Irish language delay 'bad faith'

Irish language legislation is being put out for consultation

An organisation representing Irish speakers in Northern Ireland has criticised the further consultation period on Irish language legislation.

On Tuesday, the government unveiled proposals for an Irish language bill, but said they would be subject to a further 12-week consultation period.

POBAL has described this as an act of "extreme bad faith".

However, the NIO has said consultation would be more meaningful if it was based on actual proposals.

"On Tuesday, the British government smashed the commitment that they made in the St Andrews Agreement," Janet Muller, chief executive of POBAL, said.

"There is now a perception among Irish speakers that the British government never had any intention of enacting legislation for Irish at Westminster."

She said the initial period of consultation on the issue showed respondents were overwhelmingly in favour of legislation.

"The British government must fulfil its commitment in respect of an Irish Language Act and bring the north of Ireland into line with every other part of these islands, where the primary indigenous languages are already under clear legislative protections," she said.

'Consensus'

However, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure said there was a need to build consensus around the form of any future legislation.

"During the course of the (initial) consultation process the view was expressed that it would have been more meaningful if the discussion was based on actual clauses to be included in a draft bill.

"The government sees merit in that suggestion and therefore we are publishing an additional consultation paper seeking views on indicative draft clauses that could be included in an Irish language bill for NI.

"These clauses represent a middle ground approach," the department said.

"The merit of such a middle ground approach is that it has the potential to provide a workable and practical legislative base on which to build consensus."

The plans include the appointment of an Irish language commissioner and the establishment of Irish language schemes for public bodies.

Also mooted are the use of Irish in court proceedings and official documents printed in Irish.

The government has said if the assembly is fully functioning by 26 March it will be a matter for it to take forward any legislation.