 |
Our Scotland - www.our-scotland.org
Scottish Politics Discussion Forum / Messageboard - Dedicated to online discussion about Scottish Politics and an Independent Scotland, as well as Scottish Society today. We also have a section dedicated to Banter, Sport and Recommended Sites.
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Abieuan
'Our Scotland' = 2nd Job!
Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 479
Location: Carrick
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject: Language Act for N.Ireland |
 |
|
http://www.eurolang.net/index.php...;id=2562&Itemid=1&lang=en
| Quote: | Irish language NGO Pobal call for Irish Language Act
Bruxelles - Brussel, Friday, 17 March 2006 by Davyth Hicks
Delegates from the Irish language NGO Pobal flew to Brussels last week to campaign for an Irish language act for the north of Ireland. The large delegation met with MEPs from Ireland, Catalonia, Malta, Hungary and Wales.
Pobal are proposing a strong, rights based Irish Language Act that would clarify and strengthen the rights of Irish speakers to a range of Irish language services in areas such as education, the courts and employment. POBAL engaged the Irish speaking community in a comprehensive process of consultations starting in 2004.
In a press release Janet Muller, Chief Executive POBAL, said, "Our document, ‘The Irish Language Act for NI’ is set to revolutionise the debate around the needs of the Irish speaking community. At the moment, there are no domestic legal protections for the Irish language.
"The north of Ireland is the only place in these islands where the primary indigenous language is in this position. In Wales, the Welsh language has been protected under the Welsh Language Act since 1993. In Scotland, the Gàidhlig language has been subject to some measures, in the field of broadcasting, for instance, for many years. Last year, a new Gàidhlig Bill was enacted to increase this protection.
"In the south, the Irish language is under constitutional protection, and in 2003, the Official Languages Act was brought in. Irish is also recognised as an official language in Europe. The Irish Language Act for NI would set right a situation that is unfair and unequal. It would make it easier for civil servants to know what their responsibilities are and it would help Irish speakers understand their entitlements.’"
Also, Janet Muller pointed out that the relatively weak implementation of the provisions of the the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages by the UK Government on behalf of Irish underlined the need for new legislation.
Speaking to MEPs, Dr Pádraig Ó Laighin, veteran of the Stadas campaign, highlighted future problems with Irish usage in the EU institutions despite it being given full working status. He referred to a statement received from a European Parliament press officer which states that Irish usage will still face certain restrictions. Firstly, where Irish will have a partial derogation, know as the ‘Maltese derogation’, whereby only key legislation will be translated into Irish, this being reviewed after four years. Secondly, when Irish MEPs use Irish in debates translation will be from Irish to English only.
Pobal won the support of international experts in law and language rights who helped draft the proposal, such as Rob Dunbar, Wilson McLeod, Ferdinand de Varennes and Colin Williams, as well as Dr Maurice Hayes the former Northern Ireland Ombudsman.
The proposed legislation draws on previous experience and best practice from other language acts and features innovative proposals such as having a government appointed language commissioner to ensure linguistic rights.
The campaign was launched in February, and the book with the draft proposal for an act is available at no charge from the Pobal website. The publication features an article by Professor Colin Williams ‘Indigenous language rights and legislation’ - essential reading for all those working towards regenerating their languages. (Eurolang 2006)
Pobal website www.pobal.org
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Aventinian
'Our Scotland' Fossil
Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Posts: 4210
Location: Broadcasting From An Anonymous Location Within the United Kingdom.
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
I don't believe it should get any more protection than Punjabi, Arabic or any other minority languages used in the UK.
_________________
The resident pantomime villain.
'Socialists cry "Power to the people", and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean—power over people, power to the State.' |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cymro
I need ma own bl**dy forum!
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 1379
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Seems very interesting. I suppose its one of those areas (well for me atleast) that get forgot when you think of the celtic languages and their need of protection. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
azzuri
'Our Scotland' Fossil
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Posts: 3776
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Aventinian wrote: | | I don't believe it should get any more protection than Punjabi, Arabic or any other minority languages used in the UK. |
Why? - If it's been historically used there then it's as important to the area as the listed buildings, castles etc.
_________________
"Every single person on this planet is unique. Just like everyone else..." - Random Guy in Edinburgh Pub
Possibly the funniest site in the world, 'The Daily Mash' - http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Neil
This is Ma' Life!
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 697
Location: Glasgow
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Because Gaelic is a protected language Ulster Scots is also a protected language. Personally as a scot I am perfectly happy speaking English - language should be something to unite us not to divide us.
_________________
The aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
H. L. Mencken |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Abieuan
'Our Scotland' = 2nd Job!
Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 479
Location: Carrick
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: | | Personally as a scot I am perfectly happy speaking English - language should be something to unite us not to divide us. |
Right Neil, we should learn Gàidhlig at school and then have the choice to use whichever we chose.
I'm not happy at all at only being able to speak English. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cymro
I need ma own bl**dy forum!
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 1379
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
We should remember that we are currently in charge of some of the oldest languages in Europe. I think Basque is the oldest living European language. It's our responsibility are citizens of Wales / Scotland / Ireland / Cornwall / Isle of Mann / Britanny to ensure that we arent the generation that over saw the demise of our historic languages.
They wont survive unless we take responsibility for them, and allow them to become spoken languages again. [/i] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Babygael
Collecting my 'Our Scotland' Pension!
Joined: 08 Apr 2006
Posts: 2352
Location: Bajan land
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm with Abieuan, having to learn my National language from scratch is a pain I could do without!
Ah can onderstan' the english being anti-Gaelic, but no' the Scots.
That's shockin'!! 
BG  
_________________
Ath-bheothachadh
Drink beer,don't drive...its cheeper! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Join! (free) 
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
