Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
AFTER MORE THAN 13 months of political stalemate a deal to restore power sharing in Northern Ireland looks as far away as ever, after DUP leader Arlene Foster said today that the Irish language question is keeping Stormont shuttered.
But what exactly is the issue?
The background
When Martin McGuinness stepped down as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in January 2017 after holding the post for nearly 10 years, the failure to introduce legislation on the Irish language was listed as one of the chief reasons he effectively pulled the plug on the Executive.
Since that collapse there have been numerous failed attempts to restore power, as well as an election, a new Northern Ireland secretary and, of course, a new leader of Sinn Féin in the North after the death of McGuinness.
Talks were restarted in recent weeks following the appointment of Karen Bradley as the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
When the British and Irish leaders rolled into town on Monday there appeared to be a strong sense of optimism that the situation would finally getting resolved. However the day came and went without a deal, and today DUP leader Arlene Foster strongly reiterated that her party will not sign off on a standalone Irish language Act, which Sinn Féin has been pushing for for more than a decade.
Language is routinely a flashpoint in Northern Ireland politics, such as when the word ‘Uisce’ appeared on Ballymena manhole covers or when the DUP’s Gregory Campbell was barred from addressing Stormont for a day for mocking Irish and refusing to apologise.
“Curry my yoghurt can coca coalyer,” Campbell famously quipped in an incident which McGuinness said “bordered on racism”.
So what is Sinn Féin looking for?
On the broader language issue, Sinn Féin supports the restoration of Irish as the spoken language of the majority of people in Ireland.
The specific stumbling block in Northern Ireland surrounds the introduction of an Irish language Act (Acht na Gaeilge) which would give Irish equal status with English.
The party is seeking legislation which would allow for:
The party attempted to introduce an Irish language bill in the assembly in 2015 but it did not gain the necessary support to become law.
It’s not just Sinn Féin which backs legislation supporting Irish. The SDLP is also seeking the creation of an act, while the Alliance Party is in favour of a comprehensive act which covers various languages used in Northern Ireland including sign languages.
Pobal, the umbrella organisation for the Irish language community, says the act was promised by the UK government in the St Andrews’ Agreement in 2006.
Irish language activists have been particularly active in the past year with demonstrations being held in Belfast and social media campaigns gaining considerable traction online.
The Unionist stance
The DUP has always opposed an Irish language act, with party leader Arlene Foster previously arguing that there should be a Polish language act instead because more people in Northern Ireland speak Polish than Irish.
In the run-up to last year’s election, speaking about Sinn Féin’s demands she famously told a party event: “If you feed a crocodile it will keep coming back for more.” The former First Minister later said she regretted the comments, which helped to galvanise supporters of Sinn Féin.
Some unionists see the demands for the new law as a tool to be used by Sinn Féin in their quest for a united Ireland, or the latest manoeuvre in the long-running atmosphere of distrust between the two sides.
Last September a poll found that two-thirds of DUP voters oppose an act and less than 50% would support one even if party headquarters agreed to it in a deal to restore devolution.
That same month Foster called for “a new cultural deal” which would address cultural issues such as the Irish language, in a bid to restore the Assembly.
She outlined that Ulster Scots culture, heritage and language needs to be researched and promoted if the Irish language legislation becomes a reality. The move was widely interpreted as the unionist price for supporting a deal regarding Irish.
The call was rejected by Sinn Féin.
In her statement signalling the collapse of talks today Foster said unionists “will not countenance a stand alone or free-standing Irish language act. Sinn Fein’s insistence on a stand alone Irish language act means that we have reached an impasse.”
I respect the Irish language and those who speak it but in a shared society this cannot be a one-way street. Respect for the unionist and British identity has not been reciprocated.
Foster said it now appears that no deal is possible. The UUP also oppose an act with party leader Robin Swann saying it would be “divisive”.
What happens now?
Both the Irish and British governments have expressed strong the desire that power-sharing be reestablished as soon as possible. However the continued failure of the parties to find a solution to the impasse could lead to the reinstatement of direct rule from Westminster.
Foster evoked this prospect in her statement but Sinn Féin has ruled it out with Northern Ireland leader Michelle O’Neill telling RTE News that it is “not an option”.
In November the UK government imposed a budget on the region with then Northern Ireland secretary of state James Brokenshire saying the civil service would have run out of money had he not passed the law.
While Foster said restoring the devolved government remains the DUP’s goal, it is now “incumbent upon Her Majesty’s government to set a budget and start making policy decisions about our schools, hospitals and infrastructure.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
It’s seems common theme this morning. Catherine Murphy td also believed her phones were tapped in concern to to siteserv, irbc.
Smart move considering the attempts by the British army/terrorists and loyalist terrorists to murder Gerry.
This is 100% done by the skum running our political parties. The well known men with the knowledge dirt that make our political filth dance to their tune.
