Guid billie, - Ian Livingstone's interpretation of the Republic of Ireland's commitments to Ulster-Scots under the Good Friday Agreement (November 14th) is too restrictive.
The commitments to culture and language are not confined to the paragraphs he cites. The themes of equality and parity of esteem permeate the entire agreement as core principles. Furthermore, Mr Livingstone implies that the cross-Broder language body's role is restricted to the province of Ulster. However he is contradicted by the quote he uses that outlines the role of the agency as "both within Northern Ireland and throughout the island".
Mr Livingstone says no commitment exists to provide parity of esteem or parity of funding. However, all parties to the agreement committed themselves to "equality of cultural rights" and there is to be a commonality of rights and equality North and South. Indeed, this is to be progressed through cross-Border co-operation between the equality and human rights bodies. I acknowledge that the omens for the fair treatment of Ulster-Scots from these bodies are not good, but equality is coming and it is inevitable.
A central point overlooked by Mr Livingstone is that the agreement demands change and this change is not restricted to Northern Ireland. If the dynamic of change contained in the Good Friday Agreement is to be fulfilled, the mono-cultural, outdated (and quite possibly racist) view of Irishness, along with its entrenchment in the Irish Constitution, will have to be consigned to the historical waste-bin. Whether people in the Republic of Ireland yet realise it or not, fundamental change is coming and its name is Ulster Scots. - Wi a aefauld hairt,
Lee Reynolds, Secretary, Ulster-Scotch Leid Societie, York Raa, Bilfawst.