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EARLIER TODAY, DUP leader Arlene Foster said, yet again, that no agreement had been reached between her party and Sinn Féin to restore power-sharing in the North.
They’ve been deadlocked in talks for months. Deadlines have been repeatedly been missed and new ultimatums given, with the sense that both sides are still too far apart to reach a deal.
With the upcoming marching season in the region beginning soon – with the 12 July marches next week – time is fast running out for any agreement that would see the return of the Northern Irish Assembly before the autumn.
Foster said yesterday that Sinn Féin “has a shopping list that keeps getting longer” and dismissed the chances of an agreement if this didn’t change.
So, what is it that both sides want? And what is it they just can’t agree on?
Speaking yesterday, Sinn Féin’s leader in the North, Michelle O’Neill, was clear in what Sinn Féin were demanding.
She said: “What’s wrong with expecting equality for young people who wish to speak and live their lives through the Irish language?
What’s wrong with two people of the same-sex wanting to marry and spend their lives together? What’s wrong with families expecting access to inquests 45 years after their loved ones were killed?
She said that if this was a “shopping list” then it’s one she is proud of.
One of the main sticking points, the proposed Irish Language Act, is something Sinn Féin are adamant on pushing through.
As outlined here, the DUP had begun to roll back on certain funding commitments to Irish language projects under the last Assembly, and this was heavily fought by Sinn Féin.
As our FactCheck on the matter delved into, there are 104,943 people in Northern Ireland (or 6% of the population) who can speak Irish.
The legislation proposes protection of Irish as a minority language, and to give it a similar standing that the Welsh language has in Wales.
It proposes giving the Irish language an official status, enable public bodies to provide a baseline level of interactions in Irish, and legislating for Irish place names on road signs.
The proposals also cite the example of Scottish Gaelic broadcasting on the BBC, and says that requiring the BBC to broadcast more content as gaeilge would be beneficial to the region.
The BBC already offers a certain degree of content in Irish (its Twitter page has over 5,000 followers), but this would be increased under the proposals.
Sinn Féin has, also, repeatedly called on Arlene Foster to step down over the Cash for Ash scandal but that appears very unlikely at this stage.
With the deal reached to prop up the Conservative government in the House of Commons in exchange for £1 billion in cold, hard cash for investment in Northern Ireland, the DUP is sitting pretty at the negotiating table.
For one thing, it most certainly does not want the Irish Language Act to go through.
It had long been thought of as being a commitment made by the party as part of the peace process but, as this FactCheck from earlier in the year pointed out, the DUP never really committed to an Irish Language Act.
In fact, it has repeatedly and persistently opposed it.
Last week, the DUP rebuked the Irish government for trying to interfere in the matter, with MLA Christopher Stalford accusing the government of “undermining its own credibility” by supporting Sinn Féin’s stance on the Irish language.
This week, Foster has alluded to the act being a particular stumbling block.
She said: “It’s a case of making sure that those who we represent also feel valued in Northern Ireland.
What we can’t have is one section of the community having cultural supremacy over the other.
The DUP’s perceived disdain for the Irish language angers nationalists, in particular, who’ve accused unionists of speaking in the language in mocking tones previously.
The DUP’s Greg Campbell, for example, made this poor attempt to say “Go raibh maith agat, Ceann Comhairle”, saying “curry my yoghurt, can coca coalyer” instead.
The DUP wants to change the Irish Language Act as it currently exists and expand it to a more wider ranging piece of legislation that would include protection for not just Irish language speakers, but Scottish Gaelic speakers and other Protestant cultures in Northern Ireland.
In effect, it is unwilling to budge on the Irish Language Act and this is acting as one of the main catalysts for the current stalemate in talks.
The unionist party is also unwilling to back down on its stance on same-sex marriage.
Predicting what will happen next is not an easy task.
Westminster may be unwilling to impose direct rule in the North as this would be a hugely contentious issue, and could risk the peace process in Northern Ireland.
It is further complicated by the potential for a post-Brexit hard border, and a controversial deal between the DUP and the Tories to form a UK government.
With the most important date in the Unionist calendar – the Twelfth of July – coming up next week, it puts severe pressure on the DUP not to give ground against Sinn Féin.
