SOS to explore "all options available" to introduce Irish language laws
Northern Ireland's Secretary of State has said it is “vital” a cross-community package agreed in the New Decade New Deal is implemented in full.
It comes as tensions between Sinn Fein and the DUP over legislating for Irish Language potentially threatens the future of devolution.
Speaking yesterday (Tuesday) Brandon Lewis said he would “explore all options available” but did not rule out the UK Government introducing Irish language legislation at Westminster as the deadlock at Stormont continues.
A seven-day countdown was trigger when Arlene Foster officially resigned as First Minister.
The joint nature of the office means a First and Deputy First Minister must be re-nominated by Monday.
However, if one of the parties fails to renominate within the time period a properly functioning executive cannot be formed, and the UK Government assumes a legal responsibility to call a snap Assembly election.
Sinn Fein told the Secretary of State on Monday that “the only way forward'' was to move the Irish Language legislation through Westminster.”
Following meetings with the main parties yesterday (Tuesday), Mr Lewis said the people of NI want a “stable and mature functioning executive.”
He added: “This includes the creation of an Ulster Scots British commissioner, an Irish language commissioner and an office of identity and cultural expression for everybody in Northern Ireland.
“I want to drive real progress on these issues for all of the people of Northern Ireland and I'll continue to engage closely with all parties to that end, exploring all the options available.''
However, the DUP warned the Government against intervening in Stormont affairs to pass Irish language laws in Parliament.
MP Sammy Wilson said: “Following the latest demand from Mary Lou McDonald, the Government must not interfere in devolved issues at the behest of Sinn Fein.''
Sinn Fein has made clear it will only engage in the renomination process if it was accompanied by the commencement of legislating for protections for Irish language speakers.
Irish language laws are an unfulfilled commitment within the 2020 deal that restored power sharing at Stormont.
New DUP leader Edwin Poots has vowed to implement all outstanding aspects of the New Decade, New Approach deal, including Irish language legislation.
However, he has declined to give Sinn Fein an assurance that he will move on the language laws in the current Assembly mandate, a key demand of the republican party, and had insisted there are other priorities the Executive should be focusing on, including the health service and economy.
Following a meeting with Mr Lewis on Monday evening, Mrs McDonald said: “This evening we met with the British government and told them that they need to move the Irish language legislation through Westminster.''
She the party had made efforts to introduce the laws through the Stormont Assembly, but had been told by Edwin Poots that this would not happen in the current mandate.
She added: “This legislation was negotiated a year and a half ago and it is now incumbent on the British and Irish governments to act.
“This is the only way forward to finally resolve this issue.''
On Tuesday MLAs voted in favour of a motion to provide translation services for debates in the Northern Ireland Assembly in Irish and Ulster-Scots.
The motion was passed by 58 votes to 27, with the DUP voting against.
An Ulster Unionist Party amendment, supported by the DUP, requiring that the service be reviewed every six months passed by 44 votes to 41.
The service was provided for under the New Decade New Approach deal that restored power sharing.
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