Gordon Lyons
East Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Implementing other recommendations will require further legislation that, I trust, will come in the next mandate, but I can confirm that 60 of the recommendations have already been separately addressed by either the Department or the commission. I hope that that answers his questions.”
“Yes, I do and am happy to share those. The issue has been raised in the Chamber and through Assembly questions. My position is that we want to make it simple and straightforward for people.”
“They also introduce greater flexibility in financial reporting, allowing requirements to be tailored more appropriately, reducing burdens on smaller organisations and ensuring that the system can adapt over time through secondary legislation.”
“If they want to constitute as a Northern Ireland-only charity, they are able to do that, if they believe that that will bring certain benefits.”
“That is similar to what we are trying to do with trustees. Even though you leave your position as a trustee or your position as someone who holds an office in a charity or who has employment in the office, the commissioner will still be able to make a determination that says, "Even though you have left, we are still making this order to t…”
“I do not believe that it was. That was maybe picked up wrong. We are happy to look at and explore that, but that is the information that I have on it. Again, we will have the Committee Stage of the legislation, so we can look into that then.”
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“Many of my colleagues in the Chamber have invited me to see the state of community infrastructure in Northern Ireland, be it at a hall or another community organisation's premises. I recognise that there is a deficit, and I am introducing the grant scheme because I know that such facilities are key to the success of so many of our community and voluntary organisations. I am afraid that the Member will have to wait a little longer for more information, but I will announce full details of the scheme on 26 June, including timelines, total funding allocations and what can be expected from it. I hope that the Member will keep that date free.”
“I want to see changes brought in to make sure that we have a robust welfare system in which the money goes to those who are actually in need and are entitled to it. One of the best ways to do that is to increase the number of staff working in those areas. I have submitted a bid to Executive colleagues as part of a wider paper so that we can tackle the issue. I am also working with the UK Government to ensure that we can invest more. Additional investment in tackling fraud and error brings a huge return to the Treasury as well, and I would be interested to see how we could share that dividend. That is good news for everybody. It will make sure that money goes to those who need it, with the potential for more money to come back into our pockets, as well as back into the Treasury, so that it can then be directed to those who are in need.”
“The Member referenced the anti-poverty strategy. That will be published very soon. As I promised in the House, I want to brief those who have been central to the design of the strategy, and that will happen very shortly. We will then be in a position to publish the strategy, and the Member will see some of the actions that will be taken not just by the Department for Communities but across government, because it is not simply down to one Department to solve the issue. Indeed, it is not down just to government to solve the issue: individuals, families and other organisations will play their roles as well. The fuel poverty strategy will also be critical to dealing with the issue, because it is the cost of heating homes that drives so many people into poverty. I am absolutely committed to dealing with that.”
“Plans are in place so that, once the change has been confirmed, it will be able to start looking at how to deliver those homes. This is not, however, just about building new homes; it is about improving the quality of homes in Northern Ireland. I have been pushing that since the start of my time in office and will continue to do so, because it is critical that we get delivery.”
“Good work has been done by my officials and officials in the Department of Finance to ensure that that issue can be progressed. It is important that we see a resolution and that the Treasury confirm what we all believe, which is that the Housing Executive should be treated the same as local authorities — councils — in the rest of the UK. I raise the issue with UK Government Ministers at every opportunity. I will see the Deputy Prime Minister later this week and will raise it with her as well. The First Minister and deputy First Minister raised that issue with the Prime Minister last week, and I will write to him again to ask for movement on it. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased to say that the Housing Executive has not just been sitting around waiting for the approval.”
“I am determined to take action that will make a difference. I have submitted a request to Executive colleagues about how we can better tackle the issue, because it is not acceptable that we lose £240 million a year in this way. I want to see the right money going to the right people at the right time, and others in the House should support me in that.”
“Yes, I can. Many in the House were sceptical of the move that I made to ensure that those who were found guilty of benefit fraud were named. I am glad that that decision occurred, because, over the past number of weeks, we have seen many individuals who have been responsible for defrauding the system of not £5,000, £6,000 or £7,000 but tens of thousands of pounds. It is right, therefore, that we take a strong line and say that it is not acceptable to take money to which you are clearly not entitled.”
