A Sinn Fein delegation has described as "positive" a meeting yesterday with the Northern Education Minister, Mr Tony Worthington, on Irish-language issues. The head of Sinn Fein's cultural affairs department, Mr Micheal Mac Giolla Ghunna, said afterwards that a wide range of issues were raised and that these should be seen as part of the "confidence-building process", as discrimination against the language had contributed to the conflict.
Mr Mac Giolla Ghunna said the delegation asked the Minister to look at the British government's overall strategy on the Irish language "with a view to recognising its importance to the nationalist community". He said the Irish-language community needed to be serviced by the state "on an equal basis with English-speakers".
The issues raised included the official recognition of the language through legislation, and funding and support for Irish-medium education. "People should have the right to use Irish in their dealings with all state bodies," said Mr Mac Giolla Ghunna.
Sinn Fein is also demanding that the British government sign the European charter for regional and minority languages and officially recognise Gael Oiliuint, a Northern-based body which co-ordinates Irish-medium education. State funding for a second-level school in Derry is also being sought.
Mr Mac Giolla Ghunna said media- and arts-related issues were raised, including the transmission of Teilifis na Gaeilge and increased funding for the newspaper La.
"The Minister said that all of these issues were under active consideration as part of an ongoing review."
Sinn Fein's Northern chairman, Mr Gearoid O hEara, also attended the meeting.