Statement by TUV Foyle candidate Elizabeth Neely:
“If Westminster presses ahead with legislating for the Irish language it will underscore the fact that Stormont is pointless.
“What is devolution for if Sinn Fein can just go round Unionist opposition to what they demand by getting London to do the dirty work?
“Unionists need to make clear that they won’t continue with the farce if this takes place.
“That said, is important to remember that this legalisation was agreed by the DUP as part of the New Decade, New Approach agreement and that the proposal that it would pass by way of Westminster legislation arose as a result of negotiations between the Government, Sinn Fein and the DUP to get Paul Given into the First Minister’s office.
“The claim that this legislation is about equality is a lie. It provides for an Irish Language Commissioner with statutory powers to “promote and facilitate” the use of Irish throughout the public sector. This zealot will set standards that every public body must meet in the use of Irish in the delivery of its services. Such will bring obvious recruitment advantage to Irish speakers across the public service. If public bodies are required to promote and deliver their services in Irish, then, clearly staff fluent in the language will be required and preferred.
“The direction of travel when it comes to language legislation whether it be in Scotland, Wales or the Republic is clear. However tame it may appear at first it ends up with discrimination against those who do not speak the language being legislated for.
“Far from an Irish language bill being about equality it is the duty of all to oppose it because of the inequality it would result in.”