UK Government to table Irish language legislation at Westminster

The UK Government has confirmed that it will introduce on Wednesday legislation that aims to protect the Irish language in Northern Ireland to the House of Commons.

Under proposed plans for language and identity, the Irish language would be granted official status in Northern Ireland, which campaigners hailed as “historic”.

The Northern Ireland Office said that the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill would aim to “deliver a balanced package of measures for Northern Ireland on identity and language, fulfilling the commitments set out in New Decade, New Approach”.

“It will provide for the recognition and protection of the Irish language and the development of the Ulster Scots and Ulster British tradition,” the department said in a statement.

The draft laws propose creating two commissioner roles – one for the Irish language and another for the Ulster Scots/Ulster British tradition.

An Office of Identity and Cultural Expression will also be established as part of the Bill, “to promote cultural pluralism and respect for diversity”.

“This legislation is carefully balanced, as negotiated by all parties, to ensure everyone in Northern Ireland benefits” - Brandon Lewis

Separate to the Identity and Language Bill, the UK Government also announced that it is granting Ulster Scots recognition as a National Minority under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities – a status already granted to Irish, Welsh, Scots and Cornish.