“I can certainly give the assurance that we will do everything that we can to support those who are most in need. You can see that already in the work of the Department. When the Labour Government announced last year that they were, disgracefully, removing the winter fuel payment for many of our pensioners who were in genuine need, I secured money and delivered that for tens of thousands of households across Northern Ireland. I have brought forward the anti-poverty strategy. I am aware that the Member has had a briefing on that. He will also be aware of the work that is being done on the fuel poverty strategy. I want to make sure that we put in place real action that makes a difference in people's lives. We will continue to lobby the UK Government to make sure that they, too, provide the support that is needed.”
“I have secured Executive agreement on the need to ensure that we again have a Housing Executive that has borrowing powers. I am taking action where I can and putting the money where it needs to be. <BR /> <BR />If the Member has any other ideas, I would love to hear them, but he offered none in his speech. I will continue with the progress that I have made. I will continue to deliver, and I will not be distracted by the Member.”
“It is clear that the Member did not listen to anything that I said. It is always easy for the Member to put his angry head on, but he never comes forward with any proposals or solutions. I am taking the issue seriously. After you take away the inescapable pressures, 80% of my remaining capital budget is going towards housing. Last year, I was in a similar position and did not have enough money to build all the social homes that I wanted to, but we found other ways of doing that; additional bids were made. <BR /> <BR />If the Member had listened to my statement, he would have heard that I am looking to do things differently. I am looking at how we can ensure that public land is best used so that we can build more homes. I have brought forward a housing supply strategy.”
“It is right that, as Minister for the largest Department, I show leadership and make that move. I look forward to engaging with trade unions and departmental officials in due course. <BR /> <BR />I understand that there will be concerns and questions about the proposed allocations, but I emphasise that the decisions were not made lightly. My commitment to the House and to the communities, people and organisations that my Department supports is to improve the lives of people in Northern Ireland, maximise the impact with limited resources and ensure that every pound spent is a step towards a better future for the people of Northern Ireland. Therefore, I commend the statement to the House.”
“At a time of great uncertainty, following many announcements from the Labour Government, we must ensure that every pound that we spend is spent well and goes to those who need it most. <BR /> <BR />Many of my Department's stakeholders are feeling the pinch from the general cost-of-living increase, rising prices, increased taxes or inflation. Now is the time to cut our cloth and ensure that our budgets are spent well. That also applies to me, so my final announcement is to confirm to the House that, as of this year, I will review all vacancies that sit within the Department for Communities' baseline. More than 1,000 of those posts have not been filled due to consecutive bids in Budget rounds not being met. I have decided to lead the way on the drive for efficiency.”
“It has been transformational, but so much more can be done. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that, this year, I propose that the budget will be £3 million. Working alongside my colleague Paul Givan, my ambition is for every post-primary school in Northern Ireland to have a 3G pitch and sporting facilities that can benefit local communities. Building on last year's investment, I am making additional capital funding available to help improve safety at motor sport events. That is crucial in helping to ensure that racing can be as safe as possible. <BR /> <BR />We must also restore confidence in a welfare system that is fair, transparent and focused on the right people. My Department's latest published estimates for 2023 show a loss of £240·3 million due to customer fraud, customer error and official error.”
“Finally, on regeneration, I am delighted to confirm that I will make a major announcement tomorrow at 2.30 pm on the development of Queen's Parade in Bangor. <BR /> <BR />I move now to sport. We know that sport plays a vital role in communities and is critically important to our young people. The provision of places to play and train is one of the concerns on which I get lobbied most frequently. I know the impact that a lack of facilities has, and I am determined to act on it. One of the ways that we can do that is by ensuring that we maximise the use of the schools estate. To that end, the Your School Your Club programme has been effective in making sure that improvements are made to school sporting infrastructure that can be of benefit to the school and the local community. Last year, I invested £500,000 in that programme.”
“In tandem, the £5 million public realm works adjacent to the city walls will deliver on improvements to several streets in the historic Londonderry city centre. I am also pleased to announce that I will invest £1·6 million, this year, in essential conservation works at Carrickfergus Castle. A significant part of that funding will be directed at enhancing the visitor experience of and improving access to and within the castle. That will realise the castle's status as a world-class attraction, bringing more visitors to Carrickfergus and establishing it as the gateway to the Causeway coastal route. We must protect our heritage assets, and I will do everything that I can to ensure that we do.”
