Irish Language Act

Straight comparisons with Wales are barmy. An NI Language Act under Assembly control would be nothing like

Brian Walker on February 7, 2017, 6:39 pm

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Perhaps Arlene Foster deserves a crumb of sympathy when Nelson McCausland makes claims like this about the cost of Sinn Fein’s version of an Irish Language Act. So, we are talking about an annual cost that can be estimated at around £100m a year. That is £2bn over the next 20 years. Shades of RHI Aaaghh!! But it’s nonsense to think that any such Language Act here would be as extensive or as expensive as the Welsh provision. The comparison …

Fake News and the Assembly Elections

Concubhar on February 7, 2017, 11:50 am

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How does the saying go – fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me! If one positive thing emerged from the 2016 US Presidential Election, it’s the focus on the phenomenon of the influence of Fake News on the electoral process. It’s difficult to assess the level of impact but we’ve heard that #fakenews is already out scoring real news in terms of attracting clicks and the UK MPs believe that democracy itself is under threat. …

The DUP have a point about an Irish Language Act but it’s smaller than they think – and small minded too

Brian Walker on January 29, 2017, 12:25 pm

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The journal.ie have done a useful bit of fact checking over contradictory claims that the St Andrew’s Agreement committed the DUP to “ an Irish Language Act.” Their verdict: VERDICT The DUP’s claim that they never agreed to establish an Irish Language Act as part of St Andrews Agreement is true, as the legislation refers to the British government’s commitment to an Irish Language Act, not the DUP’s. Although they signed up to the St Andrews Agreement, this includes a …

The DUP and the ‘cost’ of the Irish Language Act: Fake News and alternative facts

Concubhar on January 27, 2017, 8:20 am

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A headline atop the latest column from former cultural minister and DUP figure Nelson McCausland made his point clear: £2 billion over 20 years – the real cost of the Irish Language Act Gerry Adams doesn’t want to talk about Nelson McCausland doesn’t want an Irish Language Act because, he claims, the cost could end up dwarfing the RHI debacle. Frankly, I have a suspicion that the DUP are seeking anything which might dwarf the RHI debacle! In his article …

Irish Language Act debate

David McCann on January 17, 2017, 2:42 pm

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This morning on Nolan a debate between Conor Murphy and Edwin Poots continued over the Irish Language Act .@audioBoom Here’s the Edwin Poots interview which is trending across UK on Twitter – let me know what you think . https://t.co/jCcfs3NVmw — Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) January 17, 2017 The provision within the agreement states that However, the DUP’s Edwin Poots says the party never agreed to this; At no point during the St Andrews talks was the issue of an Irish …

Acht na Gaeilge: Ciall cheannaigh….bought sense better than taught sense

Concubhar on February 10, 2015, 10:23 am

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In welcoming the publication of proposals for an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland, it’s important to remember the old Irish sean-fhocal, Ciall cheannaigh níos fearr ná an dá chiall a mhúintear. Roughly translated, sense paid for (by bitter experience) is better than two attempts to teach sense. A pre-publication of the proposals – inspired leaking – in the Irish News this morning gives us a heads up on the main proposals – and these are likely to fuel the fevered …

Spreading the word in the Irish language requires a new beginning

Brian Walker on January 18, 2015, 12:57 pm

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I thought I’d tiptoe into the minefield of the “Irish Language Act”, an area where the massed ranks of persuadables risk getting wasted by the zealots, but here goes. Concubhar is right, there should be a mature discussion. I’m one of those who shrugged off Gregory Campbell’s leaden humour and hoped that most language supporters felt secure enough to do likewise. I can be as mildly irritated by Sinn Fein’s little chants of Irish phrases as I am at one with …

Sinn Féin to the fore for the photo, to the rear of the movement

Concubhar on April 12, 2014, 7:40 pm

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Sinn Féin, with the shamelessness we’ve become accustomed to from Establishment politicians, were to the fore in today’s ‘LáDearg’ parade in Belfast with several aspiring candidates behind a banner proclaiming the party’s support for an Irish Language Act in the north. Shameless because the several thousand protesters who paraded in colourful good form from the Cultúrlann on the Falls Road to the Custom House Square were expressing their anger at decisions in which Sinn Féin members had participated and, indeed, …