He was assisted by Patrick Yu, the Executive Director of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) and Janet Muller of POBAL, an umbrella organisation for the Irish speaking community.
Speaking to an invited audience of representatives from the Irish language and Ulster Scots sectors together with a range of people from ethnic groups, the minister said: “The department is committed to making the information it provides as accessible as possible to the public. In recognition of the growing diversity in the north and to promote equality of opportunity, my department has developed a multi-lingual section on its website.
“This provides a range of information about the department in eleven different languages: Irish; Ulster Scots; two variants of Chinese; Czech; Latvian; Lithuanian; Polish; Portuguese; Russian and Slovak.
“Useful contact details and links are also provided as well as information about specific areas of direct interest such as parking enforcement, the Blue Badge scheme and Travelwise. So, whether you speak Polish or Mandarin, Czech or Irish, you will be able to find information more easily on what my department does and how to get in contact.”
The minister thanked POBAL and NICEM for their help in developing the multi-lingual section. He added: “We intend to keep working on the site to refine and improve the information on it to make sure that it is as relevant and helpful as possible.”
Notes to Editors
- The multi-lingual section of the department’s internet site is now live and can be accessed at http://www.drdni.gov.uk/
- Translations in the eleven languages can be accessed from the alternative formats section on the right hand side of the home page.
- Media queries to DRD Press Office on 02890 540887 or NI Water Press Office on 028 9035 4710 or email press.office@niwater.com. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