“I recognise that and, as a result, will make a significant announcement on 26 June for a new community infrastructure grant that will be transformational to the voluntary and community sector. <BR /> <BR />In addition to the capital funding that I have highlighted, I am initiating and funding a wide range of regeneration projects. The larger projects include the Glengormley public realm project, which will see a total contribution of over £2·5 million as part of a wider funding package. The £3 million Shankill gateway public realm scheme will also begin this summer and will take approximately 12 months to complete. That scheme will bring much-needed improvements to enhance the linkage of the Shankill community to Belfast city centre.”
“<BR /> <BR />Capital funding of over £4 million will be allocated to neighbourhood renewal to support community and voluntary sector partners and will deliver funding for projects that support communities. I am delighted to announce support for several projects, including a new youth hub for Ardoyne Youth Enterprise; a new-build community centre for a local community organisation, Glencairn Community Partnership; and the redevelopment of Bloomfield Community Association's centre in east Belfast. I am also pleased to be able to support Ballee Community Group in Ballymena to provide an outdoor canopy to cover the children's play area there. <BR /> <BR />Capital investment in our community infrastructure is vital. Their facilities are the heartbeat of every community in Northern Ireland.”
“Therefore, I am also pleased to announce a £500,000 small capital grants programme to support local arts venues and creative spaces, as well as funding for artists in residence, to each borough and district council. <BR /> <BR />Today, I also acknowledge the vital role provided by the voluntary and community sector. Those organisations create an enormously important social value through community engagement, job creation and overall improvement in people's quality of life. Given the rising cost pressures facing the sector, I propose that the voluntary and community sector funding increases by £2·8 million on the Department's 2024-25 funding level. I understand that that funding offers a lifeline but not a solution, and I understand that the sector continues to operate under immense strain.”
“<BR /> <BR />Turning to the Arts Council, I propose capital funding for several programmes, including £750,000 for musical instruments, so that everyone has the chance to learn, to play and to perform, connecting more people with the arts. That money has helped individuals, bands, professional and non-professional groups, primary schools, creative arts centres and talent development organisations. I said that I wanted to get more people involved in the arts. This year, we were able to help 4,500 people to do just that, and I want to see that continue. I also said that I would ensure a better balance of arts funding to every community and corner of Northern Ireland.”
“I also propose capital funding to the Northern Ireland Museums Council of £30,000 for the museum collection fund and £80,000 for small capital grants. Grants to local museums for the acquisition of specimens to add to their collection or to address urgent needs in the storage, conservation and rationalisation of collections will be welcome news for the sector. I also want to ensure that National Museums gets back to a stable operating base after many years of constrained funding. Therefore, I propose an opening resource budget of £20 million alongside £3 million of capital. That capital funding will allow investment of nearly £1·5 million in the Ulster Museum store and in exhibit buildings and gallery works.”
“Furthermore, I propose an additional allocation to National Museums NI and Libraries NI to maintain operational stability and ensure continued public access to those key cultural and educational institutions. The proposed allocation will not fund all pressures faced but will ease service delivery pressures in 2025-26. <BR /> <BR />Year-on-year budget cuts have placed increasing pressure on those institutions, threatening their ability to serve the public effectively. To reverse that trend and to secure the future of our libraries, I propose capital funding of over £1 million: £750,000 towards the replacement of Enniskillen library, without which major health and safety concerns present a high risk of potential closure of the facility. I also allocate £200,000 to Newtownards library.”
“We also need to continue to support those who need it most. Therefore, I propose to maintain the discretionary support grant budget at £25·5 million, but we must ensure that that fund is not abused and goes to those who are genuinely in need. Therefore, I will introduce reforms to protect that money from fraud and thereby protect those who really need it. <BR /> <BR />My Department's arms-length bodies (ALBs) play a vital role in helping us to deliver our objectives. Despite the constrained financial position facing my Department in 2025-26, I propose that my Department's ALBs receive an additional £3·7 million general allocation in 2025-26 above their 2024-25 funding level.”
“There are far too many economically inactive people who want to get into work but just need some help to do so. I want their talents, potential and opportunities to be maximised. Therefore, I am also pleased to announce that I will invest in a new multimillion-pound employment programme that will support all age groups and tackle the barriers to economic activity. I will make an announcement to the Assembly on the details of that in due course. It will be one of the most extensive job programmes of recent times.”
