SDLP Youth Calls For Language Rights On International Mother Language Day

Today, on International Mother Language Day, SDLP Youth calls for greater and urgent efforts to ensure the recognition and protection of the linguistic and cultural diversity in Northern Ireland.

This day is an important reminder of the strong connection between language use, culture, and identity, and of the need to have legal protection and promotion of cultural and language rights in Northern Ireland. We recognise how languages are important in the preservation of heritage and culture; the protection and preservation of languages, particularly through active promotion, is equally as important to safeguard culture and heritage.

Today, SDLP Youth reiterates its view that a standalone Irish Language Act is essential to ensure the legal protection of the Irish language and its speakers in Northern Ireland, and that the Executive must bring forward legislation and a corresponding strategy to this effect in line with its international obligations.

SDLP Youth had previously welcomed the pledge of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, in June 2021 that the Northern Ireland Office would bring forward the draft Irish language legislation published in conjunction with the 2020 agreement at Westminster, in the event progress was not made at Stormont. Whilst we preferred for this draft legislation to be introduced by the Executive in accordance with its responsibilities outlined in New Decade, New Approach 2020, we believed that if this was not realised by the Executive, it was incumbent upon the British Government to intervene. However, it is with deep regret and concern that the stipulated deadline for the Executive to take action, of October 2021, has since passed and no action has been undertaken by the British Government.

Protecting and promoting the Irish language and the rights of its speakers is paramount and long overdue. Whilst this draft legislation does not represent standalone language legislation, it does provide an important first step towards ensuring a legal rights framework and the implementation of a strategy to facilitate and promote the use of Irish. We therefore call upon the British Government to act, and deliver upon its pledge to introduce the draft Irish Language Bill published alongside the 2020 Agreement.

We affirm our longstanding support for the advancement of legal protection and promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland, and for the recognition and protection of the rights of speakers of the Irish language in accordance with international law and political agreements. Irish speaking citizens have waited long enough for the recognition and protection of their rights, having witnessed multiple pledges and commitments fall by the wayside. They cannot be failed once again.