CONRAGH na Gaeilge has called on British Government and Irish Government to fulfil their promises and introduce Irish-language rights based legislation ten years after the St Andrew’s Agreement.
The call comes after a representative for the British Government refused to answer a question regarding Irish-language legislation in the north of Ireland, when asked at a United Nations’ committee last week.
It was at a meeting of the Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), on Wednesday 15 June, that Mr Rodrigo Umprimny questioned the British Government on their role and responsibility regarding protection of Irish-language rights in the north.
In his question, My Uprimny also brought to the attention of the British Government and the Committee (CESCR) that there is no legislative protection for the Irish-language in the north of Ireland, despite recommendations previously made in CESCR’s international reports.
As the British Government discussed and answered other questions put to them at the same CESCR meeting, they ignored all reference to the specific Irish-language based questions asked of them.
Niall Comer, Tánaiste of Conradh na Gaeilge said: “It is a reason for great disappointment for the Irish speaking community in the north that we cannot even get an answer to the ongoing failure by the British Government towards the Irish-language and the Irish-speaking community in the north.
“The fact that these important questions were ignored displays a total lack of respect to both the language and it’s speakers.”
Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, Advocacy Manager, Conradh na Gaeilge said: “As far back as 2009 CESCR have been recommending, at an international level, that the British Government realise their legislative duties and introduce an Irish-Language Act.
It is a reason of great frustration and worry that there has been little to no progression since then.
“The introduction of Irish-language legislation is a central part of the 2006 St. Andrew’s Agreement.
“Ten years down the line and the Irish-language community are still calling for their basic human rights.
“Both the British Government and the Irish Government, as joint-signatories of the St. Andrew’s Agreement, have a central role and a legislative duty to fulfil their commitments in this instance. Conradh an Gaeilge call upon both Governments to be fully accountable and responsible for the commitments they have given and legislate and Irish-language Act in the north.”
Conradh na Gaeilge are calling upon both the British and Irish Governments, as joint-signatories of the St. Andrew’s Agreement, to fulfil their role in introducing Irish-language legislation in the north, as was agreed and promised ten year ago.
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