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Minister ends Irish translation Minister ends Irish translation
(about 3 hours later)
The health minister, Michael McGimpsey, has ended the automatic translation of advertisements and press releases from his department into Irish. Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has ended the automatic translation of advertisements and press releases from his department into the Irish language.
He said the policy introduced by predecessor Bairbre de Brun had cost £151,000 in the past five years. Speaking during ministerial question time, he said the policy had cost £151,000 in the past five years.
Speaking during ministerial question time, Mr McGimpsey said the measure was aimed at saving money.
He said that the sum had been spent during a period when the Assembly was largely inactive.He said that the sum had been spent during a period when the Assembly was largely inactive.
Mr McGimpsey said that publications in Irish and Ulster Scots would still be available on request where certain criteria were met. Former health minister Bairbre de Brun, who introduced the policy, said she was gravely disappointed by the decision.
In addition, his department would continue to accept correspondence in both Irish and Ulster Scots, he said. "In a pluralist society the provision of services including health services must include more than just the English language," said Ms De Brun, who is now a Sinn Fein MEP.
She said the decision was bound to disappoint a European committee on regional and minority languages, which had called for further services in the areas of education and media.
"I would urge Minister McGimpsey to reconsider his decision," she added.
Mr McGimpsey said the measure was aimed at saving money, and that publications in Irish and Ulster Scots would still be available on request where certain criteria were met.
In addition, his department would continue to accept correspondence in both Irish and Ulster Scots, the UUP assembly member said.