asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the consultation sponsored by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure on the proposed Irish Language Bill started; when the consultation ended; when the department published the outcome of the consultation; and what consideration was given to equality. [HL2737]
The first consultation paper on proposed Irish language legislation was published on 13 December 2006.
An equality impact screening exercise was carried out for the purposes of this consultation. As a result, an equality impact assessment was conducted and published for consultation. Part one of the EQIA was published on 13 December 2006 with a deadline for responses of 2 March 2007; part two was published on 19 January 2007 with a deadline of 9 March 2007. The consultation specifically invited comments on equality issues in relation to Irish language legislation.
A summary of responses to the equality impact assessments is shortly to be available on DCAL's website, www.dcalni.gov.uk.
The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has published a second consultation paper, on 13 March 2007, seeking views on indicative draft clauses for legislation. Any equality issues raised within this second consultation will be given consideration. The deadline for responses to this paper is 5 June 2007. Copies of the document are available from the Library of the House, and on DCAL's website.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Ulster Scots Language is not included within the scope of the proposed Irish Language Bill; and who was consulted about this decision. [HL2814]
The commitment to introduce Irish language legislation was made by Government in the St Andrews agreement of October 2006.
The Government believe that Ulster Scots at this stage is best enhanced and developed through the framework of the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. To achieve this, support has been offered in an initiative to explore how the Ulster Scots language can progress to Part III status under the charter.
The Ulster Scots Academy Implementation Group proposals for the establishment of an Ulster Scots Academy are currently under consideration. The funding of the implementation group to deliver a language development programme and the establishment of the academy will have a significant role in the development of the Ulster Scots language.
In light of these developments, there are no current plans to introduce language legislation for Ulster Scots.