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The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation that the State party adopt an Irish Language Act – British Government Criticised in ICESCR International Report over Irish-Language

UN General Assembly HallConradh na Gaeilge call on British Government and Irish Government to address international obligations to Irish-language Act

The 6th Periodical Report from the Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), which investigates the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (E/C.12/GBR/6), was published yesterday (27 June 2016). As part of the enquiry, the Committee examined the role of the British Government in fulfilling its duties around the implementation of Covenant (ICESCR). Although a representative for the British Government refused to answer the question regarding Irish-language legislation at the CESCR meeting last week (15-16 June 2016), it is clearly stated in the ICESCR Report that the “Committee remains concerned about the lack of effective measures adopted by the State party to promote the use of Irish Language” in the north.

Alongside this, “the Committee reiterates its previous recommendation that the State party adopt an Irish Language Act”, as was clearly stated in the 5th ICESCR Periodical Report from June 2009.

Niall Comer, Tánaiste of Conradh na Gaeilge says:

“Seven years after the previous Report, which specifically recommended that the British Government adopt an Irish-language Act here, we seem to be no further forward. It is obvious that this is now an issue of basic accountability, and it seems that the British Government are refusing to implement the Committee’s recommendations, as well as neglecting their own international commitments to the Covenant. The fact that the ICESCR Committee is even monitoring this is a reason for hope, given that they have clearly identified and recognised, at a global level, that the British Government are failing to fulfil their duties to the Irish-language in the six counties.”

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

“We welcome the recommendations made in the ECESCR Report, stemming from the United Nations, which informs people that the Irish-language people are continuously being discriminated against. As we all know by now, 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."

Mac Giolla Bhéin continues:

“The north of Ireland is the only region on these Islands that does not have protective language-based legislation for the native language; it is high time that this is recognised and amended. Conradh na Gaeilge call on both Governments to become fully accountable to the commitments they have made and to address international obligations to an Irish-language Act."

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, and fulfil all other commitments to international agreements and covenant and to fully adhere to the recommendations made by ICESCR in this significant report.

NOTE FOR THE EDITOR:

The 6th Periodical Report of ICESCR can be accessed at E/C.12/GBR/CO/6E/C.12/GBR/CO/6. Note especially page 12:

Irish Language

  1. The Committee remains concerned about the lack of effective measures adopted by the State party to promote the use of Irish Language in Northern Ireland (art. 15).
  2. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation (E/C.12/GBR/CO/5, para. 37) and recommends that the State party adopt an Irish Language Act.

Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights: Report on the Forty Second and Forty Third Sessions (4-22 May 2009, 2-20 November 2009):

Pages 62-3: “The Committee recommends that the State party, or the devolved administration of Northern Ireland, adopt an Irish Language Act, with a view to preserving and promoting minority languages and cultural heritage, and invites the state party to provide detailed information on the progress made…”

Did you know?

  • According to the 2011 census, 10.6% of the population have some level of proficiency in the Irish language
  • More than 17,000 people have signed up to the Líofa project to learn Irish
  • 54% of people in the north believe that services should be available through Irish for those who wish to use them (Céard é an Scéal? Conradh na Gaeilge, 2015)
  • Interest in Irish and the use of the language is continuously growing, especially amongst young people. For example, over 1 million people have recently listened to the famous celebrity Ed Sheeran singing in Irish.
  • There are more than 5,000 children currently in the Irish-medium education system, with thousands of others learning Irish as a second language in other schools
  • The investment plan proposed above will cater for this growing and developing community through:
    • Providing an comprehensive programme of usage and learning
    • Funding for Irish language centres in towns across the island
    • Providing Gaeltacht scholarships for young people and families
  • *N.B. The additional funding that is needed for the investment plan is €5 million less than the funding made available for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in 2008
  • The investment plan and the additional political structures that we are looking for will help achieve the vision for the Irish language as envisaged by the rebellion generation and will properly commemorate 1916.

 

 

Conradh na Gaeilge

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