Written question asked by Lord Laird (Non-affiliated) on Tuesday, 21 March 2017, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 April 2017. It was answered by Lord Dunlop (Conservative) on Monday, 3 April 2017 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Irish Language

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the parity of esteem under the 1998 Belfast Agreement, whether any change of status for the Irish language would also be granted to the Ulster Scots language.

Answer

Although the recent talks have not yet delivered a devolved power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland, the Government’s priority is to see a functioning Executive in place at Stormont.

Under the devolution settlement, the majority of responsibility for language issues rests with the Northern Ireland Executive, including policy relating to the promotion of minority languages.

As the Government has previously made clear it is committed to affording due respect and parity of esteem to the cultural traditions in Northern Ireland.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL6255
Session: 2016-17
Subjects: Belfast Agreement Irish language Ulster Scots language
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Irish Language

Secondary information

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