South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Ó Donnghaile welcomes Adams - Ó Cuiv meeting on Irish Language Act

Published: 11 December, 2007

East Belfast Sinn Féin Representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has welcomed the news that Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP MLA will lead a party delegation, including Aengus O Snodaig TD and Francie Brolly MLA to meet with the Gaeltacht Minister Éamon Ó Cuiv in Dublin on Thursday morning December 13th.

The meeting is to discuss an Irish Language Act for the north.

Speaking in advance of the meeting Mr Ó Donnghaile said:

"In October the Minister for DCAL Edwin Poots ruled out the introduction of an Irish Language Act for the north.

"His decision was contrary to the letter and spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and of the St. Andrews Agreement. The latter especially, which all of the parties and the British and Irish governments agreed to, contains a very clear commitment to the introduction of an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and to work to enhance and protect the development of the Irish Language .

"The Irish government consequently has a central role to play in advancing this issue. Sinn Féin therefore will be briefing Minister Ó Cuiv on the current situation and efforts to secure an Irish Language Act in the north.

"Sinn Féin will be urging the Minister to support the call for the Irish Language Act in the north, and to use all of the resources available to him, and the status of his office and of the Irish government, to advance the objective of an Irish Language Act in the north.

"The revival of the Irish language has been our country's cultural success story. More and more people are using Irish. Young children in particular are being educated in increasing numbers through the medium of Irish and it is their future and their rights that must be secured through legislation.

"The Irish language threatens no one. It is not compulsory. Irish language rights threaten no one. There is a clear need for an Irish Language Act to give legal support to those who want to live their lives through the medium of the Irish language.

"However, let us not lose sight of the fact that an Irish Language Act in the north was not needed to create a Shaws Road Gaeltacht, or the Gaelaras, An Droichead or the Culturlann. An Act was not needed to establish the Meanscoil or recognition for La Nua or the Gaeltacht Quarter.

"Work was needed and people went out and did that work. And that will continue. But Irish speakers have rights and entitlements, and these must be respected in the introduction of an Irish Language Act."

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