British minister’s ‘partisan and inflammatory’ intervention in Stormont crisis raised in Dáil

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

Acht na Gaeilge ‘is in no way conditional or depends on the mood swings of the DUP and the forgetful memories of some of their MLAs’ – Seán Crowe TD

BRITAIN’S Secretary of State in the North of Ireland has been accused in the Dáil of a “partisan and inflammatory” intervention this week when he indicated that an Irish Language Act has to have the support of all parties – including the DUP – even though it is “a core component” of the St Andrews Agreement the DUP has already signed up to.

Acht na Gaeilge is part of an international agreement between the Irish and British governments and the political parties “and is in no way conditional”, Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe insisted, rejecting the assertion by Secretary of State James Brokenshire MP on RTÉ and the BBC.

“It does not depend on the mood swings of the DUP and the forgetful memories of some of their MLAs,” he said during Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Dublin South-West deputy called on the Irish Government to robustly stand up for the principles of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent agreements in the face of the British Government’s failure to live up to its commitments and the DUP’s continued intransigence.

Deputy Crowe said the DUP have failed to live up to their obligations on equality, respect and reconciliation. The Renewable Heat Incentive ‘Cash for Ash’ scandal (predicted to cost taxpayers up to £490million over the next 20 years) and the “continued arrogance” of the DUP have undermined the political institutions and led to their collapse.

“On an almost daily basis there are leaks and further revelations linking DUP ministers, MLAs and their relatives to the RHI scheme,” Seán Crowe said.

He told the Irish Government that Sinn Féin will not turn a blind eye or ignore financial scandals, incompetence or the waste of public money.

Seán Crowe also called on Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan to ensure that the Irish Government play their part in “defending the integrity and credibility of the political institutions in the face of DUP arrogance, disrespect and incompetence, and the British Government’s failure to live up to its commitments and obligations”.