Sinn Féin National Chairperson and minister in the northern Assembly Declan Kearney  has welcomed new investment to make television programmes in Irish. 

The South Antrim MLA said: 

“I welcome the announcement of £2 million for the Irish Language and Ulster Scots Broadcast Funds. 

“This money will help create and support jobs in Irish language broadcasting sector and will also lead to more programmes being made. 

“This funding was committed to in the New Decade, New Approach document, and I welcome the delivery of this commitment.

“The additional funding reflects continued growth of the Irish language community and educational sector in the north, and associated demand for services through the medium of spoken Irish.

“However, the delivery of this funding obligation also sharply highlights the failure to date, of the DUP leadership to legislate for Acht Gaeilge and official recognition of the Irish language in the north, and to appoint an Irish language commissioner. That is an increasingly untenable position.

“This funding decision is a further reminder of the need for immediate implementation of all agreed commitments under the New Decade New Approach, which extend to implementation of the legacy mechanisms agreed at Stormont House and proper operation of all north south bodies and processes. 

“The honouring of all these obligations is fundamental to the future of power sharing on a sustainable basis.”