Debate contribution: Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill: Consideration Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Jon Burrows on .
- MLA
- Mr Jon Burrows
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 21 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Irish-medium Education (Workforce Plan) Bill: Consideration Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5743350
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The Irish language is a wonderful language, and I respect the right of anyone to speak it. The Irish-medium sector is valued. I have said on the record that I do not think that the Bill is necessary. There are many laws that we should pass in this place, with finite time to pass them, to deal with really important issues facing the people of Northern Ireland. I do not always agree with everything that the Minister of Education does on education, but, on this issue, I agree. He gave a fairly comprehensive reason to the Assembly, stating why it is not necessary and that the work is already in hand. I also agree that there are pressures across every sector in the education system. The Irish-medium sector is just one of those sectors, and the Bill is not necessary. I will keep this brief. We will vote against amendment Nos 1 and 2. That is our position.
158 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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