[lg policy] Ireland: Conradh na Gaeilge to challenge Stormont over Irish language

[Harold Schiffman]

 [image: Conradh na Gaeilge to challenge Stormont over Irish language] Conradh
na Gaeilge was granted High Court leave to seek a judicial review amid
claims the administration is in breach of a statutory duty
Staff Reporter
31 May, 2016 21:00

A CAMPAIGN group has secured the legal right to challenge the Stormont
Executive's alleged failure to implement an Irish language strategy.

Conradh na Gaeilge was granted High Court leave to seek a judicial review
amid claims the administration is in breach of a statutory duty.

The organisation wants a judge to make an order for the Executive to adopt
a blueprint for enhancing and protecting the language's development.

A 20-year strategy for Irish was published last year following consultation
by former Culture Minister Carál ní Chuilín.

According to Conradh na Gaeilge's case the failure to implement a plan
covering the period 2015-2035 represents an unlawful failure to comply with
the 1998 Northern Ireland Act.

Lawyers for the body also contend that the government is committed to
implementing a European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

In court on Tuesday Karen Quinlivan QC, for Conradh na Gaeilge, revealed
that the respondents have conceded an arguable case has been established.

"The essential issue is that there's no strategy," she added.

Tony McGleenan QC, for the Executive, said he needed time to consult with
officials on additional grounds of challenge.

Granting leave to apply for a judicial review, Mr Justice Colton listed the
case for an update in September.

Outside court Conradh na Gaeilge's general secretary, Julian de Spainn,
urged the Executive to implement the strategy rather than prolonging the
legal action.

"All they have to do is comply with the law," he said.

Mr de Spainn stressed that Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that
doesn't have legislative protection for a minority language.

He added: "This strategy is not about forcing anybody to use Irish, it's to
help the development and provide support for those who wish to use it."


http://www.irishnews.com/news/2016/06/01/news/irish-language-group-to-challenge-stormont-over-irish-language-policy-541220/

-- 
**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its
members
and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or
sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who
disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write
directly to the original sender of any offensive message.  A copy of this
may be forwarded to this list as well.  (H. Schiffman, Moderator)

For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to
https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/
listinfo/lgpolicy-list
*******************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lgpolicy-list/attachments/20160601/3ee8e3e2/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________
This message came to you by way of the lgpolicy-list mailing list
lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu
To manage your subscription unsubscribe, or arrange digest format: https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/lgpolicy-list