Latest news with #IrishLanguage
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
‘Urgent need' to implement provisions of Official Languages Act
The Irish language community's 'lack of confidence' in the availability of public services in Irish demonstrates the 'urgent need' to implement provisions of the Official Languages Act, An Coimisinéir Teanga has said. Speaking on the publication of his office's annual report for 2024, Séamas Ó Concheanainn said the absence of a mandatory obligation for Government departments and local authorities to provide fundamental services such as passport, public services card or driving licence applications in Irish is 'a significant concern'. The provision of such services for the Irish speaking community is being 'significantly' hindered by the absence of a formal obligation, Mr Ó Concheanainn said. Another factor cited by the Coimisinéir Teanga is a shortage of qualified staff within public bodies who are proficient in Irish. READ MORE The report cites a 'clear and urgent need' for the full implementation of the new language standards system and the 20 per cent provision of recruits with Irish, elements which were described by the Coimisinéir Teanga as 'the two cornerstones' of the State's first national plan for the provision of Irish language services published last October. Mr Ó Concheanainn, whose role is to monitor compliance by the State and its agencies with language legislation, said a formal investigation carried out by his office into the Department of Foreign Affairs found it had 'insufficient staff' available to provide a telephone service in Irish to members of the public who wished to make a passport application through Irish. The office of the Coimisinéir Teanga received a total of 594 complaints from the public in 2024. While this represents a 6.5 per cent drop on the number received in 2023, the report says the nature of the complaints reflects 'extensive gaps' in current public services in Irish. These include a lack of online services in Irish, a lack of public service infrastructure in Gaeltacht areas, the absence of official forms in Irish, and the failure of State bodies to use the correct Irish form of names and surnames. While welcoming last October's publication of the Government's six-year National Plan for Irish Language Public Services as 'commendable', Mr Ó Concheanainn warned 'the significant improvement' that is required will not be achieved 'without a statutory obligation' on public bodies to provide 'the most basic of public services' such as passport and driving licence applications, in Irish. Mr Ó Concheanainn also said 'strategic workforce planning' that incorporates staff with proficiency in Irish will be necessary on a national basis to meet the State's target of 20 per cent of public service recruits being proficient in Irish by 2030. Highlighting the 'positive impact' that implementation of language legislation has had on strengthening language rights, Mr Ó Concheanainn said the prominence of Irish language across diverse media has 'significantly increased'. Section 10A of the Languages Act requires that at least 20 per cent of advertising placed by all public bodies in any given year is in Irish and that at least 5 per cent of their annual advertising budget is spent on Irish language media. Figures released last year by An Coimisinéir Teanga show that in 2023, public bodies placed advertising to the value of €3.8m on Irish-language media. Irish language advertising to the value of €10.4m was also placed on English-language media as a result of this provision. Publication of the 2024 report was welcomed by Minister for the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary. He said it demonstrates the 'significant progress' that has been made to date. While the report 'identifies some gaps in the provision of Irish language public services', Mr Calleary said he was encouraged that much of the work under way by his department will directly address most of these.
Washington Post
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Fans of Irish band Kneecap surround a London court as a band member faces a terror-related charge
LONDON — Fans of the Irish-language hip-hop group Kneecap mobbed sidewalks outside a London court Wednesday as a member of the trio faced a terror-related charge in what he says is a politically motivated effort to silence the band's support for Palestinians before its appearance at the Glastonbury Festival .
Sky News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Kneecap rapper appears in court on terror charge - as protesters gather outside
A member of Irish-language rap group Kneecap has appeared in court in London after being charged with a terror offence - as hundreds of protesters gathered outside. Liam O'Hanna, or Liam Og O hAnnaidh, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year. The charge against the 27-year-old, from Belfast, was brought last month after counter-terror officers assessed a video reported to be from a Kneecap concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, London, on 21 November 2024. O'Hanna arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, as a crowd of fans and supporters gathered with placards and flags outside. During a short appearance, O'Hanna confirmed his name and address, and was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing on 20 August. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told him he must attend court on that day. Kneecap released their first single in 2017 and rose to wider prominence in 2024 following the release of their debut album and award-winning eponymous film - a fictionalised retelling of how the band came together and their fight to save the Irish language. The group are known for their provocative lyrics and merchandise - and have been vocally opposed to Israel's military action in Gaza. O'Hanna performs under the stage name Mo Chara, while O Caireallain is known as Moglai Bap, and O Dochartaigh as DJ Provai. They have built a following for their hedonistic anti-establishment tracks, but their outspoken stance has proved polarising - prompting a surge in streaming for their songs and, at the same time, resulting in several of their gigs being cancelled this year. Last year, they won a discrimination case against the UK government after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was business secretary. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unionist Irish language fears can be addressed - former Welsh first minister
