6 March 2025

SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA has welcomed overdue progress on the appointment of language commissioners.

He was speaking after the start of the recruitment process was announced on Wednesday night.

Mid Ulster MLA Mr McGlone said:

“We are now five years on from the promise to appoint language commissioners in New Decade, New Approach. Progress is long overdue and while it has to be welcomed, questions must be asked about why this move was announced days after the Executive published their Programme for Government and following criticism from the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The campaigners who have fought so hard for progress on these issues deserved better than this announcement being slipped out at 10pm on a Wednesday night.

“This is an issue that should have been dealt with years ago and it’s a matter of deep regret that it was held hostage by parties to serve their own political ends. The Irish language community have only ever requested fair treatment and respect for their culture and identity, something that shouldn’t be contentious. It’s also important that those same rights are extended to other minority language groups.

“I have already contacted the First and deputy First Ministers to establish a timescale for these appointments and those in the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, and what budget has been allocated to these offices. This cannot be another false dawn and the SDLP Opposition will continue to push for progress and hold the Executive accountable for delivering on this.

"We have seen exponential growth in interest in the Irish language across our island over the past decade and we must do everything possible to harness this opportunity to ensure the language thrives for generations to come.”