DUP controlled DCAL lobbied for Irish Language Radio Station
25 September 2008
Traditional Unionist Jim Allister has written to Culture Minister Gregory Campbell after he obtained documentation through an FOI request which revealed that DCAL had sent a paper to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport which stated:
“Given the provision of indigenous language radio services in Wales and Scotland, there may be an opportunity to argue for BBC provision of a dedicated Irish language radio station broadcasting in Northern Ireland. Presumably pressure for this would be through DCMS. Such a move could provide some comfort for the Irish language community given their recent disappointment on the language bill and ILBF”.
And
“Unlike Scotland and Wales, where there is no overlap language community, the establishment of a [Irish language] television station for Northern Ireland could potentially be either on a regional or all island basis.”
Commenting the MEP said:
“I am appalled that a Department with a Unionist Minister should see fit to send a paper off to the UK government saying that there is a case for an Irish language radio station to be funded out of the licence fee and that an Irish language television station should be considered.
“I have written to Mr Campbell asking if he supports the case made in the paper submitted by DCAL during Mr Poots’s time as Minister and inquiring as to why a Department headed by a Unionist Minister would ever articulate such a position.
“One of the DUP’s great arguments against those who oppose terrorist inclusive government used to be that direct rule would mean the imposition of an Irish language Act. In more resent times, Jeffery Donaldson has admitted that “"Even if devolution collapsed in the morning and we were back living under direct rule from London, the DUP is convinced there would be no Irish Language Act through Westminster." Now we discover that a Department headed by a DUP Minister was lobbying for funding for Irish language radio and television!”
