Unionist Voice Policy Studies today served Pre Action Protocol Judicial Review proceedings on the Sinn Fein Infrastructure Minister in respect of the controversial and divisive decision to act without Executive authority in imposing Irish Language within the new Belfast Central station.
The aggressive imposition of Irish language signage is an issue causing significant community tension, particularly across Belfast whereby the local council operate on the basis of using a nationalist majority to force Irish upon communities whereby as little as 15% of residents wish to be subjected to it, and indeed in circumstances whereby often up to 85% of residents are actively opposed.
This latest decision is clearly ‘significant and controversial’ within the meaning of section 20 (4) (a) of the NI Act 1998, read in conjunction with the Ministerial Code made pursuant to section 28A (5). Therefore, the Minister pursuant to section 28A (10) has no lawful authority to take the decision.
We note that the TUV have already lodged a petition via Mr Timothy Gaston MLA pursuant to section 28B of the 1998 Act, and we urge all unionist MLAs to support this petition. Moreover, given the clearly significant and controversial nature of the decision, we expect unionist Ministers will exercise their cross-community veto to block this decision once properly referred to the Executive.
The legal action we have commenced seeks to compel the Minister to act lawfully, which requires bringing her decision to the Executive committee for cross-community approval. In the absence of same, there is no lawful authority to impose the decision, and should the Minister not concede on this point then we will seek an order of the High Court quashing her decision.
You can download the pre action correspondence below:
Pre Action Protocol DFI- UVPS application 26 March 2025_Redacted