Editing Ulster Defence Regiment (section)

==Name==
When the Ulster Defence Regiment Bill, the legislation establishing the regiment, was being debated in Parliament there was considerable discussion about its proposed name.  An amendment to the legislation was proposed that would have given the regiment the name "Northern Ireland Territorial Force".<ref>Lord Shackelton's Amendment No. 1: Page 1, line 6, leave out ("Ulster Defence Regiment") and insert ("Northern Ireland Territorial Force"); HL Deb 11 December 1969 vol 306 cc727-86</ref> Proponents of this amendment were concerned to ensure that the word "[[Ulster]]" be removed from the name of the regiment. They argued that the name "Ulster" evoked emotive resistance from many Catholics in Northern Ireland and that the term "Ulster" had been associated with the [[Orange Order|Orange]] organisations and other organisations perceived as excluding Catholics e.g. the [[Ulster Protestant Volunteers]], the [[Ulster Constitution Defence Committee]], the [[Ulster Volunteer Force]] and the Ulster Special Constabulary. They argued "Ulster" had strong party political and partisan connotations and would deter Catholic participation in the new regiment.<ref>HL Deb 11 December 1969 vol 306 cc727-86</ref> One speaker said the name "Ulster" would "frighten the Catholics away".<ref>Lord Boothby in HL Deb 11 December 1969 vol 306 cc727-86</ref> They also argued that as three of Ulster's nine counties were not in Northern Ireland, the title was inaccurate, especially given that persons from outside of Northern Ireland would be prohibited by law from joining the regiment.

For the British government's part, those defending the proposed name argued that the term "Ulster" should still be included because of precedent; in the past, it had been attached to certain regiments in Northern Ireland. Another opponent of the amendment disagreed that Catholics would be put off joining because of the force. He pointed to the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] as an example of an organisation that included the word Ulster and had many Catholic members.  The Under-Secretary of State for the Army said "the Government considered that the use of the word 'Ulster' is, frankly, unimportant".<ref>Commons 1/12/69, cot. 1041</ref> Another speaker said a majority in Northern Ireland prefer the word "Ulster". The proposed amendment was defeated and the UDR got its name.