The public enemy (ies) number 1 and we all know who they are. The rot at the core of this country. The filth that needs to be hacked out surgically.
Yes indeed a great little country to do corruption in.
Not really, we aren’t at the races at all re corruption.
Freebet, any proof, or even evidence?
Correct, we’re not at the races. As our elected politicians continue to fix them – and blame the EU, ECB, World Bank etc. for their ineptitude.
Gerry is right to be worried imagine if someone was earwigging while Gerry was chatting to his mi5 handler?
Oh don’t make me laugh. Not at the races when it comes to corruption. Of course we are not at the races , we sit on the fence and let it happen. Look at Moriarty . government and DPP sitting on it for years. Wouldn’t have anything to do with statue of limitations coming this year.
74 days till the statute of limitations runs out in relation to the Moriarty tribunal. Given the findings, the DPP should have moved before now, one way or the other.
Were Jammin – now a legal expert! Go back to your daily propaganda rubbish – you are doing great damage to your masters, SF/IRA.
75 Days before Statute of limitations Runs out on Moriarty Tribunal. (22/3/2016)
This is not propaganda rubbish Ger, it is true, it doesn`t need a legal expert to read and understand it.
Go back to your propaganda rubbish about FG/Liebour/RNU, There s a good chap
bus, I was referring to the expert advising the DPP – and I have never posted about the parties (?) you refer to. keep up, bus m8.
Catherine Murphy will be easy to recognise on the campaign trail, she’ll be the one in the tin foil hat choking on a SIM card.
Seamus government TDs will also be really easy to recognise in the campaign trail, they will be carrying the Irish independent and a picture of dob and have few envelopes under their jackets.
Beat me to it Paddy.
Michael Tsarion on Sinn Fein Part 1 of 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMVk_lC2DUk
There would be something seriously wrong with our national security infrastructure if someone with serious ties to terror organisations was not being monitored.
Right side, British intelligence still taps into all of Irelands fibre optic and phone networks, even though it undermines our sovereignty our government doesn’t seem to care and never raises this serious issue with their British counterparts.
Perhaps. But What about Catherine Murphy? No threat there. And then as Adams mentioned, the Garda stations? It goes across the bored also. FF also have a history of phone tapping.
Ask Kenny and DOB if Catherine is a threat
What have either of them to do with this story? Adams says he believes he is monitored and given his chequered past with regard to terror activities of course the state should monitor him, it is in the best interest of our national security.
Very true. I’d also assume the likes of Daly, Murphy, Wallace and Brenden Ogle for example are being closely monitored. Very sinister for a democracy.
Right side, who was analysing and using data harvested from the Garda phone taps.
Both of them are mentioned in the story.
“I’d also assume”…….
OK Mr Rightside leaving aside the dimension to Gerry Adams that you highlight, there is also the consideration that private communications between citizens and their elected representative being monitored by state security services (internal and external) and private actors. In the UK the Wilson Doctrine (has been undermined and Cameron has had to re-assure MP’s that their private correspondence are not being tapped). Don’t the Irish people have a fair expectation that any communication (critical or supplicatory) be protected.
Andrew, “I’d also assume ” you could be wrong.
What sovereignty, Phil? Might I remind you of Lisbon 1 and 2, and in particular, The Fiscal Compact Treaty. Following the passage of these referenda our ‘sovereignty’ is a mere myth.
Rashers, the EU don’t seem to interested that one of its members is spying on their neighbour a fellow member. Germany wasn’t to happy when they discovered the Americans spying on them.
…just to add, them referendum treaties which were held twice are null and void now as the promises made during their campaigns weren’t upheld.
What about Catherine Murphy td ? She is also mentioned in relation to phone tapping and siteserv and irbc.
Leaving aside the personalities involved It is worth asking wether this or precious Governments go along with the Wilson Doctrine that members of parliaments communication with their constituents are protected from tapping by state security services. To say anything other than this is a corruption of the democratic process. I should be able to communicate with my local TD without fear of being intercepted by other state actors. Not state private actors we just have to be vigilant…cough…Voldemort…Usb stick miraculously appearing on desk….cough
Welcome to 1984.
FG must be really rattled.
Why?
The govt are stumbling from one disaster to another but if the polls are to be believed, the people of the country havent woken up to the reality of just how bad this govt is. It will be interesting to see the next poll.
Err Journal where is my comment gone RE the HSE debacle and the floods? – there was no profanity, no slurs or anything to the best of my knowledge there were no rules broken by my post – would you care to elaborate as to why my comment was deleted?
here is the comment i posted ,(or to the best of my recollection)
Fg are rattled because they didn`t call an election in November, before the HSE debacle and the floods, I said at the time that the HSE would only get worse, and the Winter vomiting bug hasn`t reared it`s ugly head yet and it will with almost dreaded certainty, Showing Varadkar to be the useless politician that most of us know he is..
