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Sectarianism

Carroll: DUP Veto on Irish-Medium Bill is Sectarian Attack on Children and Workers

"The DUP has repeatedly turned the Petition of Concern into a weapon to harm minority communities and block social progress, from marriage equality to integrated education. It should be scrapped."

Gavin Robinson in front of the DUP logo.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll has condemned the DUP’s use of the Petition of Concern to block the Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill.

Carroll said: “The DUP’s move to block this Bill is a disgrace. This was never about cost. The Bill simply asks the Department to plan the Irish-medium workforce, set targets and report back, at a cost of tens of thousands to administer. The DUP’s objection has nothing to do with what the Bill does and everything to do with who the Bill is for.

“Gavin Robinson has already admitted this is payback for Drumcree. The DUP didn’t get its way on the Garvaghy Road, so now 7,000 children are the target. It’s despicable.

“This is a regressive, sectarian agenda from a party that has spent decades treating the Irish language as something to be contained and sidelined. Irish-medium schools, including Gaelscoileanna across West Belfast, are already short of teachers, classroom assistants and SEN staff. Múinteoirí and cúntóirí ranga will pay the price for this veto. And it won’t improve a single school in a working-class Protestant area. With nothing positive to offer, the DUP reaches for division.

“The DUP has repeatedly turned the Petition of Concern into a weapon to harm minority communities and block social progress, from marriage equality to integrated education. It should be scrapped.

“This Bill was always a floor, rather than a ceiling. Irish-medium schools need funded training places, decent pay and proper SEN support. We’ll keep fighting for that alongside the schools, workers and parents.”