Irish campaigners warn against '˜paper exercise' over language act

DUP MLA Edwin Poots addressed a gathering in Glenties, Co Donegal in Irish

Any plans to introduce legislative protection for the Irish language will be 'merely a paper exercise' unless measures such as bilingual road signs, a public sector quota for Irish speakers and an Irish language commissioner are addressed.

That was the claim made yesterday by Irish language group Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League), after DUP MLA Edwin Poots addressed a gathering in Co Donegal in Irish.

The Lagan Valley MLA was speaking during a discussion on north-south relationships at MacGill Summer School in Glenties, where he accused Sinn Fein of being “reckless” in its ongoing demand for an Irish language act.

Mr Poots’s decision to address the gathering in Irish has been welcomed by Conradh na Gaeilge, who viewed it as a symbolic gesture which could help “break down barriers” and pave the way for legislation to protect the Irish language.

But the group has also urged the DUP to reconsider its position, after Mr Poots spelt out his opposition to bilingual road signs, a quota for Irish language speakers in the civil service and an Irish language commissioner with powers to sanction public authorities.

The introduction of an Irish language act is a major stumbling block in efforts to restore power-sharing at Stormont, and remains a key demand of Sinn Fein.

Mr Poots branded the republican party “reckless” for putting a proposed Irish language act above setting a budget, health reform and Brexit planning.