He said Foras na Gaeilge, the north-south body tasked with promoting the Irish language, depends on a match-funding mechanism that must be agreed by both Stormont and the Irish Parliament.
The strike action comes after the cross-border Irish language body Foras na Gaeilge announced funding cuts of 820,000 euro (£679,608).
“Over recent months, both finance ministers agreed a new framework to reform that funding relationship which would allow either Government to provide Foras with additional funding without the need for the equivalent match-funding from the other government.
We know there is extra money available in the south, but that money cannot get through to Foras na Gaeilge due to the funding mechanism that requires match-funding from the northern Executive,” he said.
However, he also said there is funding available from the Irish Government if the Stormont Executive agreed to a new framework.