In all likelihood, this is set to drag on for many more months if any sort of compromise is to be reached.
What remains to be seen, however, is at what point either side would say there is no point pursuing power-sharing any longer as this impasse continues.
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Why are unionists so opposed to equality?
@Jamie McCormack: Not sure if you’re being sarcastic but love of inequality is practically the definition of Northern Unionists.
They gained their reason for existing the moment their apartheid-like regime was at risk of losing the first and second class divide that had served them so well.
TBH it’s understandable one would fight to hold on to this advantage for a while, but in 2017 it’s ludicrous that they still think they can get back to the old two tier system.
@bopter: Nail on the head. Except they are still getting away with it, and it needs to stop.
@Jamie McCormack: Jamie, pretty much the final wish of Martin McGuinness was for parity of esteem among the people of Norther Ireland. For everyone to live together in equal standing and mutual respect.
A fine vision.
For thousands of years the people of Ireland spoke Irish. This today is evident in place names around Ulster (from Ulaid) and Belfast (from Béal Feirste- mouth of the sea) or Derry (from Doire meaning oak grove) or Shankill (from Sean Cill meaning old church) or Fermanagh from Fhear Manach meaning people of Manach) or Lough Neagh (from Loch nEachach meaning the lake of Eachaidh). Arlene Foster from Enniskillen should have no problem knowing her town name comes from the Irish word Inis Ceithleann meaning Ceithlenn’s island).
@Niall O’Reilly: Down comes from Dun, meaning fortress. Up Down.
@Niall O’Reilly: funny that our shower in the Dáil chambers and Seanad don’t seem to have same interest in our native language as seems the case up North. Also Cill means cell not church
@Jamie McCormack: Yes various levels of interest in Irish depending on ones level of understanding of the language. I originate from Killashandra – Irish place name Cill na Seanrátha meaning Church of the Old Rath in Cavan.
Personally not big on Irish but Wales and Scotland have both languages on sign posts etc. Not that unusual. Also probably best to wait for outcome of cash for ash case before deciding anything.
@Rob Mills: isnt it hilarious how the shinners though their little stunt would take down the DUP, instead they put them in number 10 unopposed. Perfect karma for the shinners LOL
You don’t need a Irish language act to go and learn Irish . So what’s the problem .
@Tommy Whelan: ah come on now Tommy. Don’t be playing dumb.
@Niallers: as a citizen of the UK you are a free person to learn and speak any language you want . The majority of people north and south have shown no interest in taking it upon themselves to go and learn the language . Why should large sums of money be spent on the thing .
@Tommy Whelan Yeah right Tommy… and we should bulldoze all those auld castles and ancient sights as well…they cost too much too …we could put the money saved on display for our tourists to admire – brilliant idea!
@Tommy Whelan: But Tommy, This is Ireland we’re talking about.
@Pádraig Ó Braonáin: its got nothing to do with money . To keep the Irish language alive requires people to take it upon themselves to go and learn it and speak it that they have shown no interest in . Large sums of money have being spent on the subject south of the border in schools and it’s still a dead language . Just admit it we prefer the English language and culture over our own .
@Tommy Whelan: Some people still follow the old Christian Brother tradition! RCC, gaelge, pioneer, GAA – without seeing the world! Wake up – even few our politicians have seen the bigger perspective..
@Tommy Whelan: well said tommy lrish has been forced down our throats since childhood, its a dead language move on, if people want to learn it off you go stop using it as the grant bank
@Tommy Whelan: so as an Irish speaking ” citizen of the U.K.” Is it right to have them as lesser ” citizens of UK” who speak Welsh in Wales or Gaelic in Scotland?????
@Paul Foot: For a guy who claimed to have travelled and lived in different places around the world you have a very narrow minded outlook on life. You always come across as arrogant, bitter and scared. I call bullshit anyway. You’re either a troll or a DUP supporter.
@Paul Foot: is there something wrong with following traditions?
@Sean Hammond: He’s both!
its fun to laugh at the shinners. Isolated, alone, irrelevant, will that ever change
@Tommy Whelan: You are an ill informed buffoon.
600,000 speak Welsh fluently in Wales – 4,000 do so, in NI!
