This week Belfast City Council voted to approve a new policy that will see Irish-English signage placed on council facilities, alongside a new bilingual logo for uniforms and vehicles.
I respect the right of anyone who wishes to learn, speak, or celebrate Irish. Language and cultural expression are important parts of identity. But the question we must ask is this: do we need a policy so extensive, so far-reaching, so costly, to achieve that aim?
The reality is that many people across Belfast have no connection to Irish, no desire to use it, and see Sinn Fein’s promotion of the language as part of a cultural war. This policy is clearly not about inclusivity – it is about imposition. It is about changing the cultural identity of every corner of Belfast, whether people want it or not.
And what is most telling is that the views of those who oppose this have been completely ignored. Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance – parties who regularly claim to champion minority rights – have shown once again that when they hold a majority, their attitude is totalitarian: our way, our vision, our identity will become yours too.
