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(Seo alt ónár bhfoireann Gaeltachta. Is féidir an bunleagan as Gaeilge a léamh anseo.)
THE Irish Language Commissioner in the north believes that efforts by a small number of people to describe the promotion of the language as divisive will not succeed.
This was stated in a statement from the Irish Language Commissioner’s office which was issued after the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, laid an order before the British Parliament this evening which legally commenced the operation of the Irish Language Commissioner’s powers in the north.
As a result, the Irish language in the north finally has legal status under the Identity and Language Act.
Secretary of State Benn gave an overview of the timeline relating to the progress of the Irish language in a written statement which he made available on the Westminster website this evening.
“The New Era New Approach agreement agreed in 2020 to bring back the Northern Ireland Executive after three years included an agreed framework to take forward commitments on identity and language,” the Secretary of State said.
“The Identity and Language Act received Royal Assent in December 2022.”
In the statement, the Secretary of State welcomed the decision of the Northern Ireland Executive in October 2025 to appoint Pól Deeds as Irish Language Commissioner, along with a commissioner for the Ulster and British Scots Tradition and a director of the office.
A statement from the Office of the Irish Language Commissioner, Pól Deeds, described the coming into force of ‘most of the other provisions of the Identity and Language (NI) Act 2022′ as a ‘very positive development’.
“The main purpose of the Act – which is to grant official recognition to the Irish language, particularly through the role of the Irish Language Commissioner – is now fully operational.”
“This will enhance the Commissioner’s ability to continue his programme of consultation and dialogue.”
The Commissioner indicated in the statement that he intended to demonstrate respect for all cultures in his approach as he has done so far.
“He will not allow himself to be distracted by the efforts of a small number of people in recent weeks and months to portray the promotion of the Irish language as divisive or to campaign against the Office of the Irish Language Commissioner,” the statement said.
“Some of these efforts appear to be aimed at opposing the implementation of the Identity and Language Act as it relates to the Irish language.
“They will not succeed.”
The word historic has often been used in relation to the Irish language in the north in recent years and the President of Conradh na Gaeilge, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, took it to his statement welcoming the development.
“There is no doubt that this is another historic milestone and provisions have been introduced today that formally recognise the status of the Irish language in the north in law,” he said.
“For the first time ever, official and legal recognition of the Irish language is in force in law.
“This is all a result of the action and campaigning of the Irish language community who have always demanded rights, equality and justice.
“This is just the beginning.”
Mac Giolla Bhéin particularly welcomed the commencement of the exercise of the powers of the Irish Language Commissioner.
“These provisions empower the Commissioner to develop and publish standards of good practice for the Irish language.
“These standards will be implemented by each of the more than 100 public authorities in the north in the future.”
This news came today as two court cases were being heard in Belfast by Conradh na Gaeilge. In one case, the Judge indicated that he would consider a challenge brought by unionist activist Jamie Bryson to the decision of Sinn Féin Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to order that bilingual signs including Irish be included in the central Belfast transport station, Grand Central Station.
In the other case, lawyers for the DUP Community Minister, Gordon Lyons, were to make arguments about his reasons for delaying the submission of an Irish language strategy to the Executive. This is the third time that Conradh na Gaeilge has sought a judicial review of this failure.
In the case of the Grand Central Station, the Irish Language Commissioner considered that it was not controversial to have bilingual signage in the building. He considered that bilingual signage was an example of international best practice.
The Journal’s Gaeltacht initiative is supported by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
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