The Council of Europe has warned that the United Kingdom has submitted a report after the deadline. The report, which was also incomplete, deals with the measures implemented by the NI government to promote minority languages. The autonomous government of Northern Ireland must be held responsible for the delay, the UK Foreign Office has said.

Signatory countries of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages are required to report on their progress in protecting minority languages every three years. The implementation of this policy and the submittal of the reports are left to Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments, which were devolved powers on the matter. The Scottish and Welsh reports were properly presented but Northern Irish government failed to provide information on measures taken by the NI executive to improve the situation of Irish Gaelic and Ulster Scots.

The government of Northern Ireland presented an incomplete report past the deadline after the UK government came under pressure from the Council of Europe.

According to the BBC, "in the past Gregory Campbell has blamed the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for holding up the report".

Further information:

• BBC: Executive warned on report delay
• Government of Northern Ireland website