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21/05/2018
Foster Slammed Over Unionism Speech
Sinn Fein has hit out at DUP leader Arlene Foster after she said nationalism is "narrow and exclusive".
She was speaking at a conference on unionism in London on Monday, 21 May.
Ms Foster said citizenship and rights issues are "essentially unionist" issues.
However, Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir described her speech as a "missed opportunity".
He said: "Quite apart from the arrogance of dismissing the entire nationalist population in this way, Arlene Foster’s comments quite simply don’t stack up to the reality.
"Where is the multi-culturalism for Gaelic speakers who are still being denied equal language rights by the DUP?
"Where is the pluralism for the members of our LGBT community who are still being denied marriage equality by the DUP?
"The DUP collapsed the talks process and reneged on the draft agreement they had negotiated with Sinn Féin rather than agree to the introduction of such basic rights so I fail to see how Arlene Foster intends to rebuild relationships while maintaining that position.
"Her position is also staggering when you consider that Arlene Foster is the same woman who the High Court found had unlawfully prevented grieving families from accessing the basic right of an inquest into the death of their loved ones.
"She is right about one thing however, the issues that led to the collapse of Stormont can be resolved but that will require an end to the DUP's denial of rights which is preventing power-sharing."
She was speaking at a conference on unionism in London on Monday, 21 May.
Ms Foster said citizenship and rights issues are "essentially unionist" issues.
However, Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir described her speech as a "missed opportunity".
He said: "Quite apart from the arrogance of dismissing the entire nationalist population in this way, Arlene Foster’s comments quite simply don’t stack up to the reality.
"Where is the multi-culturalism for Gaelic speakers who are still being denied equal language rights by the DUP?
"Where is the pluralism for the members of our LGBT community who are still being denied marriage equality by the DUP?
"The DUP collapsed the talks process and reneged on the draft agreement they had negotiated with Sinn Féin rather than agree to the introduction of such basic rights so I fail to see how Arlene Foster intends to rebuild relationships while maintaining that position.
"Her position is also staggering when you consider that Arlene Foster is the same woman who the High Court found had unlawfully prevented grieving families from accessing the basic right of an inquest into the death of their loved ones.
"She is right about one thing however, the issues that led to the collapse of Stormont can be resolved but that will require an end to the DUP's denial of rights which is preventing power-sharing."
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