Irish language campaigners call for implementation

Irish language campaigners have staged a demonstration to demand the implementation of language legislation.

The New Decade New Approach deal in 2020 committed Northern Ireland’s political parties to establish an Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, which would put in place provision for services in Irish and Ulster-Scots.

However, over a year on there has been no movement on commitments.

Campaigners gathered in front of a large screen in front of Parliament Buildings on Tuesday morning to deliver a message to MLAs.

An Dream Dearg campaigners stand with Stormont MLAs,  calling upon the Northern Ireland Executive along with the British and Irish Governments to implement the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) deal, legislation regarding Irish language rights, 500 days after the agreement. PA photo 

The message delivered by recorded messages from 70 activists said a new era of equality has been promised since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, and the St Andrew’s Agreement in 2006 had promised an Irish language act.

The 2020 New Decade New Approach deal fell “well short” according to the campaigners, but was an “important staging post in our ongoing journey towards comprehensive, rights-based language legislation”.

“Now, 500 days have passed since that legislation was promised, and still we wait,” they said.

“A majority of parties and MLAs support a rights-based Irish-language Act, as well as the language legislation agreed last year.

“Today, we say to those who continue to exclude our community that we stand united for our language rights; to those parties who support our campaign, we ask you again; stand with us, stand up for our rights; to the two Governments – you are not neutral, you are not external mediators, you are co-authors and co-guarantors of these agreements.

“No more delays, no more excuses. It is time to implement Irish language legislation.”

Meanwhile, An Dream Dearg spokesperson Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh said it was now up to the British and Irish government's to intervene if the Executive does not deliver on its commitments during this mandate. 

Irish language campaigners staged a protest at Stormont earlier calling for the implementation of language legislation.@dreamdearg spokesperson @ptierney89 says 500 days have passed since legislation was promised in the New Decade New Approach deal but they’re still waiting. pic.twitter.com/lEh8eQLOOF

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) May 25, 2021

Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan was among those who gathered.

He described cultural and language legislation as the “cornerstone” of the New Decade New Approach deal.

“That still has to be implemented despite the fact that all five parties and the two governments signed up to it,” he said.

Mr Sheehan said the incoming leader of the DUP Edwin Poots has agreed to implement the language and cultural legislation, but hasn’t said when.

“This legislation needs to be implemented before the end of this mandate,” he added.

Members of the SDLP, Alliance Party and People Before Profit also attended the demonstration.