Sir, – At a time in Northern Ireland when cultural identity is displaying minimal tolerance for its neighbour, as highlighted in the Drumcree Orange Order parade dispute and the vandalism of dual-language street signs, surely it is time to consider the “parity of esteem” that was regularly quoted during the peace process.
In Belfast, Sinn Féin controls Belfast City Council. It has invoked a policy whereby dual-language (English/Irish) street signs will be erected if only 15 per cent of residents approve this, even if a majority oppose it. It results in a significant number of streets having to accept a substantial minority verdict.
If a similar threshold (15 per cent in favour) regarding Orange Order parades was then considered, in the interests of equality and tolerance of each other’s culture, the parade should then be allowed to proceed, and this would save finance to the local economy by negating the need for a parades commission.
Unfortunately, our graceless, shameless Sinn Féin and DUP MLAs are more interested in the distraction of culture wars. (These typically include Irish-language signs and loyalist marches where they are not welcome, funding for bonfires, and a big increase in funding for the Casement Park redevelopment.)
RM Block
These “cultural” issues cost countless millions of pounds. Rather than dealing with the real issues affecting everyone in Northern Ireland (such as the broken health system, potholed road infrastructure, crumbling school buildings, environmental disaster in Lough Neagh and public sector pay deficit), our representatives embarrassingly go whingeing to Westminster to complain that they have been allocated insufficient funds.
They should park the so-called culture issues until we can afford to resolve them and start to take responsibility for running the country. – Yours, etc,
PETER CURRIE,
Belfast.
