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21/05/2007
Development minister defends language memo
Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy has been forced to defend a memo asking his staff at the civil service to refer to Northern Ireland as ”The North”.
A memo was leaked to the News Letter, which revealed that staff should call the Republic of Ireland “all Ireland” or “across the island of Ireland”, and Northern Ireland – “here” or “The North”.
It also suggested “Derry” must be used as opposed to “Londonderry”.
Mr Murphy said that every minister was asked for guidance in relation to what language he or she is comfortable with.
“I gave my guidance, I didn’t issue any directive to staff about what terminology they have to use in relation to their own work - it was simply guidance as to what I’m comfortable with when I’m making speeches or issuing statements in my name,” he said.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell slammed the memo saying: “It is absurd to talk of the country to the south and west as ‘All Ireland’, even though they don’t refer to their own country in such terms.”
(JM/KMcA)
A memo was leaked to the News Letter, which revealed that staff should call the Republic of Ireland “all Ireland” or “across the island of Ireland”, and Northern Ireland – “here” or “The North”.
It also suggested “Derry” must be used as opposed to “Londonderry”.
Mr Murphy said that every minister was asked for guidance in relation to what language he or she is comfortable with.
“I gave my guidance, I didn’t issue any directive to staff about what terminology they have to use in relation to their own work - it was simply guidance as to what I’m comfortable with when I’m making speeches or issuing statements in my name,” he said.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell slammed the memo saying: “It is absurd to talk of the country to the south and west as ‘All Ireland’, even though they don’t refer to their own country in such terms.”
(JM/KMcA)
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