Statement by TUV South Antrim representative Mel Lucas:
“No one should be in any doubt that while the Irish language legislation has been introduced at Westminster its substance was agreed in discussions with the DUP.
“In order to get Stormont back in early 2020, the DUP shamefully conceded Irish language legislation. Then, to get Paul Givan into the First Minister’s office, they agreed that it could be passed at Westminster thus preventing debate in the Assembly and an opportunity for Unionist MLAs to block or amend it.
“Obviously, such legislation, as is reflected in the case in Wales, is going to open up employment opportunities exclusively to people who speak Irish, meaning that non-Irish speakers will be disadvantaged when it comes to employment, particularly in the public sector.
“With over £200m spent feting the Irish language in recent years, there is no conceivable basis on which to warrant further endless squander on Irish.”