Motion

Replacing Irish Language Street Signage Policy in Belfast

Replacing Irish Language Street Signage Policy in Belfast
That this Assembly deplores that, since 2022, only 12 per cent of applications for Irish language street signs approved by Belfast City Council commanded the majority support of residents living there, according to recent media reports; contends that with the wishes of the minority trumping the view of the majority in almost nine out of ten cases, this policy is undemocratic and oppressive; is alarmed that in a number of cases residents have been surveyed repeatedly in an attempt to garner the necessary support; condemns the marking of territory in this way, as well as the imposition of minority rule on residents from all backgrounds and traditions; and calls on Belfast City Council to urgently review, and replace, its policy that Irish language street signs can be imposed upon communities with just 15 per cent support.
Private Members' Motion
30/09/2025
13/10/2025
View Official Report


69 Members voted

28 Members voted AYE

41 Members voted NO

The Motion Was Negatived, Simple Majority Lobby Division

MLA NameDesignationVoted
Dr Steve Aiken OBE UnionistAYE
Mr Andy Allen MBE UnionistAYE
Mr Danny Baker NationalistNO
Mr John Blair OtherNO
Ms Paula Bradshaw OtherNO
Mr Phillip Brett UnionistAYE
Miss Nicola Brogan NationalistNO
Mr David Brooks UnionistAYE
Ms Cheryl Brownlee UnionistAYE
Mr Keith Buchanan UnionistAYE
Mr Tom Buchanan UnionistAYE
Mr Jonathan Buckley UnionistAYE
Ms Joanne Bunting UnionistAYE
Mr Jon Burrows UnionistAYE
Mr Robbie Butler UnionistAYE
Mrs Pam Cameron UnionistAYE
Mr Gerry Carroll OtherNO
Mr Alan Chambers UnionistAYE
Mr Trevor Clarke UnionistAYE
Mr Pádraig Delargy NationalistNO
Mr Stewart Dickson OtherNO
Mrs Linda Dillon NationalistNO
Mrs Diane Dodds UnionistAYE
Miss Jemma Dolan NationalistNO
Mr Danny Donnelly OtherNO
Mr Stephen Dunne UnionistAYE
Mr Mark Durkan NationalistNO
Ms Connie Egan OtherNO
Mrs Sinéad Ennis NationalistNO
Mrs Deborah Erskine UnionistAYE
Mrs Ciara Ferguson NationalistNO
Ms Aoife Finnegan NationalistNO
Miss Órlaithí Flynn NationalistNO
Ms Diane Forsythe UnionistAYE
Mr Timothy Gaston UnionistAYE
Mr Colm Gildernew NationalistNO
Mrs Michelle Guy OtherNO
Miss Deirdre Hargey NationalistNO
Mr Harry Harvey UnionistAYE
Ms Cara Hunter NationalistNO
Mr William Irwin UnionistAYE
Mr Declan Kearney NationalistNO
Mr Gerry Kelly NationalistNO
Ms Liz Kimmins NationalistNO
Mr Brian Kingston UnionistAYE
Mrs Emma Little-Pengelly UnionistAYE
Mr Gordon Lyons UnionistAYE
Mr Declan McAleer NationalistNO
Miss Nuala McAllister OtherNO
Mr Patsy McGlone NationalistNO
Mr Philip McGuigan NationalistNO
Mr Maolíosa McHugh NationalistNO
Mr Andrew McMurray OtherNO
Mr Justin McNulty NationalistNO
Mr Peter Martin UnionistAYE
Mrs Cathy Mason NationalistNO
Mr Nick Mathison OtherNO
Mr Gary Middleton UnionistAYE
Mr Andrew Muir OtherNO
Ms Sian Mulholland OtherNO
Miss Áine Murphy NationalistNO
Mr John O'Dowd NationalistNO
Mr Matthew O'Toole NationalistNO
Ms Aisling Reilly NationalistNO
Mr Alan Robinson UnionistAYE
Mr Pat Sheehan NationalistNO
Ms Emma Sheerin NationalistNO
Mr John Stewart UnionistAYE
Mr Eóin Tennyson OtherNO

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