21/12/2012
SDLP Slams Sectarian Tone Of Flags Debate
SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone has condemned the sectarian tone of the debate around flags in the aftermath of the vote at Belfast City Hall on 3 December to fly the union flag on designated days only.
Mr McGlone who is Chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee has also expressed his continuing fears about the damage done to traders across the North during the disruption.
He said: "The language used by some community leaders and politicians over the flag issue has been sectarian in nature. These deeply inflammatory remarks have fanned the flames of division and led to the violent scenes we have seen on our streets and towns.
"Since the third of December we have seen violent protests which have devastated businesses across the north. My deep concern is that businesses in the New Year will have to lay people off or close entirely. This is a terrible state of affairs for those trying to keep going in an already difficult economic climate.
"This year there was a particular drive to bring tourists to Northern Ireland with the ‘Our Time Our Place’ campaign. What a sad end to the year when we have a tourist bus being attacked outside the Days Hotel in Belfast, street protests grounding rush hour traffic to a halt and on-going threats to the lives of public representatives. The message being sent out to the rest of the world is that Northern Ireland is not a safe place to visit or one in which businesses can invest in.
"The protests have also sadly paved the way for a return to sectarian language which promotes hatred and polarises one community from the other. There is no appetite for returning to the dark days of the past. I strongly urge community leaders and politicians to refrain from using language which divides rather than unites our society. It is time to move beyond ineffective platitudes to the language of meaningful reconciliation."
(CD)
Mr McGlone who is Chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee has also expressed his continuing fears about the damage done to traders across the North during the disruption.
He said: "The language used by some community leaders and politicians over the flag issue has been sectarian in nature. These deeply inflammatory remarks have fanned the flames of division and led to the violent scenes we have seen on our streets and towns.
"Since the third of December we have seen violent protests which have devastated businesses across the north. My deep concern is that businesses in the New Year will have to lay people off or close entirely. This is a terrible state of affairs for those trying to keep going in an already difficult economic climate.
"This year there was a particular drive to bring tourists to Northern Ireland with the ‘Our Time Our Place’ campaign. What a sad end to the year when we have a tourist bus being attacked outside the Days Hotel in Belfast, street protests grounding rush hour traffic to a halt and on-going threats to the lives of public representatives. The message being sent out to the rest of the world is that Northern Ireland is not a safe place to visit or one in which businesses can invest in.
"The protests have also sadly paved the way for a return to sectarian language which promotes hatred and polarises one community from the other. There is no appetite for returning to the dark days of the past. I strongly urge community leaders and politicians to refrain from using language which divides rather than unites our society. It is time to move beyond ineffective platitudes to the language of meaningful reconciliation."
(CD)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
09 March 2017
Call For Irish Language Act To Be Brought Forward Immediately
Sinn Féin is calling for legislation for an Irish Language Act to be brought forward immediately. The party made the call after a new Council of Europe (CoE) report urged the government to encourage the Executive to introduce language legislation.
Call For Irish Language Act To Be Brought Forward Immediately
Sinn Féin is calling for legislation for an Irish Language Act to be brought forward immediately. The party made the call after a new Council of Europe (CoE) report urged the government to encourage the Executive to introduce language legislation.
23 August 2024
BCC Consultation On Draft Irish Language Policy
Belfast City Council has announced a new public consultation on their new draft Irish language policy. The draft policy sets out how the council plans to promote Irish and use Irish across its services, including interpreting and translation, key documents and publications, signage at facilities, on the council website belfastcity.gov.
BCC Consultation On Draft Irish Language Policy
Belfast City Council has announced a new public consultation on their new draft Irish language policy. The draft policy sets out how the council plans to promote Irish and use Irish across its services, including interpreting and translation, key documents and publications, signage at facilities, on the council website belfastcity.gov.
07 March 2022
New Strategy's For Irish And Ulster-Scots Languages
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced the publication of the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Panels for an Irish Language Strategy and an Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage & Culture Strategy.
New Strategy's For Irish And Ulster-Scots Languages
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced the publication of the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Panels for an Irish Language Strategy and an Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage & Culture Strategy.
28 April 2017
DUP Accused Of 'Genuflecting To Irish Language Brigade'
Jim Allister has accused the DUP of "genuflecting to the Irish language brigade". The TUV leader made the comments in response to DUP leader Arlene Foster meeting with Irish language groups, which he said should "serve as a warning to all those who oppose the De-Britishisation of Northern Ireland".
DUP Accused Of 'Genuflecting To Irish Language Brigade'
Jim Allister has accused the DUP of "genuflecting to the Irish language brigade". The TUV leader made the comments in response to DUP leader Arlene Foster meeting with Irish language groups, which he said should "serve as a warning to all those who oppose the De-Britishisation of Northern Ireland".
26 January 2018
Alliance Slams Thugs Behind Sectarian Graffiti In Omagh
The Alliance Party has hit out at the thugs behind sectarian graffiti in Omagh mocking the Kingsmill massacre. The graffiti was daubed on a wall in the Great Northern Road area of the town and references the Kingsmill atrocity, in which 10 workmen were killed in South Armagh in 1976.
Alliance Slams Thugs Behind Sectarian Graffiti In Omagh
The Alliance Party has hit out at the thugs behind sectarian graffiti in Omagh mocking the Kingsmill massacre. The graffiti was daubed on a wall in the Great Northern Road area of the town and references the Kingsmill atrocity, in which 10 workmen were killed in South Armagh in 1976.