Northern Ireland

DUP gives commitment to New Decade New Approach after senior party member raises doubts over Irish language legislation

Arlene Foster said earlier this month that Irish language legislation would be brought forward before the end of the assembly mandate
Arlene Foster said earlier this month that Irish language legislation would be brought forward before the end of the assembly mandate Arlene Foster said earlier this month that Irish language legislation would be brought forward before the end of the assembly mandate

THE DUP leadership has said it will uphold the agreement that last year saw devolution restored despite claims by a senior party member that it could renege on commitments to the Irish language.

A statement from the party sought to repair damage caused by unattributed comments which indicated the DUP would thwart Stormont legislation on the Irish language in protest at the Irish Sea border.

Last year's New Decade New Approach deal that led to the restoration of devolution included a commitment to legislation that would give the Irish language official recognition and appoint a commissioner to "recognise, support, protect and enhance the development of the Irish language".

The agreement included similar pledges in relation to Ulster Scots.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said earlier this month that it was intended to bring forward the package of legislation before the end of the assembly mandate next year.

But according to the BBC's Stephen Nolan, a senior DUP source said the party "will not allow an Irish language act, while the NI protocol remains".

The claim sparked anger among nationalists and Irish language campaigners.

Sinn Féin's John O’Dowd said an Irish language Act had been negotiated as part of New Decade New Approach and "must be honoured and delivered by the parties in the executive, and both governments."

“There will be no renegotiation and backsliding on commitments made," he said.

“The rights of the Irish language community cannot be held hostage to the disaster of the Tory DUP Brexit."

SDLP Irish language spokesperson Patsy McGlone said Gaeilgeoirí would "not be victim to DUP intolerance again".

"I was dumbfounded listening to media speculation that the party may now be preparing to block Irish language legislation in some deeply misguided attempt to damage the Brexit protocol," he said.

"The protocol is an international agreement between the British government and the European Union – it has absolutely nothing to do with Irish language speakers in the north."

Pepole Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said any attempt by the DUP to "hold Irish language rights for ransom" would be a "shameful attack on Gaeilgeoirí".

Conradh na Gaeilge advocacy manager Conchúr Ó Muadaigh said the Irish language legislation was a "cornerstone component of the New Decade New Approach agreement".

"Any attempt to continue to block the agreed language legislation in the New Decade New Approach agreement would lead to a new crisis of public confidence in the capacity of the institutions to finally deliver language rights," he said.

The DUP statement early yesterday afternoon said the party was "committed to the balanced upholding of all aspects of the devolution settlement".

"Each strand can only fully function when the others are working properly – they are all interdependent," it said.

The statement said there had been "the erection of barriers between GB and NI on trade" and "blatant disrespect for the unionist identity".

However, it said the party "remain[ed] committed to New Decade New Approach".

"All of these issues must be addressed and resolved along with the NDNA commitments if we are to achieve stability for Northern Ireland," the statement said.

"The way forward is through dialogue and political discussion."