The Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737
Encyclopedia
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. The equivalents of this Act passed for England in 1731 and for Wales in 1733 were repealed in 1863.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, including the rest of 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".
Parliament of Ireland
The Parliament of Ireland was a legislature that existed in Dublin from 1297 until 1800. In its early mediaeval period during the Lordship of Ireland it consisted of either two or three chambers: the House of Commons, elected by a very restricted suffrage, the House of Lords in which the lords...
in 1737.
This Act, which forbids the use of any language but English in court proceedings, is still in force in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and is primary, mandatory legislation that must be followed by all courts in the jurisdiction. The equivalents of this Act passed for England in 1731 and for Wales in 1733 were repealed in 1863.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, including the rest of 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".
External links
- Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737 (c.6)]
- Droim láimhe is diúltú glan don Ghaeilge (Total rejection of Irish Gaelic.
- Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database
- 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 DurkanMark DurkanMark Durkan is an Irish nationalist politician in Northern Ireland who was leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party from 2001 to 2010.-Early life:...
, MLA, MP questions the Minister for Justice, Mr David FordDavid FordDavid Ford is a politician who is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Ford has been leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since 2001 and has been Northern Ireland Minister of Justice since April 2010.- Early life :...
, MLA. - http://andrumamor.nireblog.com/post/2008/10/29/adams-ag-tacu-le-caoimhin-pobal-sa-chuirt (Sinn Féin leader Gerry AdamsGerry AdamsGerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
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.