The Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Maria Eagle, today announced that her Department is to carry out further consultation on Irish language legislation.
Speaking in the House of Commons, the Minister said: "Government recognises that there is a divergence of views within Northern Ireland with respect to the role of the Irish language in public life.
"This suggests a need to build consensus around the form of any future legislation.
"The purpose of this further consultation exercise is to seek views on an approach which lies in between the two primary positions demonstrated in the responses to the first consultation; namely those in favour of a rights based approach to Irish language legislation and those opposed to giving any legislative base to the protection of the language.
"The draft indicative clauses contained in the consultation paper are based on a middle ground approach which Government hopes may be practical and capable, over time, of gaining acceptance across both main sections of the community.
"It should be emphasised that these proposals do not pose a threat to those who do not wish to avail of public services in Irish.
"But they do support the aspirations of those people in Northern Ireland who have a genuine appreciation of the language and who wish to use it in their everyday lives."
The Minister continued: "The consultation launched today will last for 12 weeks.
"In the event that the Northern Ireland Assembly is fully functioning from the 26 March 2007 it will be a matter for the Assembly to take forward any legislation. Should the Assembly not be fully functioning from that date, this matter will be taken forward at Westminster.
"I and my Ministerial colleagues are grateful to those who put forward their views and we appreciate the time and effort taken to engage with the issues.
"Government supports the efforts of those who enjoy, value and use the Irish language and who wish to see its cultural richness benefit all in Northern Ireland," the Minister added.
Government supports the efforts of those who enjoy, value and use the Irish language.
