Demand to use 'Derry' on OSI maps
An Inishowen senator has demanded Irish Government maps use the name 'Derry' for the city.
In recent months, Senator Cecilia Keaveney, who was born in Derry, has been lobbying Irish Ministers to have the Oireachtas’ official name for the city instated in Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) maps emanating from their Departments. The OSI maps currently mark the city as Londonderry.
In the most recent response from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, it was stated that “copyright” dictates that Derry cannot be added.
However, Senator Keaveney is now calling for the matter to be raised with the relevant minister in the Stormont Executive to ascertain whether the copyright issue can be addressed.
She said: “While Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin states that the official policy of the Government is that the name of the city is Derry and that every effort is made to ensure that this is reflected in Government publications, the reality is that many publications appear minus the word Derry. As a person born in Derry I find it very unusual and not acceptable that my Government cannot publish maps with my city’s name.”
She said that Ordnance Survey of Ireland has stated that it is obliged to reproduce all data in the way that it is supplied.
However, Senator Keaveney said she was not calling for the name Londonderry to be completely “removed” from the maps.
“I have merely asked for our ‘official policy name’ to be included. It beggars belief that we produce maps that blatantly go against our own stated policy and I intend to continue to try and rectify this situation,” she added.
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Weather for Derry
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
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Wind direction: South west
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