Minister backs languages strategy

The minister said the matter of an Irish language act had been dealt with

The culture minister has urged people to accept that a "languages strategy", and not an Irish language act, is the best way forward.

Gregory Campbell told the Assembly that this was the best way to meet the needs of a European charter.

"We need to move away from this issue of standing on ceremony, making a hyper-political point about the non-introduction of the Irish Language Act.

"That matter has been dealt with," he said.

"What we need to do now is move forward in terms of implementing a languages strategy which will meet the demands of the charter."

The European Charter for Regional or Minority languages aims to protect and promote the historical regional or minority languages of Europe.