“We will put the same effort into driving up those figures this year as we did last year, and we will continue to make the case for that at every possible opportunity. However, it is not enough to simply ask for more money. We need to do things differently. That is why I will bring proposals to the Executive shortly on how we can do more with the money that we have to build more homes. I look forward to working with other Ministers, the Housing Executive and housing associations on that. <BR /> <BR />I also want to increase opportunities and life chances for everyone in Northern Ireland. Far too many people, and, indeed, generations, are stuck in a cycle of welfare dependency. That should be a cause of concern for us all. We should have greater ambition for our people.”
“The inclusion of housing as one of the key pillars of the Programme for Government (PFG) shows the widespread support to deliver affordable, sustainable and quality housing. My proposed budget of £63 million will facilitate the start of approximately 900 to 1,000 new-build social homes. That is on top of the £105 million from last year for pre-commitments to housebuilding. <BR /> <BR />That is not enough, however. Last year, the Assembly declared that there is a housing crisis in Northern Ireland, yet we are left in a position where we are funding less than 50% of the Programme for Government's housing target. Last year was even worse, with my budget allocation allowing for only 400 new starts. I am proud to say that, by the end of the year, that had increased to 1,502.”
“I am therefore pleased to announce that I am proposing an additional allocation to homelessness and the Supporting People programme of £3·7 million above the 2024-25 budget position. In addition, I am proposing £2·8 million capital to the new foundation project to move forward with securing 110 units of accommodation to support young people leaving care. <BR /> <BR />That is not just about providing shelter; it is about restoring dignity and hope to those who have fallen on hard times and preventing those people falling into hardship. However, in order to tackle that issue properly, we need more homes. Social housing is crucial, as it provides affordable, stable housing options for those who might otherwise struggle in the private rental market.”
“Let me turn first to housing. I have made it clear that addressing homelessness and increasing the supply of housing is one of my top priorities. That is why I have delivered a housing supply strategy, launched an affordable rent scheme, allocated £10 million for loans to acquire move-on accommodation, secured cross-party consensus on the need for borrowing powers for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), removed intimidation points to level the playing field and ensured that Housing Executive reserves are used to buy homes to address pressures on temporary accommodation, which will realise savings of up to £75 million over the next seven years. However, there is more to do.”
“I have no doubt that, today, Members will set out all the areas in which they would like me to spend more. However, I must operate within the budget that I have been allocated, and that is why, this year, I am doing things differently.”
“I wish to make a statement to the Assembly regarding my Department's 2025-26 initial Budget allocations. The work that my Department does is transformational. It impacts on people across Northern Ireland and delivers positive outcomes, often to those who are in greatest need. Housing, the arts, culture; sport, benefits and pensions, child support, the historic environment, urban regeneration, local government, social inclusion and libraries and museums touch the lives of almost everyone in Northern Ireland. I know that there is so much more to be done. I want to do more. I am operating in a continually constrained budgetary environment, but I am determined to use to best effect the money that has been secured. Pressures will, of course, remain right across my Department.”
“We are all aware of and have seen at first hand the impact that drugs and drug deaths have on our communities and the pain and sadness that come in the aftermath. I am pleased that there has been cross-party unity on the issue today and hope that that continues, developing into greater cross-departmental working and collaboration, so that we can tackle the issue head-on. As I said at the start of my contribution, we are talking about real people, families and lives here, and it is incumbent on us to do everything that we can to tackle the issue.”
“They are not: that is the message that we need to get across to people in our society. We need to make sure that people never feel that drugs are the only way out. That is the situation that many people find themselves in. <BR /> <BR />I hope that we can work together across different agencies, Departments and the voluntary and community sector, including many people from a faith background as well. We also need to make sure that families have the resources that they need to tackle the issues. There is no silver bullet to tackle the issue. There is no single measure that Minister Nesbitt can put in place to tackle it.”
