Irish and Ulster Scots Language Bill becomes law

An Irish and Ulster Scots Language Act has received Royal Assent and is now law.

The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill became law yesterday with a body called the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression to be established

The Act will provide for the appointment of an Irish Language Commissioner, provide for the development of standards of best practice relating to the use of the Irish language by public authorities, and it will require public authorities to have due regard to such standards.

The First and Deputy First Minister must jointly appoint the commissioner so until the executive is up and running it seems that will not happen. An Ulster Scots and Ulster British tradition Commissioner is also to be appointed to promote Ulster Scots.

Speaking after the announcement Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh from An Dream Dearg campaign for Irish language rights said “Today is another historic day on our long-running campaign for language rights and equality here as the Westminster bill becomes a Language Act and officially becomes law.

This significant and historic milestone stems from the pioneering work of the Shaws Road Gaeltacht over 50 years ago, where the seeds of the modern Irish language revival in the north were first planted. From those small beginnings an Irish language community has flourished and grown.

"Today that community has succeeded in bringing legislative change for the Irish language here. That is historic. For years Irish speakers have challenged the state as the language was marginalised and ridiculed. Today we take another step forward on our journey towards comprehensive Irish language rights. But we also have to take stock of where we are on that journey.

This Act is only another milestone, another staging-post. It does not deliver the change we need, nor the change we were promised. Tomorrow the work begins to ensure this Act is fully implemented without any delay, and the campaign to strengthen the legislation remains ongoing.

We now hope to see the appointment of the first Irish Commissioner in the history of the northern state early in the New Year. To all those who walked this path with us, today belongs to you. For all those willing to continue the work we have started, let us walk that path together. Ar aghaidh linn le chéile."