T5. Mr Irwin asked the Minister for Communities for an update on the US/NI cultural working group. (AQT 515/22-27)

I am really impressed by the commitment and dedication shown by the members of the US/NI cultural working group. Excellent work has been done in collaboration with the United States. There has been good collaboration between National Museums NI and the Smithsonian Institution and between the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and the National Archives. I look forward to being in a position to announce more on that very soon.

I think that it is also really important that we take advantage of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and make sure that Northern Ireland remembers and recognises its role in that part of the history of the United States.

I thank the Minister for his response. What else can he commit to in support of the work of the Ulster-Scots Agency and that of the many other organisations that support the Ulster-Scots tradition?

The Member is right to mention the Ulster-Scots tradition because it goes far beyond a language and is about the culture, history, heritage and tradition that we want to celebrate. It goes beyond our shores. It is not something from here that remained here; there is so much more for us to celebrate throughout the world. That is why I have introduced the US/NI cultural working group. I believe that there is huge potential that has not been exploited in the past, and I am determined that we do that in the future.