the ocean in terms of the overall budget for NI, but again, it’s the principle that seems to count and get people worked up.
Let me just post up a sign that has been standing along with many others across Newry Mourne and South Down for the past three council terms of the new council. This sign and others, which should have ben replaced years ago, are frozen in time, and sends out a devastating message about what we think of our district, our tourism, and ourselves.
Many of the old legacy council info has been removed granted, but they are third class when it comes to a tourism product.
Granted the old council info has been scrubbed off these signs but they look third class, unbefitting for our lovely County Down.
And that was the time to deal with this matter, at the beginning. However, the ‘row’ still simmering is now heading tp Stormont for Thursday 3rd April for a fill discussion in the Executive.
The emotional side of the brain seems to take over from the rational side. We live in a divided community because ‘someone’ keeps pressing buttons, and others keep responding… it’s timeless. But, it needs to stop if we are to have mature politics instead of a political Punch and Judy Show every day we waken up and switch on the radio or buy a paper.
Here’s one perspective. An Ulster Unionist spokesperson said: “The Ulster Unionist Party have always been clear that we have no issues with use of the Irish or Ulster Scots languages by those who choose to learn and speak it.
“We have always emphasised our concerns regarding the costs of implementing legislation and other language provisions, particularly at a time when finances across the Executive table are particularly restricted.
“For Ministers to choose multi-lingual signage over other vital services is simply a dereliction of duty – if the Health Minister decided that every location used for health and social services provision were to be given multilingual signage, the cost would impact directly on the ability to deliver essential healthcare solutions.
“This is the same for every Minister around the Executive table.
“It is also very important to recognise how the Irish language, which should not be seen as a threat to anyone, has been weaponised for over 100 years by elements within republicanism.
“It would be remiss not to recognise the sense of unease created within elements of our community when a narrative has been created and enforced that ‘every word of Irish spoken is like another bullet being fired in the struggle for Irish freedom.’
“Such language, backed by the sense that elements within Republicanism still use the Irish language to reinforce division across Northern Ireland do nothing to make many feel that the language is inclusive or welcoming for all.
“Perhaps if Republican leadership were to take ownership of the abuse and weaponsiation, both historical and more recent, of the Irish language, there would be less mistrust and concern in many quarters.
“Ultimately, in this instance, it is for the Minister for Infrastructure to explain the rational behind her decision to allocate this expenditure, at a time when her department are cutting back on road safety programmes.”
But there are other perspectives. And that’s what we have the Assembly for, to thrash out these issues.
