Debate contribution: DUP: Attacks on Irish Language, Culture and Identity
Debate contribution by Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly on .
- MLA
- Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 7 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- DUP: Attacks on Irish Language, Culture and Identity
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5669892
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I advise people to step back and look at their own positions at times. Some people are very good at running around talking about others imposing their cultural identity on others or where it is not wanted. Yet, when it comes to something that they feel passionate about, such as the Irish language, they have no such hesitation about imposing it, even where just a minority of people are in favour of an Irish language sign on a development or elsewhere. I advise the Member that, even in the past number of weeks, I have heard some appalling things said that have demonised, vilified and dehumanised the cultural identity that I feel strongly aligned to, despite the fact that, over the summer, I made it clear that I will give respect to the cultural identity of others, and I am proud to do so. That is leadership. That is being a deputy First Minister who represents everyone across Northern Ireland. I suggest to the Member that there is a lot of hypocrisy from those sitting on her Benches in their attitude of demanding respect for the Irish language and their identity but absolutely opposing — no, nay, never — any identity that they do not agree with or align with.
210 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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