Belfast City Council votes for draft dual English-Irish language policy

Councillors in Belfast voted for a new draft Irish language policy that will include dual language logos on council vehicles, uniforms and signs.

A DUP proposal for no changes to be made to staff uniforms was defeated, with 17 voting in favour from the unionist parties and 42 against from SF, Alliance, SDLP, Greens, PBP. The proposal failed.

An 18-page draft policy was backed by members of a Belfast City Council committee in September, with 14 voting for and four against. This was adopted by the full council.

A council spokesperson said: “Following meetings of the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources committee… elected members have approved an Irish language policy for the council, along with a high-level implementation plan for the next two years.

“This includes the adoption of a new bilingual corporate identity and logo.

“Design work for the new identity and logo is ongoing, and further engagement will be undertaken with trade unions as part of this work through the council’s industrial relations framework.”

Sinn Féin said it hopes the new policy will lead to a new English-Irish bilingual logo being displayed on council vehicles and uniforms, as well as signs.

Alliance Councillor Sam Nelson told the council on Wednesday: “The language tonight is around subjugation and oppression, this is absurdity”. He said “some were trying to whip up tension”.

The DUP said its members have been contacted by some council staff worried about their safety in parts of the city if they have bilingual writing on their uniforms.

Sarah Bunting, DUP councillor for Balmoral, said: “Our front-line staff, particularly those who are doing bin collections and street cleansing, they are coming to us and saying that driving vehicles with dual language logos on it, and wearing uniforms with dual language logos on it could pose a safety risk to them going into some areas of the city.”

She told the council that process had “no figures, no transparency, no honesty” and claims the council is pursuing a “culture war”

Alliance Councillor Michael Long said Alliance still have “issues with uniforms and logos” and proposes the Newry Mourne and Down model which has no wording.

TUV Councillor Ron McDowell warned the council of legal action over the policy, adding: “We’re gonna fight this tooth and nail”