Stormont assembly plans Irish translations only after survey shows no demand for Ulster Scots

THE Stormont assembly’s future business will be translated into Irish only after a survey found there was no demand among MLAs for Ulster Scots.

A survey conducted on behalf of the Assembly Commission received responses from 30 members.

Of those respondents, 10 said they planned to make substantive contributions to plenaries and committees as Gaeilge, while none indicated a desire to speak in Ulster Scots.

Twenty members responded saying they would not be making in contributions in either Irish or Ulster Scots.

The Stormont authorities said that if an MLA decided they wished to speak in Ulster Scots then “arrangements will be put in place to accommodate this demand, subject to the availability of interpretors”.

The assembly is currently mothballed due to the DUP’s refusal to nominate a speaker, however, it can be recalled for one-off sittings if there is adequate support among MLAs.

According to TUV leader Jim Allister the translation/interpretation service costs £330,000.

The North Antrim MLA was critical of the costs, suggesting the money would be better spent on schools and hospitals.

“In light of the clamour from Sinn Féin, SDLP and Alliance, at a time of severe financial restraint, for prioritising public expenditure on Irish I am sure that I am not alone in noting the irony that just 11 per cent of MLAs actually intend to use it at any time,” he said.

SDLP MLA and Gaeilgeoir Patsy McGlone said diversity in language “helps broaden understanding and with it respect - Jim should try it sometime”.

“Those of us love the language for it opens up an enriching and enlightening expression whether through literature, poetry, song and everyday communication,” he said.