Official Language and Symbol – 1998
1998
Substantial changes took place in terms of strategies outlining to promote language in the Northern Ireland Act (1998). In terms of the use of Irish language in schools, several measures were adopted. On 21 July 1998, the UK government issued Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 [1998 No. 1759 (N.I. 13)], in which the government devolved power to the Department of Education to support and promote Irish language education and Irish Medium schools. In December, the Northern Ireland government also passed the Education Act. Irish language is voluntarily used in schools and media outlets use the Irish language.
In terms of sensitivity of symbols as specified in the Good Friday Agreement, the flying of the Union flag on public buildings and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) stations had increasingly been opposed by both the unionist and the republican. In 1998, however, the Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan issued a recommendation for an immediate stop of flying the Union flag outside all RUC stations.