Statement by TUV North Belfast representative Ron McDowell:
“Last night’s decision to impose micro rule in Belfast when it comes to bilingual street signs is nothing short of disgraceful. Every councillor knows that the aggressive promotion of Irish, a language which Sinn Fein has openly described as a weapon in their “struggle”, will do nothing to promote good relations in our city. Far for easing community tensions this policy will exacerbate them.
“To impose Irish street signs on an area where 85% of residents oppose such a move is madness. There is nothing inclusive or progressive about imposing on the majority in such a fashion.
“This is a deeply flawed policy which will only feed the growing sense of alienation many feel towards City Council. An aggressive republican agenda is being aided and abetted by those who, at election time, market themselves as transcending the traditional divide.
“We now face the prospect of just one person being able to gather a tiny fraction of support on any street in our city and getting a sign erected which many will regard as marking it out as the territory of just one community. No amount of spin will escape the reality of this brutal truth.
“There is something deeply ironic about the objections coming from some Unionists on this issue given that their party was only able to get Stormont back by agreeing the principle of an Irish Language Act with Sinn Fein. Protestations against this policy today will sound hollow if, in a few months’ time, MLAs from that party do not do everything in their power to oppose Irish language signs being imposes not just on Belfast but on Northern Ireland generally.
“As for the Alliance Party their position comes as little surprise given their approach to council business in recent years. However, it is nonetheless galling to listen to their unrelenting snobbery and condescension towards working class Unionists. Theirs is a strange way indeed to go about building a shared future for all of us.”