HL Deb 30 November 2000 vol 619 cc160-1WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What language groups were consulted by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in the production of a pamphlet entitled The Bill of Rights—Language in September; whether it contains the views of the commission; and whether it satisfies the requirements of the Belfast agreement of 1998, which guaranteed total parity of esteem and equality. [HL4661]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

The pamphlet entitledThe Bill of Rights—Language, along with the 10 other pamphlets in a Bill of Rights series, was produced as an aid to the consultation exercise currently being undertaken by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on the scope for measures to be included in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. As such, the pamphlets were not the subject of consultation with outside groups prior to publication. The current consultation exercise will inform the advice that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission provides to government on the scope for defining a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

This satisfies the requirements of the Belfast agreement of 1998.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is proposing to appoint a nominee from the Irish language sector to the Education Rights Working Group considering the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights but has made no allowance for an Ulster Scots nominee. [HL4725]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. An invitation was extended to someone working in the Irish medium schools to join the Education Rights Working Group. The commission is not aware of any schools currently teaching in the medium of Ulster Scots.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Irish Government has complied with its specific human rights obligations as contained in the Belfast agreement, under the chapter entitled Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity; and, in particular, whether the Irish Government has fulfilled its obligation to ratify the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities. [HL4727]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

These are matters for the Irish Government.