Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737
The Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737 was passed by the Parliament of Ireland in 1737. This Act, which forbids the use of any language but English in court proceedings, is still in force in Northern Ireland, and is primary, mandatory legislation that must be followed by all courts in the jurisdiction.[1][2] The equivalents of this Act passed for England in 1731 and for Wales in 1733 were repealed in 1863. Northern Ireland is thus the only area in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which has retained this legislation.
The statute was primarily directed at the perceived problem caused by the widespread use of legal French and Latin in courts but has had the effect of excluding autochthonous languages, given that it "excludes the use of any other tongue or language whatsoever". The Act is controversial among Irish language advocates, due to the fact that in Northern Ireland, a court proceeding cannot be carried out in the Irish language.
See also
External links
- Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737 (c.6)[permanent dead link]
- Droim láimhe is diúltú glan don Ghaeilge (Total rejection of Irish Gaelic.
- Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database[permanent dead link]
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081804/http://www.courtsni.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C7ADCB9F-94B9-45A3-A8FB-4EF995B1C52D/0/j_j_TRE7587Final.htm (Judicial Review)
- http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2010-04-26.7.1 Mark Durkan, MLA, MP questions the Minister for Justice, Mr David Ford, MLA.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20091227001613/http://andrumamor.nireblog.com/post/2008/10/29/adams-ag-tacu-le-caoimhin-pobal-sa-chuirt (Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams supports the abolition of the Act)
- http://irishmediawatch.com/?p=1847 Céim Siar Maidir le Stádas na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh A blow to the status of the Irish Gaelic Language in the North of Ireland.