Richard Bruton
Ceist:301 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the Irish language is being honoured as an official language of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31422/03]
Written Answers. - Stadas na Gaeilge san Aontas Eorpach.
As I indicated in my reply to Questions Nos. 20, 43, 44, 59 and 60 of 27 November, my Department identified the question of enhancing the status of the Irish language in the EU as an issue in its strategy statement for the period 2003 to 2005.
The Deputy will appreciate the need to distinguish between official status – in the constitutional sense – and status as a working language for the purposes of the European institutions. There is a list of languages in only one place in the draft European constitution. The Irish language is mentioned on an equal footing with the other national languages of the existing and new member states in that context. By virtue of that reference, which is a reflection of the position in the current treaties, Irish will continue to have constitutional status within the EU. As a result of this status a citizen has, for example, the right to write to any of the European institutes in Irish and to receive a reply in the same language.
No language is mentioned as a working language in the new draft constitutional treaty. It is not an issue to be addressed in the new constitution. It should be addressed by legislation. It would have to be accepted or amended by unanimity at the Council of Ministers under Article III-339 of the draft constitution.
My Department's officials are in regular contact with relevant Departments and keep the possibilities for progressing the issue under continuous review. It is too early to say what the outcome of these discussions might be.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:302 D'fhiafraigh Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dóigh ar chuir an rialtas an cheist mar gheall ar stádas oifigiúil oibre don Ghaeilge chun cinn sa phlé ar an gConradh bunreachtúil nua i rith na seachtaine; cén seasamh a bhí aige agus an dóigh leis an bhfuil aon bhealach eile chun an cheist seo a bhrú. [31549/03]
Faoi mar is eol don Teachta, tá sé leagtha síos mar ghníomh do mo Roinnse sa Ráiteas Straitéise don tréimhse 2003-2005 an cheist maidir le stádas níos fearr don Ghaeilge san AE a chur ar aghaidh.
Tuigfidh an Teachta go gcaithfear idirdhealú a dhéanamh idir stádas oifigiúil – sa chiall bunreachtúil – agus stádas mar theanga oibre chun críche na n-institiudí Eorpacha. Ní luaitear liosta teangacha ach in áit amháin sa dhréacht-bhunreacht Eorpach agus tá an Ghaeilge luaite ar chomhchéim sa gcomhthéacs sin. De réir na tagartha sin, atá ar aon dul leis an staid sna conarthaí reatha, leanfar le stádas bunreachtúil a bheith ag an nGaeilge san AE. De bharr an stádas bunreachtúil sin, tá ceart – mar shampla – ag an saoránach scríobh chuig aon cheann de na hinstitiúidí Eorpacha i nGaeilge agus freagra a fháil sa teanga céanna.
Anuas ar sin, ní luaitear aon teanga ar bith mar theanga oibre san dréacht bhun-chomhaontú nua. Ní cheist í seo le réiteach sa bhunreacht nua í fhéin, ach ceist a bheidh le réiteach le reachtaíocht – a gcaithfí glacadh leis nó a leasú d'aon ghuth i gComhairle