Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015
531. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with Members of the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland, which is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive; the progress on introducing such an Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46207/15]
View answerA number of elements of the Good Friday Agreement and St Andrews Agreement have not yet been fully implemented including an Irish Language Act, a North South Consultative Forum, and Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Government’s firm position is that these Agreements must be implemented in full. The Agreements, as well as the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s approach to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island.
As the Deputy has outlined in his question, the matter of an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland is a devolved one and is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and, in particular, of the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Ms. Carál Ní Chuilín MLA. In terms of recent progress, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure ran a public consultation process on an Irish Language Bill earlier this year following on from the launch of a 20 year Strategy for both Irish and Ulster Scots in January this year.
The Government is closely following progress on this and will continue to advocate for an Irish Language Act and to encourage those Northern Ireland parties which currently support an Act to continue to build the necessary enabling consensus among their Executive colleagues.
In addition to our support for an Act, the Government also works to ensure the ongoing enhancement and protection of the Irish language in Northern Ireland including through the North South Language Body.
