Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
525. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Defence the way in which his Department and agencies under his remit facilitate persons wishing to engage with their services through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21898/21]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing services under its administration through Irish. In line with the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, my Department identified certain objectives as being relevant for the promotion of services through Irish, in particular objective 2.
Objective 2 of the Strategy is that the Official Languages Act will be fully implemented and that the right of the public to use Irish in dealings with the State and with other bodies will be developed and the appropriate arrangements to deliver this will be put in place.
In this regard, my Department has fulfilled its commitments in relation to the provision of services in Irish under the Official Languages Act 2003. The Department’s fourth Irish Language Scheme is in place since September 2017. Commitments under the Scheme continue to be delivered and include the following:
- The static content on my Department’s new website is bilingual and there is an option for users to access the site in Irish or English, as is the case with the Defence Forces’ website.
- Signage at my Department buildings is bilingual.
- My Department has arrangements to ensure that individuals who wish to conduct their business in Irish can so do. My Department has a pool of Irish speakers to allow customers to conduct their business through the medium of Irish, should they so wish. Training is provided continuously. Correspondence received in Irish is answered in Irish.
- When my Department issues new press releases, it has procedures in place to ensure that it complies with the requirement that a minimum of 20% be available through Irish.
- Irish Language awareness is part of the induction process for new staff in my Department.
My Department also has a Líonra na Gaeilge Committee which holds meetings throughout the year.
Additionally, the Learning and Development Branch actively promotes Irish internally through accommodating requests for Irish language courses at various skill levels and by running various events through Irish.
Currently, my Department is developing a new (fifth) Irish language Scheme which will build on existing practices and provisions.
