TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has said that the Infrastructure Minister has "chosen to impose her will" without undertaking equality screening after she announced that Irish Language signage is to be installed at Belfast's Grand Central Station.
Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, the North Antrim MLA said that he had lodged a petition with Stormont's Business Office and called on the matter to be brought back to the Executive and subjected to a cross-community vote.
Mr Gaston called on unionist MLAs to "take a stand" and prevent the promotion of the Irish language at Grand Central Station and its availability on Translink ticketing machines.
"Yesterday in this House, I asked the Minister for Infrastructure for an assurance that she would commit to undertaking a consultation on the quality screening exercise before taking any decision on the installation of Irish language signs at Belfast Grand Central Station. Far from providing the assurance I sought, the Minister informed the Assembly that she had taken the decision to install bilingual signage at Belfast Grand Central Station and in all Translink ticket vending machines," he said.
"The minister clearly had no thought for the need for consultation pr equality screening. She has chosen to impose her will without so much, it would appear, as consulting her Executive colleagues.
"I have, therefore, this morning lodged a petition in the Business Office to refer Minister Kimmins' decision to the executive and subject it to a cross-community vote.Every Member of this Chamber who believes this divisive decision of Minister Kimmins should be opposed and will add their name to that position accordingly."
Mr Gaston accused to Minister of planning to "weaponise" the Irish language with the installation of the signage and said that MLAs have the power to stop it.
"I note that the DUP infrastructure spokesman has questioned the cost of this and challenged Sinn Féin on their misguided priorities. Now is the opportunity for her and her party to do something about it rather than simply issuing a statement. " he continued.
"The only question is, will the DUP and Ulster Unionist members of this House demand equality for our community, or will they roll over to Sinn Féin?
"I trust unionism will take a stand on this issue and sign the petition to stop this solo run by the Infrastructure Minister."
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