Ulster-Scots: Benefits of Commissioner questioned at committee

Foras na Gaelige, a body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language throughout the island of Ireland, were also giving evidence to the committee on Wednesday.

Chair of the Executive Office Committee, Paula Bradshaw said “it was a momentous day” for the committee as it was the first time evidence has been given in Irish.

During the evidence session, Mr Séan Ó Coinn, CEO of Foras Na Gaeilge was questioned about the “politicising” or “weaponising” of the Irish language.

Mr Ó Coinn said he understood that “there is a history here and a baggage linked to the Irish language” but “people have rights recognised by the UN, UNESCO, by the European council and we should not be restricting those or denying those rights because they don’t maybe sit well with other members of the community.”

“We now have an opportunity to see Irish as something that belongs to us all, to all our communities so I wouldn’t be of the opinion that we should mix it up with issues regarding identity, British identity, Republican identity, nationalist identity, Irish identity even.

“I think it is a heritage issue and something that belongs to anybody who is on this piece of land in which we live and we should look and deal with it in that way,” he added.