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Gregory Campbell toilet paper remarks 'challenge talks integrity' | Gregory Campbell toilet paper remarks 'challenge talks integrity' |
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The integrity of current political talks in Northern Ireland has been called into question by a senior DUP man's remarks, Sinn Féin has said. | The integrity of current political talks in Northern Ireland has been called into question by a senior DUP man's remarks, Sinn Féin has said. |
John O'Dowd was referring to Gregory Campbell's comment that the DUP would treat Sinn Fein's "entire wish list" as no more than toilet paper. | John O'Dowd was referring to Gregory Campbell's comment that the DUP would treat Sinn Fein's "entire wish list" as no more than toilet paper. |
Mr O'Dowd said this suggested that current talks were "going nowhere". | Mr O'Dowd said this suggested that current talks were "going nowhere". |
It also suggested the DUP had been "peddling a myth they were involved in serious negotiation", he said. | It also suggested the DUP had been "peddling a myth they were involved in serious negotiation", he said. |
Mr Campbell made his remarks at his party's annual conference on Saturday. | Mr Campbell made his remarks at his party's annual conference on Saturday. |
In his speech, he also dismissed calls for an Irish language act, saying his party would never agree it. | In his speech, he also dismissed calls for an Irish language act, saying his party would never agree it. |
Mr O'Dowd told BBC Northern Ireland's Good Morning Ulster on Monday that the DUP leader needed to clarify his party's position. | Mr O'Dowd told BBC Northern Ireland's Good Morning Ulster on Monday that the DUP leader needed to clarify his party's position. |
"We need to hear from Peter Robinson," he said. | "We need to hear from Peter Robinson," he said. |
"The leader of the DUP needs to come out front and centre as to the DUP position. Is his party treating the Sinn Féin negotiating position as toilet paper? | "The leader of the DUP needs to come out front and centre as to the DUP position. Is his party treating the Sinn Féin negotiating position as toilet paper? |
"He needs to come out and he needs to clarify that comment." | "He needs to come out and he needs to clarify that comment." |
However, Mr Campbell defended his position. | However, Mr Campbell defended his position. |
"If Sinn Féin are realistic they need to start putting forward realistic propositions," he said. | "If Sinn Féin are realistic they need to start putting forward realistic propositions," he said. |
"We can't have Sinn Féin lecturing us about the need to recognise their culture when they are denying us our culture over parades and flags." | |
Speaking at assembly question time on Monday, Mr Robinson said a death threat made against Mr Campbell was "an attack on democracy itself". | |
Sinn Féin's Rosaleen McCorley said Mr Campbell had "insulted the Irish langauge and Irish speakers, including thousands of children going through Irish medium-education", and she called on the first minister to asked Mr Campbell to withdraw his comments | |
Mr Robinson said there was a need to differentiate between "lampooning those who are involved in a political campaign related to the Irish language and those who genuinely speak the Irish language". | |
He said Mr Campbell's "finger was being pointed at those who politically abuse the Irish language". | |
Stewart Dickson, Alliance, asked whether Mr Campbell's "toilet paper" remark meant the first minister had written off the talks process. | |
But the first leader said Mr Campbell had carefully referred to a "wish-list as opposed to the serious agenda items that we are discussing in the talks process". | |
SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said: "Mr Campbell may think that he is targeting Sinn Féin but the Irish language community is much wider and deeper than the membership of any one political party. | |
"Irish language speakers, those who aspire to speak Irish and all right-minded people who respect the languages of others have been insulted and hurt and they deserve an apology." | |
On Sunday, Mr Robinson suggested that people had over-reacted to Mr Campbell's remarks. | |
Earlier this month, Mr Campbell began an address to the assembly with: "Curry my yoghurt can coca coalyer", in imitation of the Irish sentence "go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle" which translates as "thank you, Speaker". |