evidence: The Irish language now has official recognition in Northern Ireland for the first time ever. The bill will create a new office for an Irish language commissioner in Northern Ireland who will develop best practice standards for public authorities, alongside repealing the 1737 Act of Justice (Ireland) legislation which banned Irish from courts. [...] Paula Melvin, President of Conradh na Gaeilge, said on Tuesday: "The Irish language community has been fighting for these rights for decades and in that regard to see the Irish language be afforded official recognition here [in Northern Ireland] for the first time is indeed historic.