To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 23 October 2024 (HL1707), whether they will now answer the question put; namely, what progress they have made in establishing the Castlereagh Foundation provided for in section 8 of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 23 October 2024 (HL1707), whether they will now answer the question put; namely, what progress they have made in establishing the Castlereagh Foundation provided for in section 8 of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has for the (a) establishment and (b) work of the Castlereagh Foundation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has for the (a) establishment and (b) work of the Castlereagh Foundation.

The Executive Office is responsible for taking forward the necessary arrangements to implement the commenced provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 that includes the establishment of the Castlereagh Foundation. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps...

The Executive Office is responsible for taking forward the necessary arrangements to implement the commenced provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 that includes the establishment of the Castlereagh Foundation. The Government expects the Executive Office will make an announcement in due course regarding next steps...

To ask His Majesty's Government what progess they have made in setting up the Castlereagh Foundation as set out in the New Decade, New Approach Deal of 2020 and subsequent legislation.

To ask His Majesty's Government what progess they have made in setting up the Castlereagh Foundation as set out in the New Decade, New Approach Deal of 2020 and subsequent legislation.

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing the Castlereagh Foundation provided for in section 8 of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing the Castlereagh Foundation provided for in section 8 of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress he has made on the establishment of the Castelreagh Foundation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress he has made on the establishment of the Castelreagh Foundation.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to paragraph 25 of Annex A of the New Decade, New Approach Deal, published in January 2020, how much funding they provided to establish the Castlereagh Foundation.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to paragraph 25 of Annex A of the New Decade, New Approach Deal, published in January 2020, how much funding they provided to establish the Castlereagh Foundation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress he has made on establishing the Castlereagh Foundation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress he has made on establishing the Castlereagh Foundation.

Moved by

Lord Murphy of Torfaen

1: Clause 1, page 2, line 5, after “means” insert “the Northern Ireland Office, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and”

Moved by

Lord Murphy of Torfaen

1: Clause 1, page 2, line 5, after “means” insert “the Northern Ireland Office, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and”

My Lords, I cannot say that the Report stage in front of us will excite people in the same way that other events might today, but it is still very important for the future stability of Northern Ireland.

Before I go into some small details, I will mention one or two...

My Lords, I cannot say that the Report stage in front of us will excite people in the same way that other events might today, but it is still very important for the future stability of Northern Ireland.

Before I go into some small details, I will mention one or two...

My Lords, I echo many of the points just made by the noble Lord, Lord Murphy. I also repeat the comment that many of us made in Committee: it is with regret that we are debating this Bill at all. It should be debated in Northern Ireland by the Northern...

My Lords, I echo many of the points just made by the noble Lord, Lord Murphy. I also repeat the comment that many of us made in Committee: it is with regret that we are debating this Bill at all. It should be debated in Northern Ireland by the Northern...

My Lords, first, I apologise for my non-participation at Second Reading, due to the fact that I was at Queen’s University on that day receiving an honorary professorship, and in Committee because I had Covid. However, I watched that stage from the comfort of my bedroom and found that some...

My Lords, first, I apologise for my non-participation at Second Reading, due to the fact that I was at Queen’s University on that day receiving an honorary professorship, and in Committee because I had Covid. However, I watched that stage from the comfort of my bedroom and found that some...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lords who have spoken to these amendments. I say at the outset how grateful I am to the noble Lord, Lord Murphy. As I made clear in my first speech from this Dispatch Box as a Minister, while we might not...

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lords who have spoken to these amendments. I say at the outset how grateful I am to the noble Lord, Lord Murphy. As I made clear in my first speech from this Dispatch Box as a Minister, while we might not...

My Lords, I understand the points the Minister makes. He also makes the point that, eventually, as this Bill is embedded in Northern Ireland law over the years ahead, the Assembly itself might decide to make changes and that, in the

meantime, the bodies to which I have referred—the NIO...

My Lords, I understand the points the Minister makes. He also makes the point that, eventually, as this Bill is embedded in Northern Ireland law over the years ahead, the Assembly itself might decide to make changes and that, in the

meantime, the bodies to which I have referred—the NIO...

Moved by

Lord Caine

2: Clause 1, page 3, line 22, leave out from “Commissioner” to “Ulster” in line 24 and insert “for the Ulster Scots and the”

Moved by

Lord Caine

2: Clause 1, page 3, line 22, leave out from “Commissioner” to “Ulster” in line 24 and insert “for the Ulster Scots and the”

My Lords, these amendments in my name all concern proposed changes to the differentiation in the Bill between Ulster Scots as a recognised national minority and the Ulster British tradition. Following the extensive debate on these matters in Committee, I undertook to consider proposals put forward by noble Lords and,...

My Lords, these amendments in my name all concern proposed changes to the differentiation in the Bill between Ulster Scots as a recognised national minority and the Ulster British tradition. Following the extensive debate on these matters in Committee, I undertook to consider proposals put forward by noble Lords and,...

My Lords, the Minister has proved that he has been listening. I know the Bill in its entirety is a wee bit like the curate’s egg—good in

parts—but on behalf of my party, I welcome what he has committed himself to here today.

My Lords, the Minister has proved that he has been listening. I know the Bill in its entirety is a wee bit like the curate’s egg—good in

parts—but on behalf of my party, I welcome what he has committed himself to here today.

Moved by

Lord Morrow

2A: Clause 1, page 3, line 33, at end insert—

“(5) The First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly must annually assess and report on the costs arising from the operation of the Office in line with the duties prescribed in section (Assessment of expenditure) of the Identity...

Moved by

Lord Morrow

2A: Clause 1, page 3, line 33, at end insert—

“(5) The First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly must annually assess and report on the costs arising from the operation of the Office in line with the duties prescribed in section (Assessment of expenditure) of the Identity...

My Lords, I am pleased to speak to Amendments 2A, 4, 16, 35A and 37, and I point out at the commencement that the noble Lord, Lord Empey, is a signatory to them but regrettably is unable to be with us today due to domestic circumstances. We wish him well...

My Lords, I am pleased to speak to Amendments 2A, 4, 16, 35A and 37, and I point out at the commencement that the noble Lord, Lord Empey, is a signatory to them but regrettably is unable to be with us today due to domestic circumstances. We wish him well...

My Lords, I will very briefly add a word or two. By way of general introduction, I agree with noble Lords who have already said that this is a matter that should be decided and debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly rather than in this place. Of course, had the...

My Lords, I will very briefly add a word or two. By way of general introduction, I agree with noble Lords who have already said that this is a matter that should be decided and debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly rather than in this place. Of course, had the...