{"id":25822,"date":"2022-04-12T15:46:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-12T19:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25822"},"modified":"2022-04-13T12:48:31","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T16:48:31","slug":"irish-language-campaigners-walk-out-of-meeting-with-british-minister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25822","title":{"rendered":"Irish Language Campaigners Walk Out Of Meeting With British Minister"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Irish language campaigners cited a lack of confidence in the UK government to deliver on Irish language legislation (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Irish language campaigners said that they walked out of a meeting with UK junior minister Conor Burns on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conradh na Gaeilge met with the Northern Ireland junior minister earlier to discuss UK government plans for legislation on the Irish language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UK Secretary of State Brandon Lewis announced earlier this month that a planned cultural package including new legislation around the Irish language would not be introduced before the Stormont elections in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plans include an Office of Identity and Cultural Expression to promote respect for diversity as well as an Irish Language Commissioner and a commissioner to develop language, arts and literature associated with the Ulster Scots\/Ulster British tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irish language campaigners have accused the UK of reneging on previous commitments to legislate on the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T\u00e1naiste of Conradh na Gaeilge Michaeline Donnelly said that the meeting was already \u201coverdue\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe came to today\u2019s long overdue meeting expecting some formal update on the introduction of Irish language legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe specifically requested a date in the parliamentary timetable at Westminster and unfortunately the minister refused to provide that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had no choice at that stage but to bring the meeting to a close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis British government has had from June 2021 to prepare legislation that was published and pre-agreed in January 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe only delay is a political delay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe made it very clear to Minister Burns that the next time we meet it must be on the basis of the full implementation of language rights, not the denial of rights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conchur O Muadaigh, advocacy manager with Conradh na Gaeilge, said that campaigners now have \u201czero confidence\u201d in the UK government on Irish language rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a government that has circumvented outstanding legislation and public commitments for almost a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe believe they have been deceitful in their attempts to delay this legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFollowing Conor Burns\u2019 refusal to announce a parliamentary date for the introduction of language rights at today\u2019s meeting we told the minister that there was no point in going any further until we have an official date for the Irish Language Act.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A UK government spokesperson told the PA news agency: \u201cThe government is committed to delivering what was carefully negotiated by the parties in New Decade, New Approach, and the legislation we will bring forward will be faithful to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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