*Result*: ECMI Minorities Blog. Debates on Language Rights in Northern Ireland: Beyond Parallel Structures?
*Further Information*
*In this blog, the authors focus on recent developments regarding Irish and Ulster-Scots in Northern Ireland. Beginning with the convening of a newly-devolved government in January 2024, they explore the impact of political instability on linguistic diversity in the region. Subsequently, initiatives such as the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 and the proposed establishment of an Office of Identity and Cultural Expression are examined. The authors argue for the need to go beyond parallel structures which align languages with identity politics, whilst highlighting that political elites often fail to acknowledge those who engage with a language associated with another political tradition. A key aspect to the argument is the need for policy interventions which support the development of distinct types of dialogue about language and which have transformative potential.*