The UK government has confirmed that it will introduce legislation on Wednesday aimed at protecting the Irish language in Northern Ireland in the House of Commons.
The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill will provide measures to “promote and respect the diverse national, cultural and linguistic identities of Northern Ireland”.
It also envisages “the recognition and protection of the Irish language and the development of the Scottish and British Ulster tradition” and will create two curators and an Office of Identity and Cultural Expression.
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The bill will amend the Northern Ireland Act to allow for the establishment of three new public authorities in Northern Ireland, including an Office of Cultural Identity and Expression to promote cultural pluralism and respect for diversity, together with the Irish Language Commissioners and the Ulster Scots. British Ulster tradition.
The Irish language, which will be granted official status in Northern Ireland, will be protected by a new commissioner in charge of developing standards of good practice for public authorities. These standards, which will be subject to approval, will help facilitate interaction between users of Irish-speaking services and public bodies.
Another curator will work to improve and develop the language, arts and literature associated with the Scottish Ulster tradition and the British Ulster tradition, and will promote the Scottish Ulster services provided by public authorities.
After the Executive did not advance legislation to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pledged to bring the legislation to Parliament, which will be delivered on Wednesday.
In addition to the legislation, the UK government has also announced the delivery of two of its own commitments of the new decade, the new approach. The government officially recognizes Ulster Scots as a national minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, a status already granted to Irish, Welsh and Scots, and since 2014, Cornish, among others.
The government will also provide £ 4 million to An Ciste Infheóiste Gaeilge, the Irish Language Investment Fund.
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Secretary of State Brandon Lewis said: “The introduction of this bill represents an important milestone, not only in the continuation of the new decade, the new approach, but in the establishment of a new cultural framework for to the people of Northern Ireland.
“This legislation is carefully balanced, as negotiated by all parties, to ensure that everyone in Northern Ireland benefits.
“Legislation will not only faithfully comply with the measures within the New Decade, the new approach, but will also, above all, ensure the principles of respect and tolerance, as stated in Belfast. [ Good Friday] Okay, so keep going. ”
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