THE use of the Irish language across society has been described by County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge as “divisive”, “non-productive” and “simply ludicrous.”



County Grand Master Stuart Brooker has responded on behalf of the organisation to a consultation on proposals for business at Stormont to be translated into Irish, for courts to be heard in Irish, for the provision of place names in Irish and for the development of Gaeltacht areas.



The consultation, which cost £14,000, ran last year for 12 weeks, with County Fermanagh Grand Orange Lodge one of a number of groups that took part.



In frank responses, the organisation disagreed with every single suggestion, including that the Irish language be given Official Status through legislation.

“The Irish language is a minority language, and should not be given official status any more than Ulster Scots, Polish, Lithuanian, or any other language. In fact language like Polish for example, are much more prevalent throughout the population in Northern Ireland currently, and should in fact be given a higher preference for such consideration.”



The Orange Lodge disagreed with the suggestion that there should be provisions for place names in Irish, saying: “Most, or indeed all, of our place names, are already based very strongly on Irish and Ulster Scots. Therefore why, once again, are we putting Irish in a position that is above any other minority language. The addition of Irish in an English speaking country is not required to inform someone of the way to go, and also does not in any way promote or encourage proper use of the language. It will simply be seen as divisive and so further demean the language itself.”



The Orange Lodge disagreed that there should be provisions made for Irish through education.



“French, German, Spanish, to mention a few, are actually languages that are needed or spoken across the world, and are required in the course of business, and many other ways. Giving priority to Irish is non-productive in this respect, as it is not used widely in any way, except for interest purposes. Much more emphasis should be given to the compulsory learning of internationally-recognised languages, that a student might actually have use of in their future lives.”



The Orange Lodge rejected the suggestion that Irish should be used in Court.

“The use of the English language covers the vast majority of the current Northern Ireland population, if not 100 per cent. The cost alone of administrating such a system is not practical in times of austerity.



“We do not agree with any provision that would allow the use of the Irish language in court. The official language of the courts should remain English. Should Irish be allowed, then provision must be made for all other minority languages also. The financial burden imposed on the system because of this would be untenable.”



The Orange Lodge disagreed that Irish should be used in the Northern Ireland Assembly.



“Equality between English and Irish should not be allowed in the Assembly. Members already use a non proscriptive method of using the Irish language, in opening remarks. There should be no inclusion of provisions to allow the use of Irish in the Assembly, and current methods should be deemed sufficient, provide a translation is provided. This should include all minority languages, and not just Irish.”



The Orange Lodge disagreed that there should be provisions to create the position of an Irish Language Commissioner.



“There is absolutely no need for such a person to put even future pressure on the public purse, and whose very job would be seen as divisive by its very nature, in promoting one language over another. The Irish Language Commissioner would have unacceptable proscriptive powers. The commissioner has no function, save that of promoting one language over another. This is not acceptable in any multi-cultural society.”



The Orange Lodge disagreed that there should be provisions for Gaeltacht areas.



“There are no Gaeltacht areas in Northern Ireland to our knowledge, therefore providing for them is simply ludicrous. We believe any attempt to establish such areas will simply lead to further disrespect, and suspicion around the whole idea. In what way would the wholesale use of any minority language, in an English-speaking country, add to its economic prosperity, given that English and French, are the two internationally recognised languages, in this respect?”