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| Poots 'unpersuaded' on Irish Act | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Culture Minister Edwin Poots has said he is "unpersuaded" there is a case for bringing forward Irish language legislation. | |
| He said this was despite the majority of respondents to the department's consultation favouring legislation. | He said this was despite the majority of respondents to the department's consultation favouring legislation. |
| Mr Poots told the NI Assembly that "compelling costs" were among the reasons he was against the act. | Mr Poots told the NI Assembly that "compelling costs" were among the reasons he was against the act. |
| Sinn Fein's Barry McElduff, chairman of culture, arts and leisure committee, said the move was "a mistake". | Sinn Fein's Barry McElduff, chairman of culture, arts and leisure committee, said the move was "a mistake". |
| "He is missing an opportunity here, a major opportunity to prove that he is capable and willing of being minister for all of the people," he said. | "He is missing an opportunity here, a major opportunity to prove that he is capable and willing of being minister for all of the people," he said. |
| Costs | Costs |
| Mr Poots said the Northern Ireland Civil Service had already spent just over £20m delivering Irish language projects and translations in the past year. | Mr Poots said the Northern Ireland Civil Service had already spent just over £20m delivering Irish language projects and translations in the past year. |
| He said this figure excluded the expenditure of local councils and the Northern Ireland Court Service. | He said this figure excluded the expenditure of local councils and the Northern Ireland Court Service. |
| "The enhancement and protection of the development of the Irish language is an important matter for Northern Ireland, as is the enhancement and protection of the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture," he said. | "The enhancement and protection of the development of the Irish language is an important matter for Northern Ireland, as is the enhancement and protection of the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture," he said. |
| "However, I remain unpersuaded that there is a compelling case for progressing legislation, at this time. | "However, I remain unpersuaded that there is a compelling case for progressing legislation, at this time. |
| "There is, in my view, insufficient community consensus; potentially significant costs; and a real possibility that legislation could undermine good relations and in so doing prove counter productive to those wishing to see the language developed in a non-politicised and inclusive manner." | "There is, in my view, insufficient community consensus; potentially significant costs; and a real possibility that legislation could undermine good relations and in so doing prove counter productive to those wishing to see the language developed in a non-politicised and inclusive manner." |
| The Irish language act was promised to Sinn Fein by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair at the St Andrew's talks in 2006. | The Irish language act was promised to Sinn Fein by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair at the St Andrew's talks in 2006. |
| However, the act is now the responsibility of the Executive, and requires cross-community consensus. | However, the act is now the responsibility of the Executive, and requires cross-community consensus. |