W2B-001 Cultural issues-0.txt
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P&/ol O Muir&/i

A report on the Irish language published last month by the Committee on the Administration of Justice is the latest to argue that the right to speak Irish should be a civil one, not a government favour.

The CAJ calls upon the British government to sign the European Charter for Regional or Minority Language and adopt a more positive policy towards the Irish language, "as it has toward the two other living Celtic languages in the United Kingdom, Welsh and Scots Gaelic". The charter, adopted in June 1992 by a substantial majority of the ministers'deputies of the Council of Europe, offers a bill of rights for speakers of minority and regional languages.

The report's conclusion is measured, intelligent and reasonable, and contains much which Irish speakers would support. Yet it is very unlikely the government will implement even a fraction of the recommendations.

The charter, says the CAJ, guarantees the right to use minority languages in the public sphere - in schools, in courts, in dealings with administrative authorities and public services, and in economic and social life. It reflects the latest thinking in the international human rights community on linguistic rights, as a facet of minority rights. And its "proactive" approach is a useful tool for the Irish language community in pressing for government support.

"The history of discrimination faced by the Irish language merits and appropriate response from the government. The European Charter provides a mechanism for beginning to redress the complaints of Irish language activists. It would also keep the British government in step with its European partners," the report says.

Yet this government is not much bothered about keeping in step with Europe. Its attitude remains to do as little as possible, as seldom as possible. It has still to rescind the Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which prohibits erection of Irish street signs - and is in no rush to do even that.

The Northern Ireland Office stresses its support for Irish-language education. But practitioners retail countless stories of prevarication and uninterest from government bodies, who seem intent on moving the goalposts whenever possible.

Failure to sign the charter would be another example of this indifference - an indifference shared by the Dublin government, which has also yet to sign up. To accept even some paragraphs would, however, be a worthwhile start, proving just how seriously Stormont regards its duty to the Irish language.