“Of course, we need to make sure that we do everything that we can with our young people in terms of education and prevention as well. <BR /> <BR />We need to recognise the good work that is being done by many organisations in the communities that we represent. I think of the YMCA, Carrick Connect and Extern, which all play a valuable role. One evening in January, I was out in Carrickfergus with CHILL, which does exceptional work with the police to provide safer environments for our young people. However, I heard a story recently from one young user of drugs, who said that he takes drugs so that it does not hurt as much, "when daddy beats mummy and me up". The sad reality of the society in which we live today is that, for too many people, drugs are seen as a refuge from trauma.”
“I commend the good work that is taking place to make sure that the people who need help get it. I know that, if it were not for those dedicated professionals, we would be in a far worse situation today. <BR /> <BR />We also need to create opportunities for people, particularly our young people. I do not mean just social opportunities; I mean economic opportunities as well. We need to deal with the availability of the substances in our communities. The PSNI has a particular role in that regard. We also need to break down the stigma that exists around these issues. It is a good thing if someone presents with those problems in order to tackle them. We need to address that stigma and those barriers to treatment.”
“There is a lot of work that we need to do. <BR /> <BR />I will focus on the need for us all to tackle the root causes of the issue, and they are many. First, we need to tackle deprivation. People in areas of high deprivation are up to five times more likely to die from drug-related issues. I am pleased that we are taking forward work to tackle deprivation. With my departmental hat on, I thank Minister Nesbitt for the work that he has done with my Department on the drafting of the anti-poverty strategy, which will include steps to deal with deprivation. We know how important an issue that is and how important a cause it is for those who find themselves in this situation. We also need to improve access to mental health support. We all know how difficult that can be for many in our society.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I begin by thanking Mr Donnelly for bringing this important topic to the House and all those who have contributed already. I apologise for not being here for all of the debate due to ministerial business. <BR /> <BR />This is an issue of the utmost seriousness. We are talking about real people and families and real lives that have been cut short by drugs. The stats will have been well discussed during the debate. Clearly, we need to make sure that we do all that we can and that we take all the action that we can to deal with the issue. I thank the Minister for being here today. Of course, it is not just a Department of Health issue; we all need to work together, as Mr Dickson said, to deal with the pain, sadness and trauma that accompany the use of drugs and drug-related deaths.”
“I hope that they take time to reflect on some of the hurt that has been caused across Northern Ireland by those whom they have associated themselves with in the past. <BR /> <BR />Let us protect our museums in Northern Ireland as places of learning, not propaganda. Let us celebrate our shared heritage, not dismantle it. Let us preserve the mutual respect for National Museums NI. Let us ensure that decolonisation does not simply become code for an anti-British movement, dressed up as a virtue that seeks to divide rather than to unite. We in Northern Ireland deserve better. <BR /> <BR />That is why the amendment in the name of Mr Beattie goes some way to preventing some of the harm that might otherwise be caused by the motion and those who are behind it. I will happily accept the motion, but I will not support it unamended.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Inclusive Global Histories exhibition, for example, could be a platform for dialogue in the same way that National Museums Northern Ireland, through its Troubles and Beyond exhibition, has commanded respect from all sides of the community. That respect has been won not by rewriting history or sanitising our past but by telling the truth and being honest about our past. <BR /> <BR />Many listening will think that Sinn Féin has an absolute brass neck with the comments that its members have made. They talk about the need to tell the truth of the past; the need to be honest about the past and the hurt that has been inflicted on communities. It is beyond parody to hear words such as those from the Members opposite.”
“I do not agree with the Member's comment, because he is treating every artefact that did not originate in this place in the same way. That is simply not the case. Had the Member been listening to what I have just said, he would have realised that the artefacts and items in our collections come from many different places and were acquired by different means. Am I opposed to having the conversations and making sure that we do this in a sensible and appropriate way? No. Absolutely, that should be the case. In opposing the motion, I do not advocate a whitewashing of history. Museums should engage with communities, acknowledge contested provenance and present balanced narratives, but they must do so without succumbing to a politicised agenda that distorts the past to serve present-day ideologies.”
“On the surface, that seems reasonable. The motion cites the return of human remains to Hawaii as a success, and I do not dispute the moral case for doing that — few would. However, let us be clear: that is a narrow example that is being used to justify a much broader agenda. Moreover, who decides what gets repatriated? The vague call to cooperate with requests opens the door to endless demands, often from groups with tenuous claims to ownership. Many artefacts were legally acquired through trade, gifts or salvage. Others come from regions where modern nation states did not exist at the time of acquisition. The logic of decolonisation, as presented today, unravels when applied consistently, and it becomes a Pandora's box of competing claims driven not by ethics but by political pressure.”
