DUP protest in Dublin over cross-Border body

For some, it was their first time in the South. For all, it was their first trip to an organisation dedicated to the promotion of the Irish language.

A group of Democratic Unionist Party members made the trip south yesterday to protest outside the offices of Bord na Gaeilge in Dublin. Led by the assembly member for Mid-Ulster, Rev William McCrea, the nine demonstrators were protesting against the continued existence of cross-Border bodies despite the suspension of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Bord na Gaeilge is the headquarters in this State for An Foras Teanga, a cross-Border body established under the Belfast Agreement to promote the Irish language and Ulster Scots.

The functions of Bord na Gaeilge, including its work, staff, assets and obligations were transferred to the new body on December 2nd, 1999. An Foras Teanga also has an office in Belfast.

Carrying placards with the slogan "Don't cherry-pick the agreement - scrap it all", the demonstrators said the people of Northern Ireland had been "deceived".

"The people voted in the [Belfast] referendum on the basis of a promise that if the Northern Ireland Assembly was scrapped, the cross-Border bodies would be scrapped," said Rev McCrea. "This cross-Border body is still going full steam ahead. It's time to get a wee bit more integrity into this system. The whole process has been conceived in the womb of deception."

He said the agreement was being "cherry-picked" in favour of republicans. "And I am quoting the words of the Secretary of State in saying that. His words are coming home to roost."

Among the others protesting were assembly members Mr Jim Wells (South Down), Mr Jim Shannon (Strangford) and Mr Paul Berry (Newry and Armagh).

It was Mr Berry's first time in the South. When asked how he liked Dublin, he said: "I'll be glad to get back to my own country."

Rev McCrea would not say if his party planned a protest outside the Belfast office of An Foras Teanga. However, the DUP will stage further protests outside other cross-Border bodies' offices, he said.