Thread by @ptierney89

This weekend we will mark 2 years since our latest political agreement came to pass. 'New Decade New Appraoch' finally provided legislation for the Irish language. It is a mediocre attempt to mirror Welsh efforts, but a start nonetheles, a staging post to something better.

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This was the the British Gov & Irish Gov's final card at patching Stormont back together, the 'last chance' @BrianPJRowan. Legislation was to be passed through the assembly within 100 days (by April 2021 really) & an Irish language strategy within 6 months.

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Covid hit & priorities changed (although this should have been as good as done by then). No-one argued. By the time the Assembly began functioning again & some form of normality had resumed in September 2020, it was clear the DUP had checked out of NDNA.

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Following the DUP crisis in May-June 2021 British Government, @BrandonLewis gave a promise the legislation would be passed by Westminster by October if DUP didn't come around by September. They had no intention of doing so. Nor did the British Gov, it seems.

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2 years on, the Irish Gov has retreated from some of those major NDNA commitments, in public at least (we do be reassured they are chasing up behind closed doors). I cant recall the last time @simoncoveney / @MichealMartinTD reaffirmed support for #AchtAnois on radio or tv

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In the meantime the DUP have blocked the Irish language strategy from going on the Executive agenda around 30 times! Not only have they not progressed NDNA issued, they have now obstructed & denied them, taking us back to 2007, 2011, 2016 type attacks on the language.

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So the NDNA Irish language Act remains outstanding. Its now 630 days late (or 5,530+ days late if you're counting from St Andrew's in 2006).

@BrandonLewis & @simoncoveney continue to fail our community.

NDNA has, to date, failed.

More false dawns & broken promises.

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