A motion to ban the use of the Irish language in the Northern Ireland Assembly was narrowly defeated by just two votes this week, according to Eurolang.
A member of the Ulster Unionist Party had complained that members of Sinn Fein were using Irish in speeches, and wanted to put a stop to it. Many unionists are apparently uncomfortable with any recognition of the Irish language in Northern Ireland as they fear “Britishness might be undermined”. At the same time, supporters of the language are calling for a law giving language rights.
There are further details in The Irish Times, where a member of Sinn Fein is quoted as saying:
“The issue of language rights, a non-controversial issue in Wales, Scotland, the South of Ireland and throughout Europe, an expression of human rights, has now become a political football in the battle for supremacy between the unionist parties … The determination of unionist politicians to block any recognition of the Irish Language is a misguided and macho demonstration of anti-Irish bigotry.”
Information about the Irish language in Northern Ireland can be found here.