Conradh na Gaeilge informs public about election candidates’ stance on Irish language through #GaelVóta - candidates & parties can still pledge support
Information on every political party and each election candidate officially supporting the three main Irish-language commitments has been published on Conradh na Gaeilge’s website at www.cnag.ie/gaelvota as part of the #GaelVóta campaign, but candidates and parties still have time to pledge their support for the commitments before the #AE16 election in the north (5 May 2016). Sinn Féin, SDLP, People Before Profit and Cross-Community Labour Alternative officially pledged their support for the commitments as entire parties.
Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill, Uachtarán of Conradh na Gaeilge says:
“Conradh na Gaeilge is asking voters – those that are fluent Irish speakers, those that are learning Irish, or indeed those that support the language in any way – to put these commitments to all the candidates standing for election in their own constituency.”
Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, Advocacy Manager, Conradh na Gaeilge says:
“Each individual candidate that officially supports the commitments has also been referenced in the #GaelVóta campaign, and any party or candidate can contact Conradh na Gaeilge at
#GaelVóta is based on three main Irish-language commitments – stemming from an investment plan and representative measures agreed by over 80 Irish-language and Gaeltacht community groups – and the commitments are as follows:
- An additional investment of £2.6 million in an Irish-language plan to expand the use of Irish and to create new jobs
- A Minister for Communities that is supportive of the Irish language and able to promote the wishes of Irish speakers
- A Minister for Education who supports Irish in the education system and who ensures the continued development of the Irish-medium education sector
Conradh na Gaeilge worked with local community groups throughout the north to organise action forums across the north of Ireland as part of the #GaelVóta campaign, and all candidates were contacted on at least two occasions regarding the Irish-language and Gaeltacht commitments, as per the contact details that were publicly available. The responses of candidates and parties are available at www.cnag.ie/gaelvota.