@Paul Foot: Speak Irish – c100,000, pidgeon…
@Paul Foot: ok Paul, we all understand you hate the Irish Language. It’s the indigenous language of Ireland so it should be supported.
@Paul Foot: WHY are so against the Irish language?…You are all over these pages, constantly trying to knock it down…why? Why don’t ye give it a rest and go and build a bonfire, and make sure yer in it when yer done.
@Niallers: I would be fairly sure that the language of the celts in the 1000s bears little or no resemblence to the modern Irish Language.
Whats the problem with an expanded Irish Language act that takes into account Scots and Ulster dialects?
@Pádraig Ó Braonáin: For two main reasons – it’s useless in all other countries. And because I was forced to learn it! But it really helped in LA¡¡¡
@Paul Foot:
There are an estimated 40-80K native Irish speakers in Ireland, which has a population at least 4 times that of Northern Ireland. I very much doubt there are 100K Irish speakers in Northern Ireland.
@Craba: Pidgeon type in NI – so google says; only 4,000 fluent. I got 10% more marks to do maths in Irish; stupid – a bribe, plain and simple in the Leaving Cert! Worked in 7 countries since – nobody even knew there was such a language¡
@Paul Foot: OK…but stop bitching about it…you’re boring at this stage.
@Paul Foot: who cares about other countries. Its part of our culture. I don’t speak it. I wish I did. I live in New York and a huge proportion of people are aware of and respect our native tongue. In fact I regularly get shown up by Irish Americans that I meet who can speak it with a high level of proficiency.
@Kevin O’ Brien: Lived in the Bronx m8 for 3 years – never heard an Irish word spoken. Or in London, Paris or Sydney – but some will say there are GAA leagues in those cities. No…only a few pub teams…we get very confused…/o\
@Paul Foot: so you are anti everything then?
@Paul Foot: Nobody gives a tits how many countries you’ve worked in (though I honestly doubt you’ve stepped out of Dublin). Should we start dismantling all aspects of our culture just because they’re unknown abroad? Does any other country think like that? No.
What does an Irish Language actually mean and how much would it cost? Ia it translation of documents etc?
@Paul Foot: If the language is unknown abroad, we should be doing more to promote it. An Irish language act in the North would be a great start.
@Paul Foot: I’d say the language really did help you in LA. More so than here.
http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/generation-emigration/living-my-life-as-gaeilge-in-hollywood-1.2574381
How many of the shinner demands will be rejected? PMSL
@Dolly White: As a jackeen I’m so glad I wasn’t born around the troubles. Lord knows where I be if my family and I had to contend with what most law abiding citizens of the north had to in the 60s, 70s and on.
@Rob Mills: Some sensitive Shinner soul must have reported my gentle dig at their beloved party SF/IRA because there is no sign of my comment on this page. Censorship.
@Dolly White: Don’t you have some wood pellet money to count, Or are you getting your sash ready for a march on the 12th.
Give SF an inch and they will take a mile. They need to get over marriage equality thing.
@Paul: that mile is called equality and they’re dead right to demand it.
@Paul: it’s not that Sinn Fein want to be a ‘mile’ ahead. It’s that they want the DUP to catch up by 100 years at least and several miles that they are lagging behind on basic human rights!!!!
@Paul: heard one of the DUP crowd on radio today and he said with regard to SSM – why should the north accept it when the republic has a referendum. Fair point I thought.
@lavbeer: Did this DUP representative also talk about how the a majority of the assembly democratically voted in favour or same sex marriage, but that his party vetoed the wishes of that majority? Yeah, didn’t think so.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: Is there a law that says the majority decision of the assembly must be implemented? Pretty sure the ruling party gets final decision as in ROI..
@snac: lol seriously, go read up on the workings of the north’s mandatory coalition structure before you make any more of a fool of yourself!
@Tír Eoghain Gael: are you enjoying that dose of karma the shinners are getting? i certainly am. Rejecting shinners has become a passtime in both countries on this island LOL
There will be an Irish language act or old times will return
@marty johnbann: Cool. That will mean an end to SF as a political force. The whole 21st century world vehemently hates terrorists…
Because they are both incapable of governance.
The DUP have an abhorrent social ethos. SF are only interested in populist BS and are terrified of shattering the dream of a 32 County Republic where everything is free, by having to make real decisions.
