News Release | 15th July 2019
Celebrating Our Living Languages and making sure speakers are protected and included in legislation
A panel discussion, organised by Conradh na Gaeilge in London, will take place today, Monday 15 July, in Committee Room 5, Westminster, at 7pm to discuss and celebrate our living languages, including potential legislative measures to protect the rights of speakers of Irish in Northern Ireland.
The Panel will include Conor McGinn MP (Labour), Liz Savile-Roberts MP (Plaid Cymru), Senator Niall Ó Donghaile (Sinn Féin), and Dr. Niall Comer (University of Ulster & President of Conradh na Gaeilge) and will be chaired by Paul Maskey MP.
A spokesperson for Conradh na Gaeilge in London said:
“We believe the composition of the panel is reflective of the broad support that exists for an Irish Language Act and we are looking forward to an engaging discussion on Monday. The Act remains one of the key obstacles to political progress in Northern Ireland today, and Conradh na Gaeilge – between its branches in Belfast, Dublin and London – is seeking to actively engage on the topic with politicians from across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and in Westminster.”
Dr. Niall Comer from the University of Ulster and President of Conradh na Gaeilge said:
“I am very much looking forward to taking part in the panel discussion been organised by our branch in London. While the British Government agreed in the St. Andrews Agreement in 2006 to introduce an Irish language Act, which reflected language legislation in Wales and the Republic of Ireland, we still do not have an Act. Conradh na Gaeilge have made comprehensive recommendations over the last number of years for an Act which will protect and promote Irish for all and are based on internationally recognised research. I will outline these recommendations on Monday night and also call for legislation including these recommendations to be introduced in Westminster.”
