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Conradh na Gaeilge To Take Northern Executive to Court Over Failure to Implement Irish-Language Strategy

Feidhmeannas 2016“The Executive has a duty to implement its own programme for government,” says Conradh na Gaeilge

Conradh na Gaeilge’s Coiste Gnó (Executive Committee) is proceeding with a court case against the Northern Executive due to its failure to implement the Irish-Language Strategy 2015-2035.

Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín MLA, launched the Strategy to Enhance and Protect the Development of the Irish Language 2015-2035 on 30 January 2015, and the progress report published a year on demonstrated how the Strategy had developed and illustrated the close partnership fostered between the Department and the Irish-language community in the preceding 12 months. Despite this, however, the Executive has yet to adapt the Irish-Language Strategy, as per its legislative obligations.

Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says:

“The British Government specifically pledged to implement an Irish-Language Strategy in the 2006 St. Andrew’s Agreement, while the current Executive’s Programme for Government 2011-2015 refers to the Strategy under Priority 4 of the Programme 'Building a Strong and Shared Community'. Minister Ní Chuilín undertook a comprehensive consultation with the public on the range and contents of this Strategy upon her appointment to the Department.

“Following a lengthy process, the Strategy to Enhance and Protect the Development of the Irish Language 2015-2035 was published on 30 January 2015 and since then, the Irish-language community has been working closely with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure to realise the objectives of the Strategy. Conradh na Gaeilge therefore finds it unsatisfactory that the Strategy has not yet been accepted by the Executive, despite the progressive steps as outlined above having been taken.”

Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, Advocacy Manager with Conradh na Gaeilge:

“The Irish-language community here is hugely disappointed and frustrated that the Executive hasn’t adapted the Irish-Language Strategy to promote and to protect our language. Conradh na Gaeilge’s Coiste Gnó has decided that the Executive’s inaction warrants a court case to legally oblige them to fulfil their obligations and to implement their own Programme for Government by giving the Irish-speaking community the support they deserve.”

Conradh na Gaeilge is taking legal proceedings against the Northern Executive to see that the Irish-Language Strategy 2015-2035 is implemented, as it is obliged to do under the 2006 St. Andrew’s Agreement and as per the provision of its own current Programme for Government.

Both the Irish-Language Strategy and the DCAL one-year-on progress report for the Strategy are available here: www.dcalni.gov.uk/publications/irish-language-strategy-2015-2035

 

 

Conradh na Gaeilge

6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2.
Phone: +353 (0) 1 475 7401, Fax: +353 (0) 1 475 7844, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.