A DUP Minister has been accused of “pure ignorance” following his imitation of the Irish language in a debate in the Northern Ireland assembly today.
Gregory Campbell was invited by principal deputy speaker Mitchell McLaughlin to speak in a debate on the Irish language and Ulster Scots and replied: “Curry my yoghurt can coca colayer.”
This appears to have been an imitation of “Go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle”, the traditional response in the Irish language to the speaker.
Sinn Féin’s Culture Minister in Northern Ireland, Carál Ní Chuilín, has described the actions of the Mr Campbell as “pure ignorance”.
Following his opening remarks Mr Campbell asked Ms Ní Chiuilín if, rather than an Irish language and Ulster Scots strategy:
“Would it not be more inclusive to have a minority languages strategy so that nobody feels left out?”
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Ms Ní Chuilín responded that Campbell’s actions meant his question did not warrant a response.
“If it’s anything to go by what you just did, we don’t need a strategy for pure ignorance. Pure ignorance. I think conduct is not befitting members of this chamber and it doesn’t warrant an answer,” Ms Ní Chuilín said.
