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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Anger at 'sectarian' Irish remark | Anger at 'sectarian' Irish remark |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| The education minister has attacked a member of the DUP saying her attitude to the Irish language is "sectarian". | The education minister has attacked a member of the DUP saying her attitude to the Irish language is "sectarian". |
| Catriona Ruane said Michelle McIlveen should "move with the times". | |
| Ms McIlveen had asked if it was appropriate to spend money on schools with low enrolments, while slashing other schools' budgets. | Ms McIlveen had asked if it was appropriate to spend money on schools with low enrolments, while slashing other schools' budgets. |
| Ms Ruane rejected "wasting money". Ulster Unionist David Burnside attacked her "pathetic" attitude to working class pupils over academic selection. | Ms Ruane rejected "wasting money". Ulster Unionist David Burnside attacked her "pathetic" attitude to working class pupils over academic selection. |
| The comments were made during ministerial question time at Stormont on Monday. | The comments were made during ministerial question time at Stormont on Monday. |
| Ms McIlveen raised the issue of funding Irish language schools. | Ms McIlveen raised the issue of funding Irish language schools. |
| Catriona Ruane was angered by the remarks | Catriona Ruane was angered by the remarks |
| She said the education minister and department had slashed school maintenance budgets and "proposed the decimation" of the youth service budget, affecting tens of thousands. | She said the education minister and department had slashed school maintenance budgets and "proposed the decimation" of the youth service budget, affecting tens of thousands. |
| Ms McIlveen then asked the education minister: "How can she justify pouring yet more money into a sector which caters for just a few hundred people and financing capital projects for schools with enrolments as little as six?" | Ms McIlveen then asked the education minister: "How can she justify pouring yet more money into a sector which caters for just a few hundred people and financing capital projects for schools with enrolments as little as six?" |
| Her question prompted an angry response from Ms Ruane. | Her question prompted an angry response from Ms Ruane. |
| She said: "Everytime we come in here to talk about Irish language, Ms McIlveen and some, not all, but some of her party colleagues continue along this line. | She said: "Everytime we come in here to talk about Irish language, Ms McIlveen and some, not all, but some of her party colleagues continue along this line. |
| "I absolutely reject that our department wastes money on Irish language. | "I absolutely reject that our department wastes money on Irish language. |
| "Children who go through the Irish medium system have the same rights as children who go through the English medium. I would ask Ms McIlveen... to move with the times." | "Children who go through the Irish medium system have the same rights as children who go through the English medium. I would ask Ms McIlveen... to move with the times." |
| Last October, the DUP Culture Minister Edwin Poots said he was opposed to the introduction of an Irish Language Act. | Last October, the DUP Culture Minister Edwin Poots said he was opposed to the introduction of an Irish Language Act. |
| Mr Poots told the Northern Ireland Assembly that "compelling costs" were among the reasons he was against the act. | Mr Poots told the Northern Ireland Assembly that "compelling costs" were among the reasons he was against the act. |
| The Irish Language Act was promised to Sinn Fein by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair at the St Andrew's talks in 2006. | The Irish Language Act was promised to Sinn Fein by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair at the St Andrew's talks in 2006. |
| However, the act is now the responsibility of the executive, and requires cross-community consensus. | However, the act is now the responsibility of the executive, and requires cross-community consensus. |