Irish and Ulster Scots Language Bill becomes law

An Irish and Ulster Scots Language Act has received Royal Assent and is now law. 

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The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill became law yesterday with a body called the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression to be established

The Act will provide for the appointment of an Irish Language Commissioner, provide for the development of standards of best practice relating to the use of the Irish language by public authorities, and it will require public authorities to have due regard to such standards. The First and Deputy First Minister must jointly appoint the comissioner so until the executive is up and running it seems that will not happen. An Ulster Scots and Ulster British tradition Commissioner is also to be appointed to promote Ulster Scots.

Speaking after the announcement Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh from An Dream Dearg campaign for Irish language rights said “Today is another historic day on our long-running campaign for language rights and equality here as the Westminster bill becomes a Language Act and officially becomes law. This significant and historic milestone stems from the pioneering work of the Shaws Road Gaeltacht over 50 years ago, where the seeds of the modern Irish language revival in the north were first planted. From those small beginnings an Irish language community has flourished and grown.

"Today that community has succeeded in bringing legislative change for the Irish language here. That is historic. For years Irish speakers have challenged the state as the language was marginalised and ridiculed. Today we take another step forward on our journey towards comprehensive Irish language rights. But we also have to take stock of where we are on that journey. This Act is only another milestone, another staging-post. It does not deliver the change we need, nor the change we were promised. Tomorrow the work begins to ensure this Act is fully implemented without any delay, and the campaign to strengthen the legislation remains ongoing. We now hope to see the appointment of the first Irish Commissioner in the history of the northern state early in the New Year. To all those who walked this path with us, today belongs to you. For all those willing to continue the work we have started, let us walk that path together. Ar aghaidh linn le chéile."

Check out the Bill at publications.parliament.uk

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Aontú an Rí faighte ag Acht Teangacha don Ghaeilge ó thuaidh

Dúirt Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, urlabhra ó An Dream Dearg “Is lá stairiúil eile é seo do phobal na Gaeilge go bhfuil an bille anois ina Acht oifigiúil agus curtha sa dlí ón lá inniu ar aghaidh. Is toradh é seo ar ghluaiseacht pobail a thosaigh le ceannródaithe misniúla Bhóthar Seoighe breis agus 50 bliain ó shin. Ón tréimhse chlaochlaitheach sin amach tá muid ar aistear athbheochana teanga agus ar turas teanga a d’athraigh an domhan s’againn ó bhun. Le blianta anuas tá pobal na Gaeilge ag dul chun sráide le dúshlán an stáit anseo a thabhairt ar cheist na Gaeilge, stát a rinne imeallú agus cos ar bolg ar ár dteanga dhúcháis le fada fada an lá. Inniu, d’éirigh le pobal na Gaeilge céim a ghlacadh chun tosaigh i dtreo chearta teanga cuimsitheacha. Ach ná bíodh aon dallamullóg orainn, níl san acht nua seo ach clochmhíle eile ar an aistear mór sin. Níl aon cheann scríbe bainte amach againn, agus tosaíonn an obair ollmhór forálacha an Achta seo a chur i bhfeidhm agus Coimisinéir Gaeilge a cheapadh, agus beidh muid ag teacht ar ais arís agus arís eile leis na dlithe nua seo a láidriú agus a neartú. Ar aghaidh linn le chéile. Do na Gaeil uilig a shiúil an ród mór, is libhse bua an lae inniu. Agus do na Gaeil uilig atá réidh don chéad chéim eile san aistear sin, siúlfaidh muid é sin le chéile.”