FIRST the DUP withdrew a £50,000 bursary for students to go to the gaeltacht in Donegal.
Now the party is urging unionists in Derry to voice their opposition to proposals to have Irish language names on bus signs.
Bus company translink said it would open a public consultation to extend the use of Irish language names on bus signs.
Bilingual signs are already in operation in west Belfast.
Now Translink now plans to trial the initiative on its Derry services.
The publicly owned company said the initiative was a way to “celebrate traditional place names in the city and their meaning”.
The transport company said 14% of the population in Derry had a knowledge of the Irish language and the initiative was a bid to support “key objectives and principles set out in the European Charter for Minority or Regional Languages”.
Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton said that he was urging people in the city to respond to the consultation process and make their views known.
He said the initial proposal for Irish language bus signage had come from Sinn Fein.
“We had been reassured they had no plans to change that – but we’re aware of this consultation and we’re encouraging everyone to respond to it with whatever view they have.”
The Foyle MLA said he saw no urgent need to change.
“We are concerned that initially this proposal was called for by Sinn Fein. Sadly, the Irish language has been politicised – and that’s not to take away from the Irish language itself, because I understand that there are many people who speak it.
“The difficulty that we have, for the unionist community in Derry, is that it does seem there are other motivations behind it.”
Alan Young, Translink’s service delivery manager at its Foyle Street bus station, said: “I would urge as many people as possible to express their views during this six-week consultation period which runs until April 30, 2017.
“We want to hear as many views as possible and this important feedback will inform our decisions.
“This initiative is a way to celebrate traditional place names in the city and their meaning, while also helping to support local tourism through a unique visitor experience.
