The students' union at Queen's University Belfast has changed its controversial Irish language policy and will start today to take down bilingual signs. Bilingual stationery will also be phased out as part of a decision to implement recommendations in an external consultant's report on the bilingual policy.
The union president, Mr Cormac Bakewell, said these moves would be counteracted by "a much more rational bilingual policy" which would be more effective in promoting the Irish language.
"The use of bilingual signs and stationery was causing Protestant students difficulties. They felt it was intended to alienate them, and it was turning them off the Irish language and off the students' union as a whole," he said. The decision "reflected a consensus of the student body in Queen's in all its diversity".