Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, member of An Dream Dearg spoke to Claire Byrne on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 about the legislation which is being introduced to give official recognition to the Irish language and Ulster Scots.
Ciarán said this legislation has been a 'long time coming', from 2006, in fact when the original commitment was made by the British government as part of the St. Andrew's agreement. The journey to this momentous day has seen many public consultations, continuous power sharing crisis talks and collapsed Stormont but nothing so far has delivered the rights, so far, says Ciarán.
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The legislation being brought in front of the British government to be enacted is 'a 'tribute and testament to the power of the Dream Dearg campaign, says Mac Giolla Bhéin.
Ciarán said An Dream Dearg successfully pushed this issue which was on the very edge into the centre of politics over the last few years but also acknowledges that this legislation is only the beginning of attaining language rights for the expanding Irish language speaking community in the north of Ireland.
Ciarán says currently those who speak Irish have no rights to use the language with the State and the first step An Dream Dearg hope to see is the appointment of a Language Commissioner who will in turn set standards to use the language with public services and public bodies.
Éist leis an Dr. Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh ag caint faoin lá stairiúil ar Adhmhaidin ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta
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Éist le Today with Claire ón Luan go hAoine ar RTÉ Radio 1 ar a 10
