The UK government has agreed to introduce an Irish language law in Northern Ireland if Stormont does not do so by the end of September.
Speaking in the early hours of Thursday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “Irish speakers have waited 15 years for basic rights and recognition to be delivered.
“This is important for Irish language speakers and for society in general, as the sharing of power is based on inclusion, respect and equality.
“The Irish and UK governments have an important responsibility to ensure that there is no further delay.”
Arguments over the promised legislation threatened to prevent attempts to resume operations at Stormont.
Sinn Fein had called on the British government to override the heads of the assembly, saying it would not return to power sharing with the DUP without a firm commitment to the legislation.
The DUP had indicated that it would not commit to a specific timetable.
Ms McDonald said: “We have told the UK government that this is the only viable option to secure these rights as the DUP is unwilling and unable to deliver on its commitments.
“It is deeply regrettable that the DUP has chosen to block rights in this way for so long.
“Tonight we got over it all.”
As a result, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said the DUP and Sinn Fein had agreed to appoint first and deputy prime ministers “at the earliest opportunity”.
He said he was “disappointed” that the Irish language legislation had not already been presented to the Assembly, saying it “rightly reflected the need to respect the freedom of everyone in Northern Ireland. assert and express its national and cultural identity “.
DUP leader Edwin Poots, who recently took over from Arlene Foster, is seeking to nominate fellow Conservative Paul Givan as prime minister.
Sinn Fein will appoint Michelle O’Neill as Deputy Prime Minister.
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-06-17 01:19:00