@MK76: its best to just laugh at the north and its people. thankfully they will never be part of our great republic, perfect perfect karma
@james connolly: what a pity that free speech must also apply to sickening individuals like yourself. Your lack of any discernible intelligence is more to be pitied than scorned. Ignorant troll.
@Frank Mc Caffery: well said
SF Shopping list – 1. Irish Language Act 2. Arlene to step aside while investigation takes place 3. Gay Marriage. DUP shopping list 1. No Irish language Act 2. Military Covenant. Doesnt seem like a lot to compromise on but its July, the worst month of the year to do any type of deal with Unionists. Even if the DUP didnt hold the balance of power at WM does anyone honestly think the DUP would concede an inch during the Orange season? Talks will be postponed until after the summer with an election likely before or just after the new year.
@oneill: DUPs shopping list: 1) Laugh at SF 2) laugh at SF, 3) laugh at SF.
will it ever change LOL
@james connolly: You are actually getting worse you disgusting little amoeba.
SF should insist that only those who can speak Irish fluently can become members. Most have difficulty with English!
@Bull Spite: ever hear baron adam talk irish? the callan kicks of the shinners talking irish is absolutely hilarious
Maybe cause both parties love sound of their own voices and rhetoric. They talk the talk but don’t walk the walk.
@Sean Murphy: no one in thsi country cares, the north and its people are for laughing at, that will never change
@james connolly: fool, fool, fool.
What ever it is about about this comments section. I cant help reading the negative comments in a unionist accent.
Reason is simple – Provisional SF are using any and all excuses to avoid taking responsibility
@Stephen Kearon: Hey Stephen remember that time you only got 57 votes when you stood for election in Wicklow? How pathetic is that!!
@Stephen Kearon: the same way your beloved FF refuse to take responsibility for driving our economy off a cliff yet again, with your leader doing his little ‘I don’t accept that’ in front of the cameras for the last 9 years?
@The Risen: What about your leader who claims he was never in the IRA.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: your some sleeveen having a go at a guy for his vote share in an election. You can’t even say your real name here ya coward. I’ve never heard of you Stephen btw. But at least you stood for election.
@Pepper Brooks: Sorry I’m not using my real name there ‘Pepper’. (What an odd name your parents gave you). Besides, even without a real name on a ballot paper, I’d be fairly content that I could still gather up more than 57 votes! Talk about a rejection!!!
@Tír Eoghain Gael: will you prefer being rule by the DUP from london or from belfast shinnerbot? Do you believe in karma?
@The Risen: are SF going to take responsibility for the cess pit they have created in that country to the north? same same?
@Stephen Kearon: ha ha ha 57 votes, and I bet that included your family. Clown.
Good to have a party that can run rings around SF. Sorry to hear about their LGBT stance but could not give two hoots about the Irish lang lobby group…
@snac: awww that’s alright then snac.lets put 20 years of a peace process on ice and let the paramilitaries fill the vacuum so you can have a laugh
@Martin Doherty: If they do, SF are over as a political force in the post 911 world. Don’t see that happening in a 100 years. The world now absolutely hates terrorism in all its forms and sees it for what it is: Terrorism. Way different playing field from the 20th century…
@Martin Doherty: And this is democracy. DUP got the biggest vote number. All others must deal with the result democratically. At least that is what mature grown ups do who don’t throw their toys.out of the pram when things don’t go their way as paramilitaries do.
@snac: Democracy means too that when parties sign up to an Agreement, that they should honour that Agreement. The DUP already signed up to an the St Andrew’s document which committed them to an Irish Language Act. Why should SF put up with their refusal to honor previously made agreements? What sort of foundation would that be for power sharing?
@Tír Eoghain Gael: sounds like you’re getting your justifications ready should the unthinkable happen.
@Squarepeg01: Not sure what that post is supposed to mean. Either way, my point stands…what is the point in negotiation processes if one of the parties signes up to a committment and refuses to honor it? SFs demand that previous agreements be honored is not just reasonable but essential surely, if power sharing as a concept is to work.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: Happens all the time, it is when governments fall. Then new ones are created thru renegotiation.
