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Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Donald Trump style culture-war debate erupts during NI council meeting amid ‘trojan horse' concerns
A Donald Trump style culture-war debate erupted over the word 'gender' during a discussion about proposed equality and disability programmes within an NI council district. Ards and North Down Borough Council voted to amend its proposed equality and disability action plans after the DUP lambasted strategies which act as a 'trojan horse' and display 'divisive virtue signalling'. Alderman Stephen McIlveen successfully proposed an amendment getting rid of the use of 'gender' as an affected group in the official document which is ready to go out for consultation as well as removing a whole section on promoting inclusive workplaces. 'I am aware these strategies end up as trojan horses. They drift into political or ideological territory, pushing agendas that don't reflect the views of the community,' he said. 'It is our job as a council to deliver services fairly, for everyone, but we shouldn't get tied up in language policing or box ticking exercises that cost money and create division. The public wants to see us delivering services, not getting caught up in divisive virtue signalling. 'We already have to consider equality in every policy, in every decision, and we do. There is no suggestion we are not meeting our responsibilities, and I see no point in adding yet another layer of policy for the sake of appearances.' The council also removed a stipulation that it would remove 'display assets not in keeping with promoting a good and harmonious work environment' following a fractious debate at the local authority's full monthly meeting at Bangor Castle last week. The fallout echoed something of the culture wars prevalent in the United States, with the Alliance Party accusing the DUP of 'politicising' equality drives and condemning the use of the acronym 'DEI' being used in the debate. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion refers to organizational frameworks that seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people in the US – the policy has been singled out by Donald Trump, the MAGA movement and the modern Republican party for particular ire. Mr McIlveen proposed an amendment to the draft Equality and Disability Action Plans 2025-29. 'I propose that we accept the Equality and Disability Action Plans, except in relation to the Section 75 Category Affected column, to remove the word 'gender,' and use wording reflective of what is contained in the legislation. (I propose we) remove Section 6.2 in totality, and remove the wording 'All public access areas and employee workplace areas are free from display assets not in keeping with promoting a good and harmonious work environment' from Section 6.4,' he said. Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act aims to change the practices of government and public authorities so that equality of opportunity and good relations are central to policy making and service delivery. The alderman's successful amendment withdrew the word 'gender' from all of the groups affected by each council commitment listed in the document. Section 6.2, now withdrawn, referred to 'promoting an inclusive workplace' and vowed to 'increase efforts to identify and amplify diverse voices and representation within the council to ensure inclusivity and visibility for all members'. It also aimed for staff to 'attend and actively participate in LGSC's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Ambassadors training and events' and 'conduct an anonymous survey to assess employee values and priorities regarding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, providing insights to enhance workplace culture.' Section 6.4 of the document refers to 'circulation and workplace areas to be shared spaces for all users'. The removal of the commitment to take away 'display assets not in keeping with promoting a good and harmonious work environment' partly refers to concerns about potential bids to remove the image of King Charles from the council's new premises. 'I fully support treating everyone fairly and with respect, and I say this as someone who has worked in human rights practice in this country and overseas, as well as having served as the Equalities Commissioner for two terms,' Mr McIlveen said. 'Equality of opportunity is hugely important to me, however I have real concerns with the suggestion in this document that we are essentially agreeing in principle for this council to adopt an equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, something that has been afforded no debate in this chamber. 'While other parties seem content to press ahead with this, I and my party are not. We already have strong equality laws in NI, I believe they merit some improvement in some areas, but we also have Section 45 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, that puts a legal duty on public bodies like this council to promote equality of opportunity and good relations. 'So the law is clear. The requirement to have such a strategy isn't anywhere in legislation, this is something being pushed by the Staff Commission, not by anyone else I am aware of.' Mr McIlveen continued: 'I would also point out the Section 75 obligations relate to sex, not gender. The use of the word 'gender' in the document is ambiguous, and open to misinterpretation. Section 75 is very clear, as it refers to men and women, in Subsection 1B. 'Similarly I will not be supporting any aim that neutralises the identity of this borough and its people. We have a council that quite rightly granted the Freedom of the Borough to organisations who have served and defended Northern Ireland, and we display the gifts that have been provided to us. 'We proudly wave our Union Flag. Our council chambers have the picture of our monarch. I will not be supporting the creation of a policy that may undermine this council celebrating this council's history, culture and identity.' Alliance Alderman Martin McRandal said: 'On the first point around gender, and the terminology that is used within the legislation, if that is so, I would have no issue in correcting that to reflect the legislation. 'The second point I do have an issue with. The council is required to comply with equality legislation. This draft document has been prepared by officers with the aim of enabling us to meet our duties under equality legislation. We don't get to pick and choose on that. 'So it is highly inappropriate to politicise the content of the action plan. We agree on an action plan which reflects our duties on the legislation.' Alliance Councillor Hannah Irwin said: 'I think it is quite ironic to hear about how we should not be politicising policies like this, when that is exactly what the proposal before us sets out to do. Using language such as DEI, in the way in which it has been used, is probably just feeding into a political discourse we are seeing at the minute which isn't, I would imagine, the most healthy.' The proposal by the DUP passed after a recorded poll. There were 22 votes in favour, from the DUP, UUP, and Unionist Independents, and 14 votes against, from Alliance, the Greens, the SDLP, and one Independent.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-poverty strategy to be signed off after 18 years
