If allowed to continue unchecked, such politicisation will sound the death knell for the local dialect.

At the very least, the notion that learning Irish is an activity valid only in its relevance to Northern Ireland's constitutional status exhibits an inverted sense of priorities.

However, in my experience as an incomer, such views are more common among unionists who, owing to residential segregation and other factors, may be unaware how commonly spoken the language is and how important its continued existence is to those who use it.

The proper recognition of linguistic diversity is the hallmark of a civilised society.

It accompanies tolerance regarding race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and political belief, and forms a parallel to contemporary concerns for biological diversity.

If Mr McCausland detects politicisation, he should present alternative proposals for realising the secure status that Irish needs and that unionist administrations in Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff have already acted to achieve with regard to Welsh and Scottish Gaelic.

Dr Gavin Falconer, Belfast