Stormont and 'an Ghaeilge'

Subtle

Sorry for dragging politics into AH, but do people actually care about this Irish language proposal that seems to be stopping things from moving forward in the north...

I know there's bad history when it comes to the Irish language but is it not true that the vast majority of folk nowadays in this country don't speak the bloody language anymore and that isn't really going to change...?

seamus

It's a reasonable request. Irish is a native minority language, just like Welsh or Scots Gaelic, both of which already have their respective language acts. The UK government has signed two different binding agreements requiring that they formally recognise and protect Irish as a minority language - one International, one specifically in relation to power-sharing.

The ask is simply that the DUP allow what has already been agreed, to be implemented. And they're stonewalling on it.

Ultimately it does come down to identity politics - on one side you have Sinn Féin trying to promote Irish culture in Northern Ireland, and on the other you have the DUP actively trying to maintain suppression on Irish culture.

Since there is no social or personal harm which may come from the Irish Language Act, it's obvious that the DUP are the ones being unreasonable, even if it seems like a petty matter in total. But it's one of those "give them an inch" issues - if the DUP refuse to form an assembly over inconsequential issues, how can we ever hope for rational outcomes on the big matters?

If the DUP's racism is allowed to define the basis of any Stormont agreement, then it's pointless having one at all.

Sleepy

Childish cunts continue to be childish cunts on both sides.

Northern Ireland simply isn't capable of governing itself while it has the training wheels of two more established countries attached. They should be either ruled from London or cut off completely as a new state and let deal with the consequences of their stupidity (i.e. either growing up immediately or total economic collapse).

Guy:Incognito

Irish language signs in unionist areas seems needlessly provocative.

Mollyb60

There is a vibrant Gaeltacht in West Belfast. Sinn Fein are representing the desires of their electorate. So yes, people do care about an Irish Language Act.
If the British government can enact a language act in Wales and Scotland, there is no reason why one should not also be put in place in Northern Ireland. Agreement has been made that an Ulster Scots act would also be put forward so there can be no claims of Irish being held in higher esteem than Ulster Scots.

Mollyb60

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Irish language signs in unionist areas seems needlessly provocative.

Where has this been proposed? Hadn't seen this reported anywhere.

Pepefrogok

Mollyb60 wrote: »

Where has this been proposed? Hadn't seen this reported anywhere.

If it doesn't chance stuff like this what does it change? I assume it would be things like street signs/government documents etc having to be bilingual, No?

wes

DUP being unreasonable again. Its just the latest in a long line of excuse from them.

Galwayguy35

I'd guess that Foster was going to go ahead with the deal but she was told it was a non runner by the hardliners in the DUP.

Mary Lou seems a bit out of her depth up there in Belfast, she's not half the negotiator that Adams was.

baylah17

I think the DUP are just using this as a roadblock because they dont want to sign up to an equality agenda that would involve marraige equality, they would prefer to be seen as not giving in to republicans over the Irish Language than to be shown up for being the homophobes they are

McMurphy

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Irish language signs in unionist areas seems needlessly provocative.

I'd agree - thankfully no-one is proposing any such measure.

Neither will Irish be compulsory language in schools - or any other such nonsense the DUP have been peddling.

Like the Welsh and Scots language acts, a majority of people in the north want an indigenous language to be given recognition.

Respect is a 2 way street.

Mollyb60

Pepefrogok wrote: »

If it doesn't chance stuff like this what does it change? I assume it would be things like street signs/government documents etc having to be bilingual, No?

I don't know the details of the acts in Scotland or Wales and I'm not sure what the proposed NI one entails but at the moment bilingual signs are installed in areas where a majority of the residents are in support of a dual-language sign. I can't see this changing with the introduction of an Irish Language Act purely for logistical reasons. With an Irish act and an Ulster Scots act it would mean that every single sign in NI would have to have 3 names on it. One English, one Irish, one Ulster Scots. That is just unworkable. I would assume that the current situation would continue and the signs would only be erected in areas where the residents request it.

And I assume the situation regarding official documents would be similar to what's in the south.
https://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/DOT/eng/Irish_Language_Policy/Irish_Language_Policy.html

So certain documents are provided in both languages, but not all. At the moment (AFAIK) any document can be requested in any format or in Irish or Ulster Scots in NI. So again, not much would change.

I think the bigger aim of the Act is in promotion of the Irish Language, better funding for Irish Language schools and general support of efforts to increase use of the language. With an Ulster Scots act running in tandem with it, I'm not sure how that would affect the cultural status of Unionists in NI.

Mr. CooL ICE

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