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British MP speaks Irish in the House of Commons for first time in over 100 years

Published 19:44 24 Oct 2018 BST

Updated 19:50 24 Oct 2018 BST

Alan Loughnane
British MP speaks Irish in the House of Commons for first time in over 100 years

Homenews

Fair play to her.

Liz Saville-Roberts, from the Welsh party Plaid Cymru, spoke the Irish language in the House of Commons during a debate. It was part of a call on Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley to introduce an Irish Language Act. Saville-Roberts began her address as Gaeilge and those attending heard the MP say in Irish that language rights are human rights and that the Irish-speaking community is entitled to equality of treatment. "Is cearta daonna iad cearta teanga agus tá cothrom na féinne tuilte ag lucht labhartha na Gaeilge," Saville-Roberts said. https://twitter.com/CnaG/status/1055110450537472000 She then returned to English to question the British government’s commitment to introduce language legislation as outlined under the 2006 St Andrew’s Agreement. “Will the Minister uphold its commitment by introducing an Irish Language Act if power-sharing institutions are not restored within six months?” she said. It's the first time in over 100 years that Irish has been used in the House of Commons.

In 1901, West Kerry MP Thomas O’Donnell spoke in Irish during his first speech in the House of Commons and was berated for doing so.

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British MP speaks Irish in the House of Commons for first time in over 100 years