Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the comments of the Democratic Unionist Party leader, Arlene Foster, who stated that she would not support the introduction of an Irish language Act; furthermore, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a commitment to introduce this Act was explicitly stated and agreed in the internationally binding St Andrews Agreement of 2006; and his views on the DUP failing to live up to its obligations on equality, respect and reconciliation. [8928/17]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Voters in the North go to the polls on 2 March. Public confidence in the political institutions has been undermined by the DUP mishandling of the renewable heat incentive scheme scandal and allegations of corruption associated with the scheme. Recently, Arlene Foster said that the DUP will never accede to an Irish language Act. This is a corruption of the principles of the equality pillar enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement. It also violates the commitment explicitly stated and agreed in the internationally binding St. Andrews Agreement of 2006. The Government was at St. Andrews, as was Sinn Féin. Is the interpretation of the Government the same as that of Arlene Foster in respect of the Irish language Act?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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A number of elements of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement have not yet been fully implemented, including the element relating to the Irish language Act. The Government's firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and the successor agreements must be implemented in full. This is reflected in the current programme for partnership Government.

Respect for linguistic diversity and the Irish language remains central to the Good Friday Agreement. Whatever the divergences on policy on the Irish language or indeed any other issue, it is of the utmost importance that all parties to the political process in Northern Ireland must live up to the principles of partnership, equality and mutual respect as well as the goals of reconciliation at the core of the Good Friday Agreement.

An Irish language Act in Northern Ireland to be enacted by the British Government was provided for in the St. Andrews Agreement in 2006. Successive Irish Governments have advocated in favour of an Irish language Act and continue to do so. Regrettably, however, there has been no agreement within the Northern Ireland Executive to take forward what is now a devolved matter.

As part of the outstanding commitments under previous agreements, the question of an Irish language Act for Northern Ireland was discussed on several occasions during the Stormont House negotiations in late 2014. While I and other Irish Government representatives advocated for this commitment being honoured and implemented, regrettably it was not possible to reach agreement for such an explicit undertaking. Nevertheless, in the text of the final Stormont House Agreement, the Irish Government and the British Government, recalling the commitments from previous agreements, endorsed the need for respect for and recognition of the Irish language in Northern Ireland.

The Stormont House Agreement provides for regular review meetings with the participation of the Irish Government, the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive party leaders. At the last two review meetings, most recently before Christmas, I had the opportunity to draw attention to these outstanding commitments, including those relating to the Irish language, and I asked that they remain on the agenda for future review meetings.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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I imagine we would all agree that the remarks made by Ms Foster are highly offensive to Irish speakers. She was also spectacularly wrong when she stated that more people speak Polish than Irish in the Six Counties. According to the last census in the North, a total of 184,898 spoke Irish compared with fewer than 20,000 who spoke Polish. This is being used as a distraction. We hear these fake statistics. Ms Foster was also given political cover by the Secretary of State, Mr. Brokenshire, given his remarks on the need for cross-community support on the matter. It provides political cover but it also effectively gives them a veto in the matter.

People want to know what the Government is going to do. The Irish language is an integral part of people's lives growing up and more and more people are using it. Will the Minister outline the Government's plans in respect of the commitment on the Irish language Act from the St. Andrews Agreement as well as the outstanding commitments from other agreements and how they will be fully implemented?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I reject the comments that are disrespectful of the Irish language and that are, furthermore, inconsistent with the principles of the Good Friday Agreement. However, I welcome the subsequent comments and the clarification from the DUP leader to the effect that those who want to speak the Irish language are entitled to do so.

We must move forward, therefore, on the basis of mutual respect for our respective cultures and traditions. In that regard, respect for linguistic diversity and the Irish language remain central to the Good Friday Agreement. The principles of partnership, equality and mutual respect and the goal of reconciliation are objectives in respect of which everyone in the House is keen to see progress. These are at the core of the Good Friday Agreement and must be upheld by all parties to the political process in Northern Ireland.

I assure the Deputy that I will continue to raise this matter with all those I meet in the context of ensuring all implemented aspects of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements are fully honoured and implemented.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Is the Minister concerned about the fact the Secretary of State, Mr. Brokenshire, is giving political cover on this issue? His remarks are a poke in the eye to Irish speakers.

It is great for Arlene Foster to come out with remarks along the lines that people are entitled to use the Irish language. However, she is the architect of blocking recognition of the language and the British Government is backing her up.

It is a question of doing something about it. Irish speakers are looking for support from the Government and other parties that have signed up to the St. Andrews Agreement. The agreement clearly and explicitly states that an Irish language Act would be enacted, but this has not happened. People want to know why it is not happening. What are we doing about it? Clearly, we are on the side of the people who want to use the language as part of the equality pillar. However, others are opposed to this and their actions and what they have said about the Irish language Act suggest they are opposed to any changes. What can the Government do in this matter?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the leader of the DUP are fully aware of my views, my concerns and concerns across Government on this issue. We will continue to support the Irish language on an all-island basis, including through financial support for the ongoing work and development on the part of Foras na Gaeilge. The Government will also continue to engage fully and highly with the British Government and all the political parties in Northern Ireland to seek the full implementation of all provisions of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Deputy will be aware that language policy is a devolved matter but, as always, the Government is ready to support and assist those parties in the devolved institutions. We look forward to the devolved institutions being fully established at the earliest opportunity following the election. In this regard, I imagine the Deputy and his colleagues will be in a position to play a prominent role and to assist in this regard. Our commitment as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement remains constant in good times and bad.