Letter: Bizarre for Jamie Bryson to compare bilingual signage in Belfast to an Orange Order march

I found it astonishing some of the arguments put forward by Jamie Bryson in his letter (April 10).

Firstly, regarding the court case dealing with the decision by Minister Kimmins to erect bilingual signage (not Irish language signage) at Grand Central Station, this is, of course, a matter for the courts. Whether the decision was controversial and had to be discussed at executive level will be seen.

Regarding the ‘imposition’ of the language, the English language was imposed in Ireland long before the NI statelet existed, and the imposition of the English language still continues to this day, as can be seen with the Grand Central Station case, and many others over the years.

Bryson’s main argument surrounding the 15 per cent threshold for bilingual signs is once again fantastical.

The protection for minority and regional languages is set down in the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. This is the legislation on which the Belfast City Council policy was drafted.

BCC website states: “The European charter establishes an obligation on state signatories not to create barriers in respect of the use of a minority language. The UN Special Rapporteur guidance notes that the threshold where it is reasonable and practical to provide such signs varies between five per cent and 20 per cent of the local population. While this policy applies to all languages, the council recognises that Irish and Ulster Scots are recognised as minority languages in the European charter.”

It is bizarre to compare this to an Orange Order march. There is no European treaty regulating Orange Order marches.

Furthermore, if we were to seek 15 per cent approval from communities regarding marches, I’m sure we could see an end to some rather than the expansion.

I would like to see if the people of Derry city are happy for the town to be shut every year for marches. Or if we should now re-route marches based on the support of communities on certain streets?

Maybe the ‘latte-drinking liberal elite’ would support such a move? I still can’t comprehend arguments of supremacy whenever arguments of equality are raised.

I recall an argument in Belfast City Council regarding the draft Irish language policy in May of last year. TUV councillor Ron McDowell stated: “Ulster is a melting pot of three identities – English, Irish and Ulster British. One identity cannot be forced upon people over another. There will always be resistance and push back to it in the chamber.”

From English signs everywhere, to Queen’s University Belfast, to a statue of Carson outside Stormont, I don’t see much evidence of this melting pot that McDowell described.

Jack Mac Íomhair, Béal Feirste BT12