FORMER DUP leader Peter Robinson has said Sinn Féin's call for an Irish language act is "entirely legitimate" but he believes it should be accommodated in legislation alongside Ulster Scots.
The former first minister also branded Sinn Féin's stance on Irish language provisions "pitiful and absurd".
His remarks came in a rare extended post on Facebook in the aftermath of Monday's confidence and supply deal between the Conservatives and the DUP.
Mr Robinson says his successors in the DUP have "passed the test of being responsible political negotiators" who "put the interests of Northern Ireland first".
He said the DUP's recent record contrasted with that of Sinn Féin, who the former first minister accuses of causing an unnecessary assembly election in March and "creating political paralysis".
"At the heart of the Sinn Féin case is a demand for an Irish language act," he said.
"It is pitiful and absurd that republicans would collapse the democratic institutions to advance their cultural agenda."
But he argues that it is "entirely legitimate for Sinn Féin to press for an Irish language act".
"And of course there is every need for all the parties to respect, and where possible, accommodate differences, but that can never be a one-way street," Mr Robinson said.
"There is no credibility in asserting your need to have your culture respected if you blatantly disrespect that of others."
He asks who would find a statutory basis to protect and support both Irish and Ulster Scots unacceptable before claiming republicans
legislation which is "isolated from any other cultural provisions and given supremacy in a free standing Irish language act".
Mr Robinson said it would be "churlish" if Sinn Féin failed to sign up to a deal because it did not get standalone legislation for Irish.
"That would not be showing respect or practicing equality," he said.
He said people wanted an assembly and would not "easily forgive those who stand in the way".
Referring to the prospect of direct rule, Mr Robinson wrote: "Business will be done at Westminster where unionism is Northern Ireland's only voice and, post-EU, Sinn Féin's only relevance in Northern Ireland politics will be at council level.
"So I end where I began – it is Sinn Féin's turn to act responsibly in the interests of the people," he said.
"This is a time for leadership which has not been evident recently from republicans. Sinn Féin must show that it is interested in the wellbeing of its constituents' health, education, infrastructure and jobs."
