Irish language campaigners walk out of meeting with NIO minister

Irish language campaigners said that they walked out of a meeting with UK junior minister Conor Burns on Tuesday.

Conradh na Gaeilge met with the Northern Ireland junior minister Conor Burns earlier to discuss UK Government plans for legislation on the Irish language.

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.

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.

Irish language campaigners have accused the UK of reneging on previous commitments to legislate on the issue.

Tanaiste of Conradh na Gaeilge Michaeline Donnelly said that the meeting was already “overdue”.

“There is no point in going any further until we have a Westminster Parliament date for Irish Language Act”@CnaG end meeting with @ConorBurnsUK after continued refusal to provide specific Parliamentary Timetable for Irish language legislation

In full: https://t.co/srF5ZI7csl pic.twitter.com/ja1XwSzvQ6

— Conradh na Gaeilge (@CnaG) April 12, 2022