Stormont ministers are expected to agree the Northern Ireland Executive's first-ever draft strategy to tackle poverty later on Thursday, BBC News NI understands. In March, Stormont's Executive Committee was found in breach of its legal obligation to adopt the strategy by a court ruling. The anti-poverty strategy was first committed to 18 years ago with the aim of reducing social exclusion and deprivation. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons submitted a draft paper to ministers for consideration about six weeks ago. The minister previously described the document as a "realistic" but long-term plan to tackle poverty. It must be signed off by ministers before it can go out for public consultation. It will then return to the executive for any final changes to be considered before Stormont departments can begin to implement it. Recent figures from the Department for Communities (DfC) suggest about 22% of children in Northern Ireland are growing up in poverty. The figures also indicate that about 23% of children are in relative poverty and about 20% are in absolute poverty. The anti-poverty strategy is a requirement inserted into the Northern Ireland Act, following the St Andrews Agreement in 2006. There have been multiple court orders and legal challenges made as no strategy has ever been implemented in Northern Ireland. In January, judgment was reserved in a recent legal challenge brought against Stormont for "failing to adopt" an anti-poverty strategy for Northern Ireland. Two months later at the High Court in Belfast, Stormont's Executive Committee was found in breach of its legal obligation to adopt a strategy. Trása Canavan from Barnados and a member of the Anti-Poverty Strategy Group said: "Unfortunately we haven't had any sight of this document." "We haven't had any engagement with, either as individual organisations or as the anti-poverty strategy group, the minister or his officials on the development of the draft strategy," she told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme. "You know this group did a huge amount of work throughout the course of the 2021, 2022 and subsequent years to input into a co-design process and then develop our own paper recommendations, which was nearly 100 pages. "So there is a huge amount of work that has gone on and that we shared with the department. "We really hoped that would have informed the draft but I can't tell you what's in it because we haven't been engaged in the process of the development of this paper." There are two main measurements of low income used by the government, absolute poverty and relative poverty. Income is counted as the money a household has to spend after housing costs are taken into account. Absolute poverty measures how many people this year cannot afford a set standard of living. The Department for Work and Pensions at Westminster currently defines it based on the living standard an average income could buy in the year ending in March 2011. If your income is 40% below this, after adjusting for rising prices since then, you are classed as living in absolute poverty. Relative poverty is the number of people whose income is 40% below the average income today. An individual is considered to be in relative poverty if they are living in a household with an income below 60% of the typical UK income. This is a measure of whether those in the lowest income households are keeping pace with the growth of incomes in the population as a whole. Anti-poverty strategy to be considered by ministers Stormont found in breach of duty on anti-poverty Long term plan needed to tackle child poverty - minister
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Irish signs row to overshadow executive meeting
A dispute over Irish language signage at Grand Central Station is being discussed at a meeting of executive ministers. It comes after Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said the decision by Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to approve £150,000 for the signs was "bad process". On Tuesday, Translink said design work on the new signage had been paused pending potential legal action. Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has lodged legal papers seeking leave for a judicial review against the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) over the decision, stating it was taken "without executive approval". The Northern Ireland Act, which sets out how the executive operates, states that ministers must bring issues that are significant or controversial - or which cut across the responsibility of two or more ministers - to the executive for approval first. Unionist parties have argued that the decision on Irish language signage was controversial and therefore should have required executive approval. They have also questioned the use of public money on the signage at a time when departments are working within a difficult financial climate. Sinn Féin has not said much publicly about the issue, but on Monday assembly member Declan Kearney emphasised that "the Irish language is now thriving in communities across the island", despite "a history of persecution and discrimination". "That is reflected in the official recognition which it now enjoys both in the south and north of Ireland," he said. "Sinn Féin fully supports the rights of Gaeilgeoirí (Irish speakers) as we continue to build a society underpinned by inclusion, rights and respect for all." This is not the first time that parties at Stormont have clashed over the Irish language, but the DUP has insisted this latest issue is "not