£20m deal to protect Irish language

Published Monday, 15 February 2010

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said money will be provided to develop and protect the Irish language as part of a £20m package from the UK government.

According to Mr Adams, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has committed the UK government to carry on supporting the Irish language broadcasting fund until 2015.

Recognition of the Irish language was one of the issues raised by Sinn Fein during Hillsborough talks to rescue the power-sharing government.

'Equality'

Mr Adams said: "Of course, this is not a matter of coercing or forcing unionism to embrace Irish language rights.

"Gaeilgeoiri (Irish speakers) do have a big job to win support for these matters and to persuade others that this issue needs to be depoliticised and that the gift of an indigenous language is a national treasure and the heritage of all who live on this island, no matter about political or other allegiances.

"At the same time Irish language rights cannot be withheld or reduced at the whim of any political party. Equality is equality is equality."

Culture Minister Nelson McCausland welcomed the investment and said another £5m would also be made available to promote Ulster Scots.

"This will ensure that there is a much better representation of Ulster/Scots history on television and I will be making further announcements about the promotion and advancement of Ulster Scots in the future," Mr McCausland said.

A draft strategy to protect and enhance both languages should go to the ministerial executive by the end of March.

"It is my intention to bring forward a draft strategy to the executive by the end of March which can then go out to consultation," Mr McCausland said.

He said one strand of this strategy will be to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language as set out in the St Andrews Act of 2006.

He added preparation of this draft minority languages strategy will require engagement with other Northern Ireland departments, especially education, and from the UK government on broadcasting.

At Hillsborough, Sinn Fein and the DUP agreed to establish a working group to deal with outstanding elements from St Andrews.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will provide a report to the executive by the end of February detailing the level of progress made on each outstanding matter. This includes the Irish language.

TUV leader Jim Allister said the extra £20m for the Irish language was part of a sop to Sinn Fein.

"The DUP boast that through devolution it has stopped delivery on the Irish language is once more exposed as mere fantasy," he said.

"Is it not the case that the wilting 14 (who initially allegedly opposed a deal at Hillsborough) were assured there would be nothing for the Irish language? Once more the DUP has been sold a pup."

Mr McCausland dismissed Jim Allister's criticism of the deal.

"The DUP is able to announce good news for unionists, good news for Ulster and all Jim Allister can do is issue press statements attacking those who are really delivering for unionism," he added.

Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness will seek executive approval to set up a working group to recommend how progress could be made on those matters which have not been acted upon.

Within four weeks of the working group's initial report the First and deputy First Minister intend to agree a programme to complete the conclusions of the working group.

Comments

11 Comments

Seamas in belfast wrote (826 days ago):

Lorna. Every year the PSNI spend about 5 million pounds in connection with OO parades. Only a tiny fraction of that is required to control disturbances due to contentious parades. Sam. How do you know how Irish speakers view themselves and what is the relevance of that anyway. My community background is catholic nationalist and my political persuasion is Irish republican but I was born in the UK and that makes me a British subject. Protestants don’t own Britishness. It’s not yours to define or set a limit on. Equality is not merely being the same as you it’s the equal right to be different. As a British subject I’m entitled to speak Irish and entitled to have my government support it. I’m also entitled to be a republican and to seek to end British sovereignty here.

lorna in limavady wrote (826 days ago):

The Realist. you must be better at Irish than English then. Tell me how many Universities require Irish for enterance like A level standard. If the Protestant Orangemen has to walk in faith with the bully boys hurling abuse at them are they not treated like second class when they are in minority is that not why the Civil Rights started .They walk then they go home and are you poorer . Remember the vast amount of money for security comes from the BRITISH.

The Realist in Belfast wrote (827 days ago):

Lorna clearly doesn't know what shes talking about..I'm in my mid twenties and i was teached Irish.All R.C schools in the north of Ireland teach Irish and have been since they opened there doors..Lorna do you think Irish is just being introduced into northern society??Nah think again..Also Lorna how about the O.O stay in areas where there welcome.Its as simple as that!

lorna in limavady wrote (827 days ago):

Seamus I think you have got it wrong. Jiim there would NOT be vast amounts of money spent on Orange parades if persons would behave towards others in a respectful way. Instead of rioting like spoiled kids let others show their faith. What a waste of money tell me where in the world would you need to speak the Irish language apart from the south and the northern parts of Scotland. Will it be like English studied for gcse and A level. It will be a usless language taught to please SF

Jim in USA wrote (827 days ago):

MARTIN; would you consider money used for policing contentious Orange parades a waste of money.? The Irish language act was an accepted part of the agreement if I remember correctly. The right to march through a Catholic neighborhood ( where they are not wanted ) was not in the agreement. We we are going to talk about wasted money, lets get our priorities right.

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