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Irish language group seeks meeting with Sinn Féin and SDLP

File picture of director of Pobal, Janet Muller. Picture by Hugh Russell
File picture of director of Pobal, Janet Muller. Picture by Hugh Russell File picture of director of Pobal, Janet Muller. Picture by Hugh Russell

IRISH language advocacy group Pobal has asked to meet the two main nationalist parties over the Irish language act.

A draft Irish language bill had been discussed for several years. Director of Pobal, Janet Muller, said it was disappointed the executive rejected the draft bill earlier this month.

The group has now written to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams and the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood to ask them to discuss their strategies for the language.

"As is well known, Pobal has been to the forefront at community level on these two issues for many years," she said.

"We welcome the few statements that the parties have made on this matter up to now, but it seems surprising that there has not been more publicity carried out to ensure that the public is aware of these extremely serious matters.

"Ten years ago, the British government promised to enact legislation for Irish.

"In addition, the St Andrew's Act 2006 places a statutory duty on the NI Executive to adopt a strategy for the Irish language. The Executive's actions on March 10 contravenes these duties."

An Irish language act could mean courts can be heard in Irish. It could also lead to the establishment of Gaeltacht areas and the provision of place names in the language.