In an effort to help the restoration of devolved government, the PMs of the UK and the Republic of Ireland will be in Belfast today.

One of the stumbling blocks is the Irish language - which is spoken by a small minority in the Republic, and by an even smaller one in NI.

Sinn Fein insist on a role for it in NI governance; the DUP have absolutely no interest in it.

The likely outcome is a fudge - such as in the EU; where all legislation is translated into Irish and sent to Ireland, at great expense.

Only to be shredded because no-one is remotely interested in reading it - and certainly not in Irish!

The one that puzzles me is Welsh! I do love the Northern Irish accent - whenever I talk to one I insist they say the word FILM.

They pronounce it either 'fillum' or 'filam'

Yes that's just my point!

After 5pm - and no power sharing deal yet.

The presence of Varadkar and May in Belfast seemed to suggest that progress had been made.

But it's still 'up in the air' - and might not happen.

With negative ramifications for the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

And making a hard Brexit virtually inevitable.

I predict there will be a deal but later this week; they need to appear to think about it (not that any politicians do these days; they simply obey media).

Perhaps.

But there's been no NI government for over a year.

And lots of talking - and bickering.

Doesn't happen anywhere else in our United Kingdom.

Or in most other countries - to have part of it with no locally elected government...

JK2006 wrote:
I predict there will be a deal but later this week

You're probably right. Everyone seems to want it.

Even Gerry Adam's successor (after 34 years!) as Sinn Fein leader - MaryLou MacDonald.

The latter being in office only for a couple of days - her deputy is also new, and female.

*Mary Louise McDonald; 48. Deputy - Michelle O'Neill; 41

JK if you think, as you do, that Mrs May talks in cliches - watch a MaryLou speech, many coming soon...

Sinn Fein are insisting on a stand-alone Act in respect of the Irish language.

This would include the compulsory teaching of Irish in NI schools and bilingual road signs.

DUP has refused point blank - not least because only a handful, in NI, can speak the language!

Not an unreasonable stance - but one that will stimy devolution, and make Brexit harder and more difficult.


And could also delay it...

It is SO absurd - just like Swift's Gulliver's Travels and the Big Endian and Little Endian war over which end to crack open a boiled egg!

Absurd, perhaps.

But for Sinn Fein to expect the DUP to agree to all Protestant children learning Irish is pure folly.

This language was spoken by the IRA which (although disbanded) has many of its ex-members holding Sinn Fein seats in parliament, in the North and South.

Enniskillen, Omagh and numerous other atrocities were carried out by the IRA - with orders given in the Irish language.

This really irrelevant demand - which is essentially perverse - is holding back devolution, costing the UK Exchequer dearly and delaying Brexit.

Spee wrote:
Absurd, perhaps.

But for Sinn Fein to expect the DUP to agree to all Protestant children learning Irish is pure folly.

This language was spoken by the IRA which (although disbanded) has many of its ex-members holding Sinn Fein seats in parliament, in the North and South.

Enniskillen, Omagh and numerous other atrocities were carried out by the IRA - with orders given in the Irish language.

This really irrelevant demand - which is essentially perverse - is holding back devolution, costing the UK Exchequer dearly and delaying Brexit.


And that's what happened.

No Irish Language Act and no devolution.

Just another Brexit problem with NI run by civil servants from London.

The BigEndians seem to have beaten the LittleEndians - for the moment at least. Where is Gulliver when you need him, to piss on all the boats?

Watching the news and both NI parties going on about language. If they had a referendum 90 oer cent would say screw the language. Both countries.

You're correct - less than 3% of the population of the island of Ireland have any grasp of the language.

Of this figure (below 200,000), most - like the Sinn Fein leaders who are promoting it - have only a few words.

The language is only spoken regularly in small rural pockets; in the cities - Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Derry etc. - English is spoken by everyone.

And today's topic of conversation everywhere will be the Champions League games last night - just like in Birmingham and London...

Now that the DUP have again ruled out an Irish Language Act - and have requested that Westminster takes over the NI reins - it will now undoubtedly happen.

Because - it will be remembered - Ms May needs the support of the DUP's ten seats to stay in power. She now has nowhere to go, but to accept their wishes.

Inevitably, Brexit negotiations will be more complicated and torturous - with a hard border between NI and the Republic now more likely.

And a return to the days of cross border pig-smugling...

An Irish Language Act was agreed in the St Andrew's Agreement (2006). The DUP are, as usual, attempting to renege on something they previously agreed to. They also want to retain a situation where they can block the introduction of Equal Marriage legislation. Also Wales and Scotland both have indigenous Language protection where N Ireland doesn't.

Welcome Gary and thank you; I don't blame or condemn either side; I just think it's a stupid reason to bring an area to its knees.

Gary Mc wrote:
An Irish Language Act was agreed in the St Andrew's Agreement (2006).

In that Agreement, there is NO mention of an Irish Language Act - so how could anyone have agreed to it?