The DUP has dismissed suggestions that its bid to include the military covenant in a proposed 'culture act' alongside measures to secure Irish language rights was a 'red herring'.
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said that during the recent negotiations, Arlene Foster's party sought to introduce measures promoting Ulster Scots and special treatment for members of the British armed forces into a 'culture act' that would have also enhanced the status of the Irish language.
The military covenant was introduced in Britain in 2000 and is a UK government promise to look after former members of the armed forces and their families.
Even though the covenant has no basis in law and is an informal understanding rather than a legally enforceable deal, armed forces veterans are entitled to priority medical treatment.
Sinn Féin and the SDLP have opposed its introduction in the north.
Mr Adams told TDs that the DUP's proposed bill would "encompass the Irish language, Ulster Scots and a British armed forces covenant".
"What on earth has the Irish language got to do with the British armed forces? What on earth has a British armed forces covenant got to do with any legislation about language rights? It was entirely inappropriate," Mr Adams said.
"While Sinn Féin has no difficulty with supporting Ulster Scots – it is a very essential part of our culture and has been for 400 years – what is required is a stand-alone Irish language act."
He said what was on offer during the recent talks was "meaningless, had no legislative authority, no strategy, no power, no funding, no teeth".
A DUP spokesman dismissed suggestions that the covenant's inclusion among measures designed to promote culture was incongruous.
"None of the issues the DUP brought forward during the talks process could be described as a red herring," the spokesman said.
"The issues we brought to the table were proportionate to those being proposed by other parties. It is unfortunate the talks broke down when they did."
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said: “The attempt by the DUP to insert the British armed forces covenant into a language act shows that the DUP weren’t serious.
"What is required is the implantation of an Irish language act as agreed at St Andrews."
