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Alex Kane column prompts Sinn Féin to reveal Irish language act blueprint

 Caral Ní Chuilin launched a consultation on a draft Irish language act in 2015. Picture by Ann McManus
Caral Ní Chuilin launched a consultation on a draft Irish language act in 2015. Picture by Ann McManus Caral Ní Chuilin launched a consultation on a draft Irish language act in 2015. Picture by Ann McManus

A column in The Irish News has led Sinn Féin to clarify what documents it is using as the basis for negotiations on an Irish language act.

Last Friday's piece by Alex Kane, in which he argued that Sinn Féin was "doing enormous damage to the Irish language", prompted a discussion on social media about what the party had adopted as a blueprint for an acht na Gaeilge.

The discussion included an exchange between the columnist and former Sinn Féin culture minister Carál Ní Chuilín, who launched a consultation on an Irish language act in 2015.

But when pressed on whether the basis for the draft legislation and consultation was informing Sinn Féin's position in the Stormont talks, the North Belfast MLA was unclear.

"I drafted the legislation. Recommendations in public domain," she tweeted after being asked if the draft bill was party policy.

The uncertainty prevailed for several days until yesterday when Sinn Féin confirmed the status of the draft legislation.

"The draft Irish Language Act brought forward for consultation by Caral Ní Chuilin in 2015 is the basis for discussions," a Sinn Féin statement said.

Last night, Mr Kane welcomed the statement.

"Up to that point I had no idea about what Sinn Féin envisaged an Irish language act would look like and it was a little frustrating," he said.

"Now we've been told that the draft legislation is the basis for discussions at least we have some clarity."

Sinn Féin is doing enormous damage to the Irish language