As Edwin Poots prepares to rollover on Irish language as the price of Sinn Fein permitting him to appoint the ministers he announced today, TUV challenges the DUP on where its mandate is to bring forward legislation promoting the Irish language.
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“The DUP has never sought and certainly never obtained a mandate in any election to bring forward Irish language legislation. Nor, has there even been a public consultation on the proposed legislation.
“Quite distinct from having a mandate to move on this subject the last Assembly election was memorably fought by the DUP on the basis of ‘not feeding the crocodile’ on this specific issue. That was the basis and context in which every DUP MLA was elected.
“Thus, to now have Edwin Poots wobbling and falling over on the issue is lacking any democratic endorsement. Accordingly, if this is the direction in which the DUP wants to somersault, then, I challenge the DUP to put that in their manifesto in the next election and let their voters decide.
“Politicians are held in sufficient disrepute without powering forward in breach of clear electoral commitments and without any mandate whatever to rollover on this important matter.”