Ulster Unionist MLA Adrian Cochrane-Watson has highlighted a degree of geographic confusion in the latest press release issued in the name of the Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín.
South Antrim representative Mr Cochrane-Watson, said:
“For several years now it has been almost amusing to watch a succession of Sinn Fein politicians tie themselves in knots as they seek to avoid all mention of the phrase ‘Northern Ireland.’
“We have been subjected to various attempts including ‘this place’, ‘up here’ and ‘the North’ but the most common thus far has been ‘the North of Ireland.’
“Today however we were treated to a press release from the Sports Minister Carál Ní Chuilín which invented a whole new construct entitled, ‘North of Ireland.’ Presumably this includes County Donegal. It stated;
‘Today Ministers’ from Scotland, North of Ireland and Wales with responsibility for sport met in Glasgow.”
This was accompanied by the following:
“We recognise that DCMS has today launched a consultation on its sports strategy and we acknowledge that Sport is a devolved issue, but believe there is an opportunity to continue to work together to ensure that all areas of Britain benefit and support the delivery of sport.”
“There is obviously a clear implication that this ‘North of Ireland’ is now part of Britain in which case we really need clarification as to what exactly the press release is referring to, in case people in Donegal need to apply for UK citizenship. If on the other hand this ‘North of Ireland’ is not classed as an area of Britain, then one has to ask what the Northern Ireland Sports Minister is doing at meetings where the participants believe ‘there is an opportunity … to ensure that all areas of Britain benefit.’
“There is more. The reader is then informed that ‘Building on the success of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the World Police and Fire Games in North of Ireland and the Ryder Cup in Wales, we believe there is a wealth of expertise and skills in delivering sporting success.’
“The Minister’s Department is currently considering an Irish Language Act and her party is pursuing Irish Language Strategies in Councils across Northern Ireland. It seems to me that her time would be better spent on a crash course in English, not to mention geography.
“For the benefit of the Sports Minister, the Ulster Unionist Party is happy to clarify that we are part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”