3 March 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Liadh Ní Riada, MEP for Ireland South began her language strike yesterday. The Junker Investment Plan was being discussed in the first joint committee meeting of Budget and Economic and Monetary Affairs. An attempt was made to make a point through Irish but her contribution was interrupted almost immediately.
Speaking from the parliament Ní Riada said:
“It was inadmissible what happened in the committee today. I contacted the committee secretariat last week to inform them of the strike. I explained that I was doing it in protest against the language derogation that is currently in place and if they were not willing to provide interpreting that my political advisor would be able to do so on my behalf.
“I was not allowed to finish my point and this is totally unfair considering the fact that I was speaking in official working language of the EU.”