Five parties ask UK and ROI for Irish Language Act timetable

Five political parties in Northern Ireland have lent their support to an Irish language rights group, which has written to the British and Irish governments today (Tuesday).

Conradh na Gaeilge's statement has been signed by the leaders of the Alliance Party, the Green Party, People Before Profit, the SDLP and Sinn Féin.

A sticking point

The letter calls on the Executive to urgently agree and publish a timetable, to ensure Irish language legislation is brought in before the current mandate expires.

This was promised in the New Decade New Approach deal which was struck to get parties back to power-sharing after a three-year stalemate.

However, it has become a sticking point once more, because of a reshuffle within the DUP.

Arlene Foster's resignation as First Minister yesterday heralded the start of a seven day period, during which Sinn Fein must nominate a Deputy First Minster willing to enter joint office with the incoming First Minister, Paul Givan MLA.

Sinn Fein has made it clear that the party will not wish to do this, unless the DUP fulfills promises made by signing off on a laws which protect the rights of Irish speakers in NI.

The DUP says the party does remain committed to the New Decade, New Approach agreement, and wants to see it implemented in all its parts.

The letter

Dr Niall Comer, President, Conradh na Gaeilge, said the cross-party letter represents a majority of parties and MLAs in favour of implementing the Irish language legislation, and therefore the UK and ROI should intervene of the DUP does not move on the issue.

"The letter calls for a new timeline to be agreed ensuring this legislation is on the statute books before the end of this mandate. For that to happen, the process must begin immediately.

"New Decade New Approach ensured the accompanying language legislation was time-bound to 100 days. That deadline was missed. The letter and spirit of the agreement was to ensure the legislation was in place before the upcoming election.

"To delay, frustrate or deny that legislation would in practice be to renege on the agreement. Any efforts to do so must be resisted. If the DUP cannot bring themselves to honour their own agreements in a reasonable and modest timeframe within this mandate, then both Governments, as co-guarantors and co-authors of the agreement, must step in and convene dialogue focused on producing an agreed timetable. The only party in the Executive standing in the way of progress is the DUP.

"The legislation has been agreed and published. The preparatory work within the Executive Office has been completed. This is ready to go. There is no legitimate or reasonable excuse for this delay. The issue of Irish language rights is now an immediate litmus test for the DUP.”