23 Apr 2013, 13:01
The Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Joe McHugh TD was in Belfast this morning for the launch of a publication on whether the promises for the language contained in the agreement are being met.
23 April 2013
The publication was launched by Pobal, who advocate for Irish language speakers in Northern Ireland, and comes on the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
Deputy McHugh says: “I was delighted to attend the official launch of this valuable Pobal publication this morning, which reflects a broad range of voices from the Irish language movement in Northern Ireland. The document contains valuable analysis for legislators on both sides of the border. However, there are positives and much of the commentary has alluded to the progress that has been made over the past 15 years. Much of that progress has been at a grass roots level and I believe the key to driving the Irish language agenda will be a bottom up approach at a community level.
“In the St Andrews Agreement, the British government committed to introducing an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and to working with the Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. The Irish Government, through Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD and Minister of State Dinny McGinley TD have had ongoing discussions on the matter with their counterpart in Northern Ireland, Minister Carál Ní Chuilín MLA.”
“Our Committee, for its part, has been deeply engaged with reaching out to communities of both traditions in Northern Ireland at grass roots level. In that spirit, I extended an invitation to Pobal and or any other representative organisation to engage formally with our Committee on their work in pursuit of the democratic aims and objectives of the Irish language signed up to in the Good Friday Agreement.”
Follow this Committee on Facebook.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee:
Deputies Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Peter Fitzpatrick, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Peter Fitzpatrick, Michael P. Kitt, Joe McHugh, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Joe O’Reilly, Brendan Smith and Joanna Tuffy.
Senators Jim D’Arcy, Maurice Cummins, Mary Moran, Mary White.
Chairman: Joe McHugh, TD Vice-Chairman: Joe O'Reilly, TD