Kimmins ‘stands firm’ following row over station Irish language signs decision

By Jonathan McCambridge and David Young, PA

Stormont’s Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has said she “stands firm” following a political row over her decision that Irish language signs should be installed at Belfast’s Grand Central station.

It came as deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the move by her ministerial colleague about the new transport hub looked and felt “utterly shambolic”.

Sinn Fein minister Ms Kimmins gave the go-ahead for the signage last week, but it has led to a row among Stormont Executive ministers.

The DUP has insisted she has a “legal duty” to bring the decision to the Executive.

Ms Kimmins was at the Grand Central Station on Thursday showing the new facility to members of the British Irish Council.

She said it was “unfortunate” that a row had arisen over “something that should be very positive.”

She added: “This is a good news story and enhancing that to ensure that it is a shared space for everybody that uses it is something I see as really positive.”

Asked if she stood by the decision not being taken to the wider Executive, she said: “This is a very positive move forward, I think it is important to recognise everyone in our community and that is what I have been setting out to do.

“We have, as ministers, a role to deliver equality.”

When asked if she would now bring the decision to the Executive, she said she would “see what happens”.

Ms Kimmins added: “Executive colleagues have had a discussion this morning, it is up to them where they think this should go next.

“I stand firm in my decision, we followed the process.”

The DUP raised the controversy during Thursday’s meeting of powersharing ministers.

Speaking at a press conference afterwards, Ms Little-Pengelly said: “I was deeply disappointed by the way this decision was made and the announcement of it.

“The detail of how this came about is still very unclear and questions still need to be answered.”

She said there had been a “detailed discussion” about the issue at the Executive meeting.

Ms Little-Pengelly added: “I reaffirmed our clear view that this issue is controversial.

“Therefore it should have been brought to the Executive Committee for agreement.

“We will be seeking additional information and considering the way forward.

“In the meantime the minister ought to bring that decision to the Executive in the proper way, in the legal way, for consideration and agreement.”

She added: “All controversial, significant or cross-cutting matters do have that legal responsibility in terms of ministers bringing that to the Executive.

“That hasn’t happened in this case. I think any argument that this isn’t a controversial issue is bizarre because I think it’s very clear out there in terms of the reaction to this that it is controversial.

“I wasn’t satisfied with the answers we got today from the minister nor in the correspondence she has sent.

“Therefore we will be seeking further information and, of course, considering the way forward.”

Ms O’Neill said it was important to keep the matter in perspective and said there would always be political disagreements in the four-party Executive.

She added: “The Irish language is for everybody. Nobody has anything to fear from the Irish language.”

Asked about the decision taken by her Sinn Fein colleague, she said: “I believe the minister was right, she has made her decision and I think it’s the right decision.

“The exchange of views today where the minister put her views as to why she took the decision she did and the rationale behind it, I think that stacks up.”

But Ms Little-Pengelly said: “This all looks and feels utterly shambolic by the new Infrastructure Minister.

“She has come in, made an announcement, it is very unclear, is it a direction to Translink? Is it pressure put on Translink?

“This is a focus on a shambolic week for the Infrastructure Minister, questions she still has not answered.

“If this Executive is going to work, and I want it to work, we must abide by the legal obligations and duties the ministers have.”

Grand Central Station has been billed as the largest integrated transport hub on the island of Ireland, with services including trains between Belfast and Dublin.

Earlier this week, it emerged that design work on Irish language signs had stopped due to “potential legal action”.

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson, from the Unionist Voice Policy Studies (UVPS) group, is attempting to secure a judicial review in the High Court in Belfast against the Department for Infrastructure, stating the decision was taken “without Executive approval”.

Under Stormont rules, ministerial decisions that are deemed significant or controversial should be considered collectively by the powersharing coalition, rather than by an individual minister.

However, within the Executive it is ultimately the responsibility of Sinn Fein First Minister Ms O’Neill and DUP deputy First Minister Ms Little-Pengelly to jointly decide what issues are significant or controversial and should be subject to a wider vote.

Infrastructure minister Liz Kimmins at Grand Central Station in Belfast (Photo by PA)