DUP slams Irish language proposal

The Democratic Unionist Party has criticised the North’s Human Rights Commission for recommending that the Irish language be given official status.

The DUP accused the commission of using Irish as a “cultural weapon” against Protestants and said it was a lesser-used minority language that did not deserve official status.

Party spokesman Nelson McCausland said the proposal to give the language official status was a covert attempt to advance a narrow agenda of Irish cultural nationalism.

He accused the Human Rights Commission of pursuing a policy of cultural sectarianism and of discriminating against Ulster Scots.

SDLP spokesman Patsy McGlone said Mr McCausland’s comments showed incomprehensible ignorance and were based on prejudice and bigotry.