Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the St Andrews Agreement of 2006, what her policy is on the introduction of an Irish Language Act.

Since May 2007, Northern Ireland’s devolved institutions have been responsible for the introduction of the Irish language Act. It is disappointing that the Northern Ireland parties have been unable to reach an agreement on how to proceed in this area.

The UK Government will continue to do all it can to support delivery of an effective, stable, power-sharing devolved Government, so that decisions on issues such as the Irish language and other languages are taken by locally accountable politicians.