AQW 17975/22-27 Written question to the First Minister and deputy First Minister
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister when they will engage with the Minister for Communities on how his Department's work on language, culture and heritage will dovetail with the appointment of the relevant commissioners under the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 11 November 2024
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 11 November 2024
- Answer due by
- 26 November 2024
- Answered
- 22 November 202411 days after tabling
- Department
- The Executive Office
- Priority question
- No
Answer
TEO is taking forward the necessary arrangements to implement the provisions of the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 (the Act) for which it is responsible, namely the establishment of the new bodies namely:
The Office of Identity and Cultural Expression;
The Irish Language Commissioner; and
The Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition.
The Department for Communities (DfC) remains policy lead for language policy including the development of the Ulster Scots, Language, Heritage and Culture strategy and the Irish Language strategy.
A senior official from TEO has been in regular attendance at the DfC led cross departmental working group supporting the development of these Strategies.