SF brush up on Irish language skills

Sinn Féin Assembly members and staff are attending a week-long intensive Irish language course in County Tyrone this week to brush on their language skills and focus on political terminology.

"Sinn Féin is committed to developing and promoting the use of our native Irish language in all aspects of life," said East Derry MLA and culture spokesperson, Francie Brolly. "This is why we have invested so much time and energy into improving the Irish language skills of our Assembly team.

"The two governments have failed to live up to their Good Friday Agreement commitments on the Irish language.

"The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages places a responsibility not just in relation to day-to-day dealing with the public, but also in specific areas such as research, education, training and the media.

"It requires, for example, that resources be made available across all the education sectors and that the British Government address the issue of Irish language broadcasting.

"Sinn Féin have brought proposals to the two governments for the promotion of Irish language rights that are based commitments within the Agreement and specifically the need for an Irish language Act and Irish language Commissioner to take these commitments forward."