The goal of the peace process was always to bring republicanism far enough into the democratic process to make it impossible to return to violence as all agreements always eventually fall, get renegotiated and normal democracy resumes. That is where we are now. The new reality for NI.
As I said elsewhere, there is no time anywhere in the 21st century for terrorism post 911 and ISIS. Time to renegotiate as SF is not holding a good hand for next few years.
@snac: “Happens all the time”? Lol what? No it doesn’t. The St Andrews Agreement is legally an amendment to the Good Friday Agreement – which is itself a treaty which is binding regardless of who is in power is westminster at any given time. So failong to honour a commitment made at St Andrews (i.e. introducing an Irish Language Act) constitutes a breach of the Good Friday Agreement by the DUP. How or why should SF continue to share power with a party which actively refuses to implement its own commitments under the GFA treaty?
@Tír Eoghain Gael: like the GFA where you accepted the queen as your head of state, didnt you shinnerbot LOL
@snac: the DUP reneged on the St Andrews Agreement. This is not a buffet. There’s no hope of progress without equality.
@Irish Cottage Rental: This is politiics. People change their minds, brazen things out like SF did on water charges…
The Irish language and same sex marriage – these are the deal-breakers that are preventing Stormont from sitting? Seriously? Has everyone lost their freaking minds?
@Squarepeg01: Thats the simplistic way of looking at it. These two issues are symbolic of something that runs much deeper which is the attitude the DUP has shown towards power sharing and their refusal to come to terms with the concept of equality. On one hand they are refusing to allow an Irish Language Act despite having already committed to it in the St Andrew’s Agreement, and on the other hand with regards same sex marriage they have repeatedly used the Petition of Concern veto to block its legalisation depsite the majority of MLAs voting in favour of legalisation. Why should/how could ANY party agree to enter into a power sharing structure of government with the largest party in it behaving in such a manner?
@Tír Eoghain Gael: The ruling party gets to choose whether equality gets priority. We had to wait for FG to do so for LGBT in the south after many years of FF. But that is democracy.
@snac: I suggest you read up on how power sharing/madatory coalitions works under the GFA before you show yourself up any further!
@snac: think you need to read the Good Friday Agreement!
Stop their wages.
@@mdmak33: You really believe SF are in it for the money?
@Jamie McCormack: shinners only ever care about money. it take some serious vermin to accept payment for a job and then refuse to do it. but thats the shinners for you. long may karma visit each and every one of them LOL
@james connolly: Moron. Do you mean Loyal Orange Lodge? Or is this oul writing lark getting too much for you?
If you go back to WW2 it was a majority of unionists in Irish regiments in the north that went and fought against the Nazis to defend the right of free speech so Gerry and Sinn Fein can go and learn the Irish language .
@Tommy Whelan: there were a lot of people from Ireland that died in Irish and British jails for doing exactly the same thing or have you forgotten. Keep it closer to home pal
@Simon Patrick McGrath: but the fact is it was the majority unionists that fought and died to defend the right for people to go and learn any language they want . Free speech .
@Tommy Whelan: Actually Tommy, All of a Europe should really be thanking the Russians. Without the Russian sacrifice we would all be speaking German.
@Niallers: it doesn’t matter what the Russians did Irish men went and fought and died to defend the right of free speech . Jump forward to the Cold War years and it was the same Irish regiments from the north man by unionists that sat in Germany to defend free speech in Europe against communism .
@Niallers: No likely but we might.have being a little more irradiated :(. USA.Atomic bomb would have ended the European war same as for Japan.
@snac: 400k brits killed. 20 millions Russians.
Without the Russians the Nazis would have been eating sauerkraut in Belfast.
@Niallers: Not sure about the logic there Niall. But hell, at leaat we woumd.have had a decent soccer team on the island… :)
@Tommy Whelan: So its a numbers game? ‘We had more in the war so we sacrificed and suffered more’. My grandfather fought in that war. On HMS Nelson. He was British to the core and while immensely proud of taking part in the fight against fascism he was disgusted at British treatment of Irish sovereignty. Ironically enough he was a Thatcherite aswel. Also stop going on about free speech etc. You sound like some deranged American president. Wars are usually started and fought over many reasons. Free speech and human rights are some of the reasons, but usually there are other motives. There are plenty of places where military intervention to your end would be gladly received but nothing seems to done there. Why is that?
we need to remeber that SF fought alongside hitler in WW2. perfectly shows how evil SF is
@Tommy Whelan: Do you even understand what you are writing?
