Irish signs do not diminish English, review says

Irish language signage at Belfast’s Grand Central Station “in no way detracts or diminishes” from English, according to a new Stormont review.

It is the second “equality screening” assessment of the bilingual signage plans by Stormont’s infrastructure minister.

Sinn Féin’s Liz Kimmins has been facing court action in a dispute with unionist politicians over the proposals.

The latest review found the plans could have both a minor positive and negative impact on different groups of people.

But it said the use of the Irish language at the public transport hub “does not diminish the entitlements” under the Good Friday Agreement of those with a British identity.

Kimmins announced her plans to install Irish language signage at Grand Central Station at a cost of almost £150,000 in March.

The proposals were paused following legal action by loyalist activist Jamie Bryson and supported by unionist politicians.

He has argued the decision was controversial and cut across several Stormont departments, meaning it should have been brought to the Northern Ireland Executive for agreement.

“Equality screening” is used by public authorities in Northern Ireland to assess their plans against legal requirements to promote equality of opportunity and good relations.

A screening exercise in March found the signage plans would have a “minor positive” impact and concluded a wider equality impact assessment was “not required”.

But following a complaint over this, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has reviewed its screening decision.

It found the signage proposal met the criteria for a “positive minor impact”, as a way to “better promote equality of opportunity and/or good relations”.

But it also found it “equally met” the criteria for a “negative minor impact”.

It said this was because “those who do not understand, speak or appreciate the Irish language may attest the introduction of this policy does not provide better opportunities to promote equality of opportunity and/or good relations”.

The review continued: “While the promotion of bilingual signage in BGCS (Belfast Grand Central Station) is considered as a potentially positive impact for those who understand, speak and/or appreciate the Irish language it in no way detracts or diminishes from the main language, which is English which will be available for those who do not understand, speak or appreciate the Irish language.”

The screening form said DfI has “carefully considered” the use of Irish language signage at Grand Central Station.

“In this instance the general use of the Irish language in BGCS does not diminish the entitlements of those whose right to their British identity is guaranteed in the Good Friday Agreement,” it added.

“The use of bilingual signage on both Scotland and Wales public transport clearly demonstrates this point.”

It comes as disputes continue at Stormont and in local councils over the display of Irish on bilingual street signs.

Last month Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), claimed Irish has been used by some as a “weapon of cultural dominance”.