Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to Acht na Gaeilge; the timescale for the enactment of this legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15658/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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All parties to the Good Friday Agreement recognised the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity, which in Northern Ireland includes the Irish language, Ulster-Scots and the languages of the various ethnic communities.

The New Decade, New Approach Agreement (NDNA) reached in January 2020 was a very significant shared achievement by the parties in Northern Ireland together with the British and Irish Governments. The package of language and identity legislation agreed in NDNA was detailed and balanced and should be implemented. As outlined in the Programme for Government, the full implementation of the Agreement is an important priority for the Government.

With respect to the introduction of language and identity legislation, in the absence of progress in the Assembly, I welcome the commitment by the British Government to take this forward as soon as possible in Westminster. This should be on the basis of the legislative provisions negotiated, agreed and published at the time of NDNA. I raised this issue with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the British Irish Intergovernmental conference held this week, and emphasised the importance of progress on this important commitment.

With respect to the Government’s commitments to support the Irish language in Northern Ireland made alongside the NDNA, these have been positively advanced. Funding of €1.2m per annum for 2021-2023 has been allocated for the development of Irish language broadcasting, and the promotion of the Irish language in Northern Ireland, which is being administered by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (D/TCAGSM). €1.2m over three years (2020-22) has been allocated to further support for the Irish language in Northern Ireland. Additional funding has also been provided to facilitate an All Island expansion of the existing Irish Language Network strategy.