No Cross-Community Support For Irish Language - Dodds

Diane Dodds has said the Northern Ireland Executive is meeting its legal requirements regarding promotion of the Irish language, and that there is no cross community support for an Irish Language Act.

The DUP MEP was responding to a report by the Council of Europe that concluded the British government and the NI Assembly were not doing enough to promote the Irish language in Northern Ireland.

The report said authorities in Northern Ireland could be in breach of a charter of rights as a result of delays over requests for bilingual signs.

It also said Irish could be used in Northern Ireland courts and that steps should be taken to meet a demand for primary education in Irish.

There is a "persisting hostile climate" against the language among some groups, it said.

The report also said there had been a lack of progress on the issue since the last report in 2009.

Mrs Dodds said: "In difficult economic times the focus for public expenditure must be on vital public services.

"It is worth noting that the Executive does meet its commitments in law, including the St Andrews Agreement Act which states that 'The Executive Committee shall adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language'," she added.

"The debate around an Irish Language Act has ended as it is clear that no cross-community support exists for such a proposal but it is clear that the Irish language is funded and supported by the Executive in line with its commitments."

But Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the DUP had "blocked efforts to deal with these issues".

"The British government committed in the St. Andrew’s Agreement to an Irish Language Act," he said.

"Sinn Féin raised the introduction of an Irish Language Act in the recent Haass talks and in every other recent negotiation. Unionists opposed it.

"The Irish language threatens no one. It is a right and entitlement of citizens and I hope that those who currently oppose its use and accessibility will support new legislation that the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure Carál Ni Chuilín plans to introduce.

"Access to, funding for, and official status for the Irish language is about equality and the right and entitlement of citizens who wish to use the Irish language to be able to do so and for the state to support them in this.

"The Irish language is the property of all of those who live on this island, including unionists. The recent establishment of an Irish language centre on the Newtownards Road is evidence of this.

"I would urge and encourage all relevant agencies and bodies, including the Executive and Assembly, to implement the recommendations in the Council of Europe report."

(IT/MH)