Manchester's turn next, followed by Birmingham, Liverpool, Glasgow, et al. ; there must some benefit in having every region/ city talking a different language!
( It keeps us from ganging up on the would-be dictators).

I want to learn Slovene. Can I get a grant?

What a waste of money, there is no minority of either Irish or 'Ulster Scots' (which isn't even a language and a dialect at the very most) native speakers who can't understand English. Anyone who wants to learn either of these already has ample means to do so. And this at a time when language teaching in state schools in the UK is dying on its legs. If he really wants to give money to language teaching in NI then French or German, not too mention Chinese or Arabic, would be more useful. If it's just about culture then Latin and Greek would be more relevant as they are more directly related to the culture enjoyed by all of the UK and indeed Ireland.

More useless tokenism to try and rustle up a few marginal votes at vast cost.

However, by no means the first time. For example, S4C receives about £120m from the Government and from the BBC for providing specific Welsh language programming.

Viewing share? Not a lot*

(* "small but not zero")

http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyViewingSummary?_s=4

Originally Posted by Blogg

More useless tokenism to try and rustle up a few marginal votes at vast cost.

However, by no means the first time. For example, S4C receives about £120m from the Government and from the BBC for providing specific Welsh language programming.

Viewing share? Not a lot*

(* "small but not zero")

http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyViewingSummary?_s=4

Didn't a programme recently actually get zero on SC4?

Originally Posted by mistersoft

Originally Posted by tropper66

Brown makes these stupid promises all the time, but how many does he keep, hes just trying to bribe the paddys to vote Labour, as soon as the election this will be another bine job

I personally feel that the £5million promised for the Ulster Scots is not enough. It would take considerably more than £5 million for anybody to be able to even vaguely understand what a Ballymena local said.

"......an ta ponts ya gansher an a crack o basks"

Translated as " ....Two pints landlord and a packet of crisps."

Can I have the £5million for translation services rendered? :D

Great, is he not? £25M for Ulster languages - I've no real problem with that except for the timing.

£25M for Ulster and Ainsworth for Defence and even worse - Hain for Wales!

Clearly, the sheep in Wales are 'spoken for'.

PS: I am 100% Welsh and 100% against Labour and the oaf Brown.

The coffers are empty.Is he mad?

I e-mailed my MP about this:

Mr Donaldson,

I am becoming a serial writer of letters to my MP, never-the-less this issue has made my blood boil.

It was announced on the news (BBC Newsline) that Brown is funding £20 million to support Gaelic in NI and a further £5 million for Ulster Scots. Unfortunately I can't find any links to this story anywhere.

Naturally the SF/IRA mouthpiece was crowing about this - £25 million of Tax payers money wasted on pointless gestures.

If this was £25 million being invested in future jobs or education but to just be pissed up against the wall at a time when we are fighting a viscous war and starving our Armed Forces of funding.

Doesn't this cretin Brown realise that we are at war?

As a Scot its not up to me to tell the loyalist community what it ought to do but it might appear more grown up if that community were to suggest to Brown that there are better ways to spend £5 million and invite SF/IRA to grow up and do the same with regard to their £20 million.

--
Aye

Bugger All

He replied:

Dear BA

It was good to hear from you again and I appreciate the views that you have expressed in relation to the recent announcement by the Westminster Government that they intend to provide additional funding for broadcasting of both the Irish language and Ulster Scots.

I must say that I am sympathetic to your view that such a large amount of taxpayers’ money going on language development is not the best use of limited resources during a period of economic recession. I will therefore liaise with my Parliamentary colleagues and we will seek an opportunity to raise your concerns at Westminster.

As you have stated, this money would be much better spent supporting our troops who are on active service and engaged in a current offensive in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. They are in much need of better equipment and £25 million would go some way towards providing them with much-needed support.

Thank you for taking the time to share your views with me on this important issue. It is very much appreciated.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely

Rt Hon Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA

Lagan Valley
Constituency Office
The Old Town Hall
29 Castle Street
LISBURN
BT27 4DH

Tel: (02 9266 8001
Fax: (02 9267 1845

Email: jeffreydonaldson@laganvalley.net

For your reference Mr Donaldson is ex-UDR

I'm surprised that anyone should want anything to do with murky Ulster politics and politicians.Makes Wesminster look like a house of saints!

I've little interest in the murky world of Ulster politics and don't really know how Mr Donldson measures up on those terms but I can tell you that his performance in the reserve debate and his other recent utterances on defence issues have been sound as are the views he has expressed in the letter above.