‘Why would somebody want to change if they feel respected?’ - DUP’s Paul Givan says broadening party’s appeal will secure union

THE DUP’s Paul Givan has said strong cross-community relations are the best way to secure the future of the union.

It follows his first visit to an Irish medium primary school as education minister on Wednesday, where he took part in Ceili dancing and greeted pupils with a ‘Maidin mhaith’.

Other recent cross-community photo opportunities saw the Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly try camogie and First Minister Michelle O’Neill stand during God Save the King at Windsor Park.

Speaking on the Stephen Nolan programme on Thursday, Mr Givan was asked if the DUP was trying to reset in order to broaden their appeal.

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“It’s the right thing to do and it also recognises the diversity that exists in Northern Ireland and that’s the kind of unionism that I want, which is broad, which recognises space for everybody and that ultimately will help secure Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom,” he said

“Because why would somebody want to change if they feel that their cultural identity is respected within the current status quo of Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom.”

He added that Northern Ireland’s future would not be decided by “a crude demographic headcount of religious identity” or “legal victories within the courts”.

“Therefore we have to win hearts and minds…I’m very comfortable in recognising my British, Ulster-Scots and Irish identity.”

Eight years ago as culture minister, Mr Givan had axed a £50,000 Irish language bursary scheme called Líofa.

He had said it was down to efficiency savings, but quickly reversed the decision following a backlash and said he did not want Sinn Féin to use it as a “political weapon”.

Asked if he regretted his handling of the situation, he said: “Whilst I can say today there was a value for money assessment in respect of that, that is not how that decision was perceived, that it was a purely value-for-money consideration.

“It was perceived very differently within the wider nationalist community. I understand that.

“It played into what was going on politically, because obviously Sinn Fein were on a particular trajectory in the run-up to that Christmas period, where they were on the verge of collapsing the institutions, and that decision fuelled their political objectives at that time.

“What I’m saying is that we need to make sure we don’t act in a way that is politicising around the Irish language, and I have a responsibility around education and the various sectors that exist, and I will discharge those duties fairly and equitably.”