“These are the types of changes that will foster genuine good relations within Newry, Mourne and Down.”
A five-month DUP boycott of an equality group could be set to end as unionists say they have now been “recognised for the first time” by the council.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council agreed on Monday to ratify plans to promote Ulster-Scots amid a request by other parties for the boycott to end.
The new language and culture strategy comes in the wake of the five DUP members leaving the chamber’s Equality and Good Relations Reference Group in June on concerns over a new Irish language policy.
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Rowallane DUP councillor, Callum Bowsie said: “For the first time in the council’s 10-year history, the British, Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist traditions will be formally recognised within the council’s democratic processes.
“Following extensive work by our DUP team, tonight (Nov 3) the full council agreed to establish an Ulster-Scots working group, which if carried through, will be called the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British Working Group.”
A recent public consultation gained almost 445 responses with 80% of people agreeing the council had a role to visibly develop the Ulster Scots language.
DUP members removed themselves from the Good Relations Reference Group until further notice, over an approval of an Irish language policy, after six years of discussions on bi-lingual signs resulted in non-agreement.
A move to generate an Ulster Scots group was later agreed, in October, to promote the language and culture throughout the district.
The DUP had requested the group to share the name of the new commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British Tradition, which has now looks set to be agreed at the working group’s upcoming first meeting, said by the party to be a “first for any council in Northern Ireland”.
A letter by other parties has now called for the DUP to ends its boycott and to rejoin the EGRRG.
Councillor Bowsie said: “Given that a significant minority within our district identifies as British, and considering the official title of the new ‘Commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British Tradition’, the DUP has proposed that this British dimension is reflected in the scope and naming of the new Ulster-Scots working group, which would be a first for any council in Northern Ireland.
“These terms of reference require final agreement when members of the new working group meet for the first time in the coming weeks. We trust that the wishes of our community in this regard are respected by the nationalist parties in the majority.
“It was of course the persistent lack of respect towards unionists on NMDDC which led our party to leave the so-called Equality and Good Relations Reference Group five months ago.
“As has now been acknowledged in a joint letter to us from the other parties, ‘the EGRRG does not operate as effectively without the DUP’s input’. Consensus politics must be applied on issues of equality.”
He added: “In June, we made clear that we would not be rejoining this non-statutory reference group until our concerns were addressed around the imposition of Irish signage in largely PUL communities, the free rein of republican motions heard in the council chamber, and the procedures for community consultation on issues affecting unionists not being followed.
“Tonight’s unanimous vote recognising the need for council to better promote the traditions of the PUL community is welcome progress. Going forward, we need to see comprehensive strategies and policies put in place, just as Irish has enjoyed for many years.
“Time will tell whether this new working group can make a tangible difference to how the district’s rich Ulster-Scots/British heritage, culture and language is promoted through the council’s events programme, tourism strategy, community funding, and public displays.
“These are the types of changes that will foster genuine good relations within Newry, Mourne and Down.”
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