Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

Northern Ireland Irish Language Act: Discussion

12:00 pm

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh na baill agus na rannpháirtithe eile atá i láthair don chruinniú seo. Tá deis againn inniu díospóireacht agus comhrá a bheith againn i dtaobh forbairt agus dul chun cinn na Gaeilge. I welcome members to the meeting and also the contributors to today's discussion. It is an opportunity to examine ways by which to develop the Irish language and, in particular, the outstanding issue of the implementation of the Irish Language Act in Northern Ireland. I hope the debate will be engaging. We are joined by a number of guests to discuss the issue. I welcome Ms Linda Ervine of the East Belfast Mission; Mr. Niall Ó Catháin, Glór na nGeal; Ms Janet Muller from POBAL; and Mr. Aodán Mac Póilín, Iontaobhas Ultach. I became more familiar with POBAL recently when I was in Belfast with Ms Muller at the launch of a document. She is very welcome to Dublin. POBAL is the Irish language umbrella organisation in the North. It was established in 1998 during a period of great political, social and economic change. Its work has since focused on advocacy and the issue of community development. It recently launched a document on the 15 years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed, collating personal views of members of the Irish speaking community.

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