WHY WAS THIS POST REMOVED HUGH??
Seamus bit like SF last year 1 debacle after another… hypocrites blasted the church and rightly so but covered up the abuse going on inside their own ranks!
Sorry i also had that with patients jammed together in close proximity the Winter bug will run rampant.
According to the article Gerry recounts the attorney general and/or the Taoiseach as being afraid that their phones being tapped, which raises the question of who and under what authority does the alleged tapping occur?
Everything is monitored. Once you’ve been flagged by authorities, every interaction you have ever made with your mobile or any internet device is likely to be analyzed and any future interaction could be monitored in real time. That goes for everyone on here as well as TDs trying to speak truth to power.
Id say its fairly obvious that gerrys phone is tapped as it has been in the past. But who is tapping phones in this state?
The man headed up Sinn Fein and the IRA for over 30 years so yeah doubtful he’s going to slip up on the phone
Breaking news: Live long has world exclusive!! Can you post the link please?
Why?
What exclusive? He might as well post a link to Adams’ wikipedia page!
The hill 16 mug on ya
To be fair to Gerry, he’s had to assume that he’s being bugged for all his adult life, why change now!
Poor Gerry. A life long victim, but perhaps he should have listened to his parents when they told him to be careful of the company he keeps.
Just because chooses to use a burner is a far cry from proving their phone is being tapped.
A serious accusation requires serious proof.
I would imagine Enda and Co do this too. It would only make sense. Their positions would make them targets for phone tapping. The News of the World illegal phone tapping of public figures is a classic example. And I would put money down in a bet was only the tip of the iceberg of what goes on with public figures and interference with their personal communications
Tap, protect its citizens???? Yeah, like rural communities are protected from roaming thugs by moving all the gardai to Dublin to protect the Dail, ministers and meter installers, protect homeless citizens by letting them die on the streets, protect kids by removing medical cards, sick citizens being protected by being left on trollies in hospital corridors, citizens in trouble with mortgages being protected by the state legislating so the banks can evict people faster. Yeah Tap, you FG shills are vomit inducing.
This is in reply to that well know FG shill Tap Solny.
I’m sure an ‘independent’ investigation by a former special criminal court judge with a permanent garda close protection detail that is more concerned with leak plugging then investigating the possibility of misuse of phone tapping equipment will show that the state, police and powerful tax exiles are totally innocent…
No sh@t ,we would never have guessed, …There is no one tapping Murphys phone ffs
Oh, right. Well, er, I guess that’s that then. Cheers, Patrick!
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy resorted to using “throwaway” mobile phones at the height of the Siteserv/IBRC saga after independent security experts warned that her and her colleagues’ phones may have been illegally tapped.
Ms Murphy made the revelations as she hit out at the ongoing delays to the State’s investigation into a series of controversial transactions by IBRC, saying if the problems are not overcome, “you can never, ever have another inquiry of this type”.
Ms Murphy said at the height of the Siteserv-IBRC controversy in April that she and her colleagues became concerned their phones and other equipment were under surveillance.
Ms Murphy said that, after taking “prudent” advice “on a range of different things, including our phones” from a number of independent IT and security experts, whom she declined to name, it was decided to resort to drastic measures. https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/siteserv-saga-saw-catherine-murphy-warned-of-tapping-375122.html&ved=0ahUKEwjA3u2dlprKAhVBYQ8KHcFIAL0QFggoMAM&usg=AFQjCNEDucXZNN5hw-xOjv1_5mSMwOQq2Q
Surely if she spoke to an independent security/it expert they would have directed her towards encrypting her messages/calls/email(very easily done) rather than resorting to a burner phone. Currently all carriers require some form of I.D and proof of address to get a new number, if they were being tapped surely they would have the ability to do a check on new numbers for her or her team?
Sounds like she spoke to someone who lives in a faraday cage to stop the signals reading their thoughts…
Phone networks don’t require you to provide them with a name and address.
Desperate times for a very scared and desperate government.
How a Sinn Fein ‘phonetap’ conversation generally goes: “Ya you know our friend who lives over on the east side? Ya, what about him? You won’t have to worry about him anymore boss; we took the jam outta of his doughnut. “
It is the duty of the state to protect its citizens from different types of threats and the use of phone tapping could be very useful.
You should speak to law enforcement and tell them how useful phone tapping could be Tap.
Probably his mobile, phone, email, post and anything else as well???
It is coming up to the elections anyway…
Hopefully our police are doing their jobs.
Can you imagine if he buys a new mobile regularly and then gives it to charity after a while, they be wondering what is he doing lol. I say phone as the sim card can be used to spy on you as can the IMEI number as well as the cell tower I believe? It was shown recently how a mobile that you thought was off could be used to spy on people, all cloak and dagger stuff…
Sure all our phones are being tapped & monitored. Gerry shiuld be well used to it by now.
Yawn, who cares???
have your say