Asked by: Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour - Streatham)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps he is taking to introduce an Irish language Bill.
Answered by Conor Burns
It is disappointing that the Northern Ireland Executive has not progressed the package of identity, language and culture legislation that was carefully negotiated as part of the New Decade, New Approach agreement.
This balanced package of legislation is not an 'Irish language bill’ as it will benefit everyone in Northern Ireland, including the Irish language and Ulster Scots communities, and culture and identity more widely.
In the absence of progress from the Northern Ireland Executive, the Government is now taking the necessary steps to introduce the legislation.