Irish Language Plans ‘contrary to practical needs of community’ - Beggs
Following on the back of the latest NISRA survey, Ulster Unionist Candidate in East Antrim, and DETI spokesperson, Roy Beggs Jnr, has questioned why the DUP considers the St Andrew’s Irish Language commitments to be a success.
In a statement, Mr Beggs said: “The latest NISRA survey shows that 97% of East Antrim residents have no knowledge whatsoever of Irish. Indeed only 0.72% of Carrickfergus residents claim to speak, read and write Irish. It would be expensive, wasteful and divisive to force public bodies to translate information into Irish. Northern Ireland is not the North of Wales and the sooner this is understood by the NIO the better.”
He added: “I believe that the St Andrews Agreement, which is lauded by the DUP, with its proposal to force the use of Irish would put back community relations and would be counter to the practical needs of the community.
“Rather than investing in translating from what can be understood by the virtually everyone, we should be investing in teaching English to immigrants who presently cannot understand it. This would help them to integrate into local communities and access local services. Such practical investment in ‘English for non-English speaking’ would improve community relations and could contribute to improving our economy.”