"Bill of Rights" and "Human Rights"

It's clear from Fionnghuala's enquiry on the Human Right Bill that the Irish community are all ready thinking seriously about the bill and what we can gain from it.

"The Language Right must be mentioned in this bill: the right to learn Irish, the right for an all-Irish education, the right to do business with the government in your own language. Everybody should be equal."

"I would emphasis with the education. The all-Irish schools should have the same services and facilities as any all-English schools.

"I have to admit, I feel worried about the whole thing, even though there are discussions on the issue, and we have Human Rights now, I think that the courts still have old fashioned views. We have fights ahead us."

"From what I understand, but it will have to be broad enough to speak about special cases, people with certain demands, and the Irish speaking community among them."

"The rights that should be achieved for the Irish community, are the rights that English speakers have: to go to the doctor, to go to the solicitor, to BT and NIE, and ask for services through Irish ."

"What about more Irish on the television? What about Irish on the radio? What about training courses through Irish for people who want to go in that direction. Could we achieve these through the Bill of Rights. If we can, brilliant!"

"I think we should be careful about this to use the right language. It’s not enough to say that Irish speakers won’t be discriminated against. We have to lay down duties for promoting the language in a new society."

"Recognise the Irish and the language as “Human Rights”"

"I think that the all-Irish community should have equal rights as the all-English community. I would like to see all-Irish jobs in the Government as in the same way as the all-English jobs."

"Life would be much easier and interesting if we were surrounded by Irish all the time, instead of hearing at hear and there and I think the Bill of Rights could make this happen."

"Why are they giving money to these large organisations, like Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and the Ultach Trust? What have they promised to do with the money and how will the Foras know if the do it or not? "

"Another Southern body attempting to influence life in the North. That's how I see them…... "

"They didn't really get a great start to life, as it were! Hopefully things are changing now and next year will be an opportunity for them to prove themselves….. "

"I had hoped for a new era. I had hoped the Foras would greatly enhance that new era. I feel foolish to have believed in either…... "

"I am confident, going by what the Chairperson, Máiréad Uí Mháirtín, has had to say, that sufficient good will exists to get the work done….."

"I'm still undecided about the whole thing. It will be interesting to see if they are willing to situate their offices in West Belfast, in the heart of the Irish language community. If not, I think it will be a strong indicator of their inclination"

Gaeltacht status for the Irish community in Belfast

"I think that it is a waste of time, Belfast being a part of the Gaeltacht if the Gaeltacht is being run as it is now"What is the Gaeltacht? If it’s true that it’s a community, the Irish community in Belfast is lively and energetic. They should be recognised as a Gaeltacht community."

"The Irish Language here is alive and thriving and I think that the Irish communities in Belfast should be recognised as a Gaeltacht community"

"Is there any sense in a Gaeltacht Status? I don’t think it will make a difference on the ground"

"I think there should be Gaeltacht status in Belfast because apart from Donegal, there is no other Irish Language community quite so enthusiastic like areselves."

"At the end of the day it doesn’t matter...... we will be here with or without Gaeltacht status"

"It is for the best that the Irish community in Belfast is recognized as a Gaeltacht, there is no harm in that. But will it make any difference?"

"She is already a Gaeltacht. It doesn’t matter if she is recognized or not but it would do no harm if we had official status after all the work are community have done over the last few years.">"I think it’s an important step which the Commission should take. It would lift the heart and raise the confidence of the community"

Cross-border language body: Foras na Gaeilge


Foras na Gaeilge - the words on everybody's lips, or so POBAL thought when we 'voxpopped' customers in Fall's Road's Caife Glás and Cupla Focail cafés for their opinions on the language body. As you can see, opinion was far from united!

"In regards to the North, An Foras Teanga are here to learn, not to teach. I am reminded of the old saying, 'Trying to teach your Granny to suck eggs'…"

"It would be helpful if people knew who they were! They should be introducing themselves to people, raising their public profile. The best way to do this would be to base themselves in the Irish language community - in West Belfast….. "

"I am not at all happy with the Foras, as it is now, but I believe there will be changes for the better in the New Year…... "