SDLP Foyleside Councillor Mary Durkan
She insisted that delivery of the commitments within the current Assembly mandate is crucial.
Said Cllr Durkan said, “For over 20 years now, Stormont has repeatedly failed our Irish speaking community.
“The language commitments in Good Friday Agreement were never delivered.
“The commitments in St Andrew’s Agreement were never pursued, and no action followed a Court ruling 10 years later.
“The commitments in New Decade, New Approach fall short of those in previous agreements. Nonetheless, that promised package of legislation must be brought forward as an essential step in the right direction, especially in the wider context of UN guidance on minority languages.“
Miss Durkan continued, “New Decade New Approach included provision for tabling an Irish language Strategy and relevant legislation within 3 months.
“We are now 15 months down the line, and we have less than 15 months of this Assembly mandate left.
“Even allowing for some slippage because of the pandemic, there is still no reason for stalling on language
legislation now.
“As Seachtain na Gaeilge comes to a close, we reflect on the growing opportunities associated with Irish on a variety of levels.
“The Irish language community in Derry and Strabane and across the North is continuing to grow, in spite of lack of progress with the legislation.
“This year we have seen over 7,000 enrolments for Irish-medium education.
“It isfrustrating that Irish seems to be talked about a lot around elections, yet we see no action
under successive Executives.”
Miss Durkan concluded, “There is no justification for the fact that Irish speakers in the North do not have the same protection and respect for rights as those afforded in respect of other languages in other jurisdictions. Protection of Irish, or any language, should not be seen as a threat to anyone.”
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