Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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239. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is will meet with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the Irish Language Act in the Northern Ireland. [21974/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Officials from my Department have been in contact with Conradh na Gaeilge to offer a meeting to hear Conradh’s perspectives and concerns with respect to this important issue. The Department also met with Conradh on 8 April 2021 to discuss the implementation of the language and identity provisions of the New Decade, New Approach Agreement.

The  New Decade, New Approach Agreement was a significant shared achievement, and amongst other provisions, gives effect to the recognition by all parties of 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 package of language and identity legislation that was agreed upon was detailed and balanced.  As outlined in the Programme for Government, the full implementation of the Agreement is an important priority for the Government.

In the absence of progress in the Assembly, I welcome the commitment by the British Government to introduce this legislation 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 (BIIGC) held at the end of March, and emphasised the importance of progress on this commitment.

Officials from my Department met their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Office last week to discuss the status of the legislation and underline the need for early progress.

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.