@james connolly: this is a thread about equality. And ensuring Irish has the same status as Welsh and Scots Gaelic. No more no less.
It’s a bit rich to complain of cultural supremacy when for centuries the Ulster protestants subjugated indigenous Catholics in jobs, housing etc etc. What possible harm could be done to the wider Unionist community by permitting a few thousand souls access to an ancient language?
None of course so by denying such access Foster is herself guilty of cultural oppression!
Only right that the Irish language is protected..in Ireland
An bhfuil cead agam dul go dti an leitras??
@Decky: it is protect in all 26 counties of this country
@james connolly: There are 32 counties in Ireland James
Direct rule really is the only option. If Westminster doesn’t want to implement it, that’s entirely the fault of the Tories themselves, first given Brexit and now their ridiculous DUP deal, which should never have been on the table for being controversial.
It is only in the light of controversies already in place that direct rule is now seen as so controversial. But there is another option, which is to have elections to the effect of Foster toddling off to London and Paisley Jr. taking her place in the North.
And then perhaps fly Bill Clinton back in at 20,000 quid. At least that’d be money better spent.
@Mick Tobin: im sure when nordies act like adults they will be treated like adults. in the meantimw we will continue to ignore the north just like we have done for close to 100 years
The DUP are a bunch of backwards racists, homophobic, sectarian idiots. I don’t have time for Sinn Fein either but at least they’re willing to compromise, the DUP aren’t. They’re stuck firmly rooted in the past and no sign of that ever changing. And Arlene Foster is the worst
@Ruth McCann: I must have missed on what exactly SF are compromising on?
@snac: Sovereignty.
@snac: “I must have missed on what exactly SF are compromising on?”
They have been making it fairly obvious that they are prepared to compromise on their demand that Arlene Foster cannot be renominated as first minister while the RHI enquiry is ongoing. Try to keep up, snac.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: They are compromising by not telling the DUP who they can nominate as first minister? Are you for real?
@snac: Yes I am. In any line of work, if someone was being investigated for financial corruption – the standard procedure is that they be suspended pending investigation. Which is the same basic standard being asked off the DUP leader by SF. So yeah, it is a compromise. Besides are you familiar with what compromise means? SF held a certain postion. They have indicated they would be prepared sacrifice that position. By any concievable definition of the word, that is what a compromise is.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: just dont mention the stolen ink cartridges…
Who cares
@EC P Ford: Lots of people.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: Remarkasbly few in the south….
@snac: Amazing just how many folks from the south seem to devote an unhealthy amount of time commenting on journal.ie stories related to six county politics while claiming to not care about six county politics.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: our great republic, dont worry you wont be joing as you and your ilk are not welcome. it please me greatly that you will see out your days as a loyal subject of the queen, that pleases me greatly, its perfect karma for you and your ilk LOL
@james connolly: you’re a plain troll without a reasoned argument!
Sad that elected politicians cannot compromise!
All Citizens should be treated with equality and respect.
Recognise cultural difference and accommodate their needs.
Many learn Spanish, German and other languages.
Irish is a A Celtic language.
Make provision for the needs of all citizens.
Have common sense!
@Jamie McCormack: because they say ” no” automatically
They need to give up on Arlene steeping down, park marriage equality, they’re going to win in the long term anyway), let go of the inquiry (at some point you have to let the past be the past) and fight tooth and nail on the Irish language act.
Arleen Foster is a fcuking cow end of
@cyril.1: as is michelle o neill
@james connolly: oh my God I’ve heard more reasoned arguments in a playground. Go away and try to read a book you pin headed troll.
@Dolly White: Your knowledge of paedophiles is apparently vast.
Sein fein are only a populist wasters sitting on the fence do nothing. In fairness if Martin mcguinness was a live today they would be an agreement but with this present crowd they want to do nothing only bark with the hare and run with the hounds
When you get paid for doing nothing why you rush back to work? Into month 7 of this tripe, shame on all those involved. Time for both the Irish and English governments to pull the plug, doubt that either have the guts.
have your say