To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions his Department has had with Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive on an Irish Language Act; and how the Government propose to meet their undertaking to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. (164023)

My Department has had no discussions on an Irish Language Act with Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Section 15 of the Northern Ireland (St. Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 places a duty on the Northern Ireland Executive to adopt a strategy setting out how it proposes to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. The Government stand ready to support the Executive’s efforts in implementing this strategy, once it has been developed.