“That leads me to believe that, perhaps, this is less about justice and more about a politically motivated, anti-British campaign. Let us consider the practical implications of the motion. It encourages museums to cooperate:”
“Our museums hold some extraordinary items. Those collections and markers of our past are not just the preserve of the great collections at National Museum Northern Ireland sites; they are held elsewhere in Northern Ireland as well. The collections are not just about holding objects from the past; they are about collecting, preserving and telling stories about how we came to be here and about the influences that, for good or ill, have helped to shape where we are, how we live today and how we regard and understand each other. <BR /> <BR />I have concerns about the motion, not because I dismiss the value of cultural sensitivity or the ethical stewardship of museum collections, but because of what I have seen of the so-called decolonisation agenda that other Members have presented today.”
“I have seen, at first hand, the work that museums can do to bring people from different cultural backgrounds together, both at home, where National Museums NI engages marginalised communities through the Global Voices Local Choices project, and, in the United States, with the work of Lonnie Bunch, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. In recognition of the important role that museums play in our society, a new museums policy is a central plank in the heritage, culture and creativity programme that I established last summer. I expect that policy to be ready by the end of the year. My intention is to support the work of our culture and heritage institutions and communities and to help protect and promote our tangible and intangible cultural heritage. <BR /> <BR />This debate centres on collections.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to respond to the motion on the decolonisation of museum collections and the repatriation of artefacts. <BR /> <BR />Museums are in the unique position of holding collections through which they can tell the stories of the past in order to engage, educate and inspire. Those stories can cross traditional, cultural and societal divides to bring people together over shared histories, but, equally importantly, they can facilitate difficult discussions and debates. I am aware of the live issues that face our museums regarding the ethics of some of the collections that they hold and the challenges that they face in taking responsibility for the future of those objects.”
“I need to be very careful in my response to the Member. She will be aware of the budgetary situation in which we find ourselves. We are, of course, happy to explore all options. If we are unable to provide funding ourselves, we may be able to signpost her in the right direction.”
“I am sorry to hear that, if it is the case. You are aware that it is not a direct responsibility of the Department for Communities. However, after the Adjournment debate in this place, I wrote to the university on that. My officials and I will be willing to help in any way we can to ensure that the arts can continue to develop. I am more than happy to discuss the issue with the Member.”
“In the last year for which figures are available, 25% of children in Northern Ireland were in poverty. In the whole of the UK, that figure was 31%. It is not acceptable that one in four children in Northern Ireland lives in poverty, and I am determined to change that by making sure that, as an Executive, we focus on all the issues that I have outlined. In tackling poverty and child poverty we need to take a whole-system approach. We have identified the issues. We have got the work and got the literature, including all the reviews that have been done of this. We know what the issues are. Hopefully, in the coming week, I will bring forward the three-pillar approach of making sure that we reduce the risk of people falling into poverty, minimise the impacts of it and help people to escape it.”
“She is more than welcome to do so. <BR /> <BR />The important point is that this is not a DFC strategy but a cross-departmental one. The issues that we need to deal with are found in education, health, disability, debt, substance abuse and childcare. It is about fuel poverty, place, housing, advice services and training and employment services. We need everybody to work together on this, and we need to make sure — I cannot emphasise this enough — that the strategy is affordable and deliverable. Nothing turns people off more than strategies that are unachievable and that, they know, will never be achieved. That is what creates so much dissatisfaction and disappointment in politics. Let us make sure that we can put something together and deliver it so that we can make a difference.”
“In response to the Member's first comment, I am pleased that she commends me for the delivery of the strategy”
“I do not know the exact number of people who are working on that strategy. I believe that it is sufficient, given that we are going out to other Departments for them to analyse and assess the costs and deliverability of some of the recommendations that have been made. The work has been handed over to those Departments, and we look forward to hearing their responses.”
“Last week, the Executive agreed the next stage in the process, which is to take all the work from the expert advisory panels, examine it in Departments and look at what its impact will be on the Irish language and Ulster-Scots language heritage and culture working groups. We will look at that and consider the next steps.”