LISTEN: Brandon Lewis urged to move on Irish language legislation at Westminster

By Q Radio News/PA

The Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has been urged to immediately move on Irish language legislation at Westminster.

More than 50 Irish language groups gathered in west Belfast this morning to officially launch an open letter to Mr Lewis.

Those in attendance included Linda Ervine representing Turas based in east Belfast.

Padraig O Tiarnaigh, spokesperson for the An Dream Dearg campaign for an Irish language Act, spoke to Q Radio, he said: 

“The Secretary of State gave a very clear and ambiguous commitment in June of this year that if Stormont failed to implement an Irish Language Act by September, the British Government would do it in Westminister by October.

“We're now in the middle of November and to date no Irish Language Act has been moved.” 

The Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has been urged to immediately move on Irish language legislation at Westminsterhttps://t.co/BW0qrNB5jC

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) November 16, 2021

The call comes after the Government pledged to press ahead with legislating for Irish language protections at Westminster after failed attempts at Stormont, with Mr Lewis saying the move would come at some point in October.

The Government previously faced calls from the DUP not to press ahead with the legislation while unionist concerns about Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol remain unaddressed.

The Stormont parties were unable to agree to introduce the legislation in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Last month, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill said she had expected Irish language legislation to be introduced into parliament “within days”.

In the letter to Mr Lewis, the groups point out that over 20 years ago in the Belfast Agreement, and in the 2006 St Andrew’s Agreement, a commitment was made to take action to promote and protect the Irish language.

Language legislation was also promised in the New Decade New Approach deal in January 2020.

The letter adds: “All deadlines to date have passed, and still we wait. Community confidence is now incredibly low.

“The days of Irish speakers being treated as second class citizens here are now over.

“Today, we request an urgent meeting with you, as Secretary of State, regarding your plans to implement Irish language legislation.

“Above all else, we call on the British Government to immediately move this legislation at Westminster without any further delay.

“Rights delayed are rights denied.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “It is disappointing that the Executive has not progressed legislation to deliver the balanced identity, language and culture package as agreed in the New Decade, New Approach agreement. This legislation will recognise Northern Ireland’s rich diversity.

“In the absence of progress on this matter, the UK Government is taking the necessary steps to introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.”

(Spokesperson Padraig O Tiarnaigh)