8 February 2001 Edition

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DUP minister accused on Irish road signs

Sinn Féin Equality Spokesperson Conor Murphy has accused Regional Development Minister Gregory Campbell of misleading the Assembly on the use of the Irish language on bilingual road signs.

``The South Armagh Tourist Initiative (SATI) has secured funding to provide bilingual signs (in English and Irish) for the Ring of Gullion,'' said Murphy. ``The position of the Roads Service and Department of Regional Development has been an obstacle to this innovative initiative to enhance the tourist value of South Armagh.

``For Gregory Campbell to say that he has no intention to pursue this issue because of cost is totally misleading. The SATI has already secured funding.

``The Good Friday Agreement makes clear the obligations in promoting the Irish language and the ministerial code of conduct also commits Gregory Campbell to removing obstacles in the use of Irish. The issue is not one of cost, it is one of political will. Clearly Mr Campbell does not want to treat the Irish language community as equals and clearly he is prepared to mislead the Assembly to get his point home.


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