A DUP councillor has said that there are fears among the unionist community that the Ulster Scots language may be dropped from council-related signage and literature.
Alderman David Ramsey alluded to an upcoming review of the trilingual usage (Irish, English and Ulster Scots) in council-related material during last Thursday’s monthly meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council.
During that meeting, the Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Maolíosa McHugh, revealed that Christmas cards were sent back to him by members of the community unhappy with the inclusion of the Irish language in the greeting.
He added that there had been ‘a big X’ drawn through the Irish section of the card.
During the same meeting, Sinn Fein’s Kevin Campbell tabled a motion calling on council to support the introduction of Acht na Gaeilge (Irish Language Act) ‘as promised in the St Andrew’s Agreement’. The motion was passed despite both the DUP and UUP voting against it.
Alderman Ramsey then mentioned the Ulster Scots language in council-related literature and how there was set to be an upcoming consultation on the continuation of trilingual usage.
Speaking to the Derry News this week, Alderman Ramsey said there would be a consultation and that there were now fears that Ulster Scots may be dropped.
“As it stands, there is a committee going forward to review,” he said.
“Doing away with Ulster Scots would be seen as doing away with diversity – it’s about having a diverse city.
“It’s not good for community relations and Ulster Scots is involved in Peace IV so not having Ulster Scots would be like airbrushing out part of our community.
“The Ulster Scots Agency aren’t looking to have everything translated, they’re just looking for it to be recognised because people will see things like the welcome signs and ask questions and learn about it; it’s about culture and diversity.
“It will be coming back to council very soon and it’s going to create some serious issues because things are bad enough.”
Alderman Ramsey said that he expects the matter to be discussed at the Governance and Planning Meeting in the coming weeks. The next meeting is scheduled for April 10.
He also criticised the decision to call a consultation on the matter and also referred to a recent motion backed by council banning British Armed Forces from accessing children in schools for recruitment.
“It feels like it’s being done deliberately, like the recent issue with the army cadets – this is fronting up to people that claim to be British in an attempt by dissidents or Republicans to marginalise unionism,” he said.
“There seems to be a tug-of-war within Republicanism and this is putting Sinn Féin in a difficult position as they have been working closely with unionist cultural groups and with the North West Cultural Partnership for the Fleadh.
“This is just bad for community relationships. It’s a disaster, it’s sad and it’s just politics.
“It will be really tough unless the SDLP and Sinn Féin have some common sense about not taking it away because it’s easy to add something but taking it away is very controversial.”
He added: “Anyone interested in in good relations and cultural diversity will let it stay.”
A spokesperson for Derry City and Strabane District Council confirmed that a report by Council’s Language Working Group will be brought before the Governance and Strategic Planning Committee later this month for consideration.
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