FOI 43-25: Information regarding dual language or bilingual signage in Newry Train Station

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

30 July 2025
Our ref: FoI 43-25

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 26 June 2025 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). In your request, you asked the following—

‘This is a Freedom of Information Request for:

 

  1. Any NI Assembly Hansard record between 2008-2013 which mentions dual language and/or bilingual signage in Newry Train Station.

  2. Any record of any attempt to exercise the Petition of Concern, or any equivalent ‘call-in’ mechanism, in relation to the decision to erect dual language/bilingual signage in Newry Train Station.

  3. Any record of any attempt to Refer the Ministerial decision to erect dual language/bilingual signage in Newry Train Station.’

 

Our response

Question 1

Under section 21 of the FOIA, the Assembly Commission is not obliged to provide this information as it is already accessible by another means. The Assembly Commission can confirm that all Hansard reports are publicly available. The reports from 2008 to 2013 can be found by following this link on the Assembly Commission website: Bound Volumes

 

Questions 2 & 3

The Assembly Commission holds no information in relation to these matters.

 

Further Information

You have the right to request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission.  If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address.  If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised. 

Yours faithfully

INFORMATION STANDARDS