a crisis". Tensions have been growing between the DUP and Sinn Féin over other issues linked to funding for cross-border Irish language services, which are facing a £650,000 cut. The finger of blame is being pointed at the DUP for refusing to allow the matter to reach the executive. Ministers are also expected to discuss a draft anti-poverty strategy circulated by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons. The strategy was first committed to 18 years ago in an effort to tackle poverty, social exclusion and deprivation. The long-delayed plan comes weeks after Stormont's executive committee was found in breach of its legal obligation to adopt the strategy by a court ruling. It is not clear when the final document will be approved and released to the wider public. The growing row over Irish-language signage at Belfast Grand Central Station has added another pressure point. Bryson legal challenge pauses Grand Central Irish language signs work Grand Central Station to install Irish language signage Translink defends lack of Irish signage at new Belfast hub
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Stormont: Irish signage row to overshadow executive meeting
A dispute over Irish language signage at Grand Central Station will be raised at a meeting of executive ministers later on comes after Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said the decision by Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to approve £150,000 for the signs was "bad process".On Tuesday, Translink said design work on the new signage had been paused pending potential legal activist Jamie Bryson has lodged legal papers seeking leave for a judicial review against the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) over the decision, stating it was taken "without executive approval". The Northern Ireland Act, which sets out how the executive operates, states that ministers must bring issues that are significant or controversial or which cut across the responsibility of two or more ministers to the executive for approval parties have argued that the decision on Irish language signage was controversial and therefore should have required executive have also questioned the use of public money on the signage at a time when departments are working within a difficult financial Féin has not said much publicly about the issue, but on Monday assembly member Declan Kearney emphasised that "the Irish language is now thriving in communities across the island", despite "a history of persecution and discrimination"."That is reflected in the official recognition which it now enjoys both in the south and north of Ireland," he said."Sinn Féin fully supports the rights of Gaeilgeoirí (Irish speakers) as we continue to build a society underpinned by inclusion, rights and respect for all." This is not the first time that parties at Stormont have clashed over the Irish language, but the DUP has insisted this latest issue is "not a crisis".Tensions have been growing between the DUP and Sinn Féin over other issues linked to funding for cross-border Irish language services, which are facing a £650,000 finger of blame is being pointed at the DUP for refusing to allow the matter to reach the are also expected to discuss a draft anti-poverty strategy circulated by Communities Minister Gordon strategy was first committed to 18 years ago in an effort to tackle poverty, social exclusion and long-delayed plan comes weeks after Stormont's executive committee was found in breach of its legal obligation to adopt the strategy by a court is not clear when the final document will be approved and released to the wider growing row over Irish-language signage at Belfast Grand Central Station has added another pressure point.
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Stormont: Anti-poverty strategy to be considered by ministers
A long-delayed draft anti-poverty strategy will be sent to executive ministers on Monday for consideration, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has this month, Stormont's executive committee was found in breach of its legal obligation to adopt the strategy by a court ruling. The strategy was first committed to 18 years ago in an effort to tackle poverty, social exclusion and had previously said he would bring the document to the executive by the end of March. On Monday, SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan pressed the minister to spell out when the public would see it and feel the benefits of minister replied that it would depend on the strategy being signed off with approval from other executive parties."I think it's important that the strategy is flexible... first and foremost this will provide the framework for the way forward to make sure we're putting in place policies that make a difference," he added. Earlier this month, Lyons said he believed the anti-poverty strategy was a "realistic" but long-term plan to tackle made the comments after figures from the Department for Communities (DfC) suggested about 22% of children in Northern Ireland are growing up in poverty. What is the anti-poverty strategy? The anti-poverty strategy is a requirement inserted into the Northern Ireland Act, following the St Andrews Agreement in have been multiple court orders and legal challenges made as no strategy has been implemented in Northern January, judgement was reserved in a recent legal challenge brought against Stormont for "failing to adopt" an anti-poverty strategy for Northern March, Stormont's Executive Committee was found in breach of its legal obligation to adopt a strategy at the Royal Courts of Justice. How is poverty measured? There are two main measurements of low income used by the government. Income is counted as the money a household has to spend after housing costs are taken into poverty measures how many people this year cannot afford a set standard of living. The Department for Work and Pensions currently defines it based on the living standard an average income could buy in the year ending in March 2011. If your income is 40% below this, after adjusting for rising prices since then, you are classed as living in absolute poverty is the number of people whose income is 40% below the average income individual is considered to be in relative poverty if they are living in a household with an income below 60% of the typical UK is a measure of whether those in the lowest income households are keeping pace with the growth of incomes in the population as a whole.