Unionists in Northern Ireland have "legitimate concerns" over the Irish language but they "can be addressed", the former first minister of Wales has said. Mark Drakeford, the Welsh government's language secretary, said political agreement on Irish would be "healing rather than divisive". It comes amid continuing disputes at Stormont over the Irish language, including rows about bilingual signage and its cost. Drakeford, a Welsh speaker who encourages bilingualism in Wales, said unionists have nothing to fear if Irish "is done in a way that is sensitive to their concerns". Speaking to BBC News NI's Sunday Politics programme, he said language should not be used "as a political football". "I think, done the right way, concerns can be addressed," he said. "That's not to say that concerns aren't legitimate." The development of policies in Northern Ireland to promote the Irish language has long been a point of dispute between unionists and Irish nationalists. In Wales, the Welsh language is more widely accepted and is commonly displayed alongside English in public spaces, such as on road markings and street signs. Drakeford, former leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said he was "perfectly comfortable" with having a Welsh and British identity. Asked about unionist concerns over Irish, he said that being "undoubtedly Welsh doesn't diminish your sense of being part of the United Kingdom". But Drakeford said unionists have "legitimate concerns" and are "entirely entitled to make sure that's part of the public debate". Northern Ireland's devolved government is currently recruiting an Irish language commissioner and a commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British tradition. The roles were key parts of language legislation introduced in 2022 by Westminster, which stepped in following a political stalemate at Stormont over the laws. Interviews for the posts are due to take place this month, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday. She added that she and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were committed to making the appointments "as soon as possible". Wales has had a Welsh language commissioner since 2012. Their powers include investigating complaints against public bodies. Efa Gruffudd Jones, who has held the role for more than two years, said that "languages don't need to divide us". "Languages are special things, and people can express themselves differently in different languages," she said. "So I would hope that people can respect other people's languages and ensure that they can enjoy using it." Irish signage has been a key point of contention at Stormont, with parties clashing over proposals to spend £150,000 on bilingual displays at Belfast's Grand Central Station. The plan by the infrastructure minister is being challenged in the courts. At local council level, there have also been disputes over the introduction of dual-language street signs in some neighbourhoods. They have been vandalised more than 300 times in five years. Northern Ireland's 11 local authorities have varying policies on installing dual-language street signs. In Belfast, proposals for a street are considered by a council committee if 15% or more of all occupants surveyed express support. More than 200 have been approved since the policy was introduced a few years ago. Of those approved, the average survey received about 34% of replies in favour, 4% against, 1% no preference, and 61% no response. The figures were obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Belfast councillor Ron McDowell, deputy leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said many unionists felt Irish was being "thrust upon them". "People are vehemently opposed to the Irish dual-language street signs because they see it as a weapon - it's a cultural warfare," he said. "It's being used by nationalist politics for identity politics - to mark territory." Ian Malcolm, from Lurgan in County Armagh, is a Protestant, a unionist and an Irish language teacher. He said that Irish "does not in any way diminish a person's Britishness", but should also not be "forced down anyone's throat". Describing it as a "beautiful, wonderful language", he added: "It tells us so much about who we are, about our history. "I think that everyone can embrace that, without surrendering one inch of your unionism." Irish street sign vandalism cost councils £60,000 NI language law could spell significant change
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Unionist Irish language fears 'can be addressed'
Unionists in Northern Ireland have "legitimate concerns" over the Irish language but they "can be addressed", the former first minister of Wales has Drakeford, the Welsh government's language secretary, said political agreement on Irish would be "healing rather than divisive".It comes amid continuing disputes at Stormont over the Irish language, including rows about bilingual signage and its a Welsh speaker who encourages bilingualism in Wales, said unionists have nothing to fear if Irish "is done in a way that is sensitive to their concerns". Speaking to BBC News NI's Sunday Politics programme, he said language should not be used "as a political football"."I think, done the right way, concerns can be addressed," he said."That's not to say that concerns aren't legitimate."The development of policies in Northern Ireland to promote the Irish language has long been a point of dispute between unionists and Irish Wales, the Welsh language is more widely accepted and is commonly displayed alongside English in public spaces, such as on road markings and street signs. Drakeford, former leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said he was "perfectly comfortable" with having a Welsh and British about unionist concerns over Irish, he said that being "undoubtedly Welsh doesn't diminish your sense of being part of the United Kingdom".But Drakeford said unionists have "legitimate concerns" and are "entirely entitled to make sure that's part of the public debate". 'Languages are special' Northern Ireland's devolved government is currently recruiting an Irish language commissioner and a commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British roles were key parts of language legislation introduced in 2022 by Westminster, which stepped in following a political stalemate at Stormont over the for the posts are due to take place this month, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the Northern Ireland Assembly on added that she and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were committed to making the appointments "as soon as possible".Wales has had a Welsh language commissioner since 2012. Their powers include investigating complaints against public bodies. Efa Gruffudd Jones, who has held the role for more than two years, said that "languages don't need to divide us"."Languages are special things, and people can express themselves differently in different languages," she said."So I would hope that people can respect other people's languages and ensure that they can enjoy using it." Grand Central Station signs Irish signage has been a key point of contention at Stormont, with parties clashing over proposals to spend £150,000 on bilingual displays at Belfast's Grand Central plan by the infrastructure minister is being challenged in the local council level, there have also been disputes over the introduction of dual-language street signs in some have been vandalised more than 300 times in five Ireland's 11 local authorities have varying policies on installing dual-language street Belfast, proposals for a street are considered by a council committee if 15% or more of all occupants surveyed express than 200 have been approved since the policy was introduced a few years those approved, the average survey received about 34% of replies in favour, 4% against, 1% no preference, and 61% no figures were obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Belfast councillor Ron McDowell, deputy leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said many unionists felt Irish was being "thrust upon them"."People are vehemently opposed to the Irish dual-language street signs because they see it as a weapon - it's a cultural warfare," he said."It's being used by nationalist politics for identity politics - to mark territory."Ian Malcolm, from Lurgan in County Armagh, is a Protestant, a unionist and an Irish language said that Irish "does not in any way diminish a person's Britishness", but should also not be "forced down anyone's throat". Describing it as a "beautiful, wonderful language", he added: "It tells us so much about who we are, about our history."I think that everyone can embrace that, without surrendering one inch of your unionism."
