Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill The purpose of the Bill is to: ● Deliver a carefully balanced package of identity and language measures as negotiated by the Northern Ireland parties under the New Decade, New Approach Deal. This will recognise and celebrate Northern Ireland’s national and cultural identities and accommodate cultural differences. ●
Enhance and develop the Ulster Scots/Ulster British tradition in Northern Ireland and recognise and protect the Irish language.
The main benefits of the Bill would be: ● Upholding a key element of the New Decade, New Approach Deal by legislating to deliver a new cultural framework to encourage reconciliation, tolerance and meaningful dialogue between those with different national and cultural identities. ● Ensuring appropriate support for the respective needs of the Ulster Scots/Ulster British tradition and of the Irish language in Northern Ireland. ● Providing a basis on which Northern Ireland can move forwards on matters of national and cultural identity. The main elements of the Bill are: ● Creating a new Office of Identity and Cultural Expression that will provide guidance for public authorities on a series of national and cultural identity principles set out in the New Decade, New Approach Deal. ● Creating two new Commissioners who will be appointed by the First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly: o a new Commissioner who will enhance and develop the language, arts and literature of the Ulster Scots and Ulster British tradition in Northern Ireland. They will do this by providing guidance and advice to public authorities, and distributing publicity material; and o a new Irish Language Commissioner to protect and enhance the use of the Irish language and develop a set of best practice standards for public authorities in Northern Ireland. ● Providing official recognition in law to the Irish Language in Northern Ireland and repealing the Administration of Justice (Ireland) Act 1737.
124
