Sinn Fein councillors on Belfast Council have proposed changes to the policy on dual-language street signs. They want bids failing to gain 15% resident support referred to councillors for a final decision using discretion.

The current policy, in place since March 2023, rejects bids below the 15% threshold automatically. Under the proposal, politicians could approve such bids anyway. More Irish signs have received approval since the policy began than in the prior 24 years. No signs in other languages have been built.

Sinn Fein group leader Ciaran Beattie raised the issue at a council meeting. He referenced a 2014 judicial review that allowed councillors discretion below a higher threshold in the previous policy. Beattie noted University Street near Queen's University, where support was just over 14% but 100% of respondents in a related survey backed it. He questioned why such cases have not come to committee.

DUP councillor Dean McCullough opposed the change. He called it illogical and undemocratic to override resident majorities against signs. McCullough addressed Sinn Fein directly, questioning their priority on forcing signs below 15% support.

DUP group leader Sarah Bunting stated that once non-English signs are installed, residents cannot remove or change them later. She suggested adding that feature to the policy.

Sinn Fein rejected Bunting's suggestion.