A dispute between Sinn Fein and the SDLP about the use of the Irish language emerged at the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday.
The character of the SDLP's Mr Denis Haughey, joint chairman of a Committee on Standing Orders was "impugned" by Sinn Fein Assembly members, according to an SDLP member, Mr Eamonn O'Neill (South Down).
A committee meeting held last Friday to prepare a final report for presentation at yesterday's sitting was terminated prematurely when comments criticising Mr Haughey were made in relation to the use of the Irish language.
Details of the dispute were not fully disclosed. However, Mr Francie Molloy (Sinn Fein, Mid Ulster), confirmed that the dispute centred on the use of the Irish language.
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, raised the issue yesterday. "Today's debate was trailed as being the report from the Standing Orders committee. But I believe their work was further disrupted at their last meeting by the behaviour of Sinn Fein/IRA members who questioned the integrity of the SDLP chairman. The meeting, therefore, had to be adjourned." Mr John Kelly (Sinn Fein, Mid Ulster) denied that his party provoked the dispute. "If Mr Robinson or his colleagues were to be removed from meetings for unruly conduct, they wouldn't be attending many meetings."
The dispute between the SDLP and Sinn Fein entered proceedings yesterday when Mrs Brid Rodgers (SDLP, Upper Bann) asked Mr Molloy in Irish if his party had ever been prevented from using the Irish language.
Mr Molloy responded by congratulating Mrs Rodgers for making her first speech in Irish in the chamber. Mrs Rodgers said she hoped to receive an answer in the same language but Mr Molloy said he did not speak Irish.