Deputy Mary Lou McDonald- speech from 29 Mar 2022

Taoiseach, I want to raise with you again the British commitment made to the Irish Government, to all parties in the North, to introduce an Irish Language Act, but also to commission abortion services in the North. I think we can all agree that women have waited long enough for these services and certainly Irish language speakers have waited long enough. Taoiseach, as you know, the British Government has again demonstrated bad faith on these matters. Can you tell us, have you spoken to the British Government, will you speak to the British Government to establish a date for delivery on both of these issues? Did you ask in your recent meeting with the British Prime Minister about Ocht Gaelge, or their intentions to honour very clear-cut commitments made, not just to Sinn Fein, but made indeed to the Irish Government and to all the parties in the North? Yes, first of all, we will be taking this up with the British Government, but the Minister for Foreign Affairs already has discussed this with the Northern Secretary. My understanding is that the Northern Secretary is committed to putting the legislation into place, but after the election, what I would say is commitments have been given and commitments should be honoured in respect of the Language Act, because when governments give commitments in relation to such important matters, they should be followed through. Thank you.