Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on Irish language as announced by the Government in June 2021; and if he will bring forward those legislative proposals before the Northern Ireland Assembly mandate ends in March 2022.

As the Northern Ireland Executive has not progressed the carefully balanced package of legislative commitments negotiated in New Decade, New Approach in respect of identity and language, the Government intends to do so soon. The legislation that the Government plans to introduce will benefit everyone in Northern Ireland, including Irish language speakers and those of the Ulster Scots/Ulster British tradition.