The disregard shown by the British government towards the Irish language in its Communications Bill is disheartening. The Bill will determine the future of broadcasting for Celtic languages in Britain and Northern Ireland for the foreseeable future.
That the needs of Scottish Gaelic and Welsh - linguistic cousins of Irish - are both addressed in the legislation is to be welcomed. Both languages boast substantial populations of native speakers and it is right and fitting that the British government should act to preserve these communities. The cultural fabric of both Britain and Europe will be the better for it.
However, it is lamentable that the same concern has not been shown towards Irish in Northern Ireland. By failing to mention Irish language broadcasting in the Bill, the British government has sent out the wrong signal - that the language has no part to play in Northern society. This is unacceptable and inaccurate. The number of gaelscoileanna and other Irish-language organisations testifies to the on-going development of the language in Northern Ireland. That most of these speakers have learned Irish should not disbar them from the benefits of funding, as promised under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
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While nationalist and republican MLAs have raised this topic in the Stormont Assembly, the British would be foolish to conclude it concerns only one political side. Lady Sylvia Hermon, the unionist MP, has also raised the issue in Westminster and in doing so has shown that all who are pro-Agreement have an interest in the subject. Broadcasting may well be a reserved matter for the Westminster parliament but such a narrow interpretation of responsibilities does little to foster the letter and spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. The Department of Foreign Affairs should remind the British government of that.
At the cultural coal-face, the British would do well to heed the Ultach Trust's criticism of the legislation. With integrity it has sought to promote the language on a cross-community basis and well understands the pivotal role this matter has in promoting and sustaining Irish for all the North's citizens. The British government should ensure that those Irish-speakers who wish to make programmes in their language have the financial support to do so. Communication - in all languages - is vital to the well-being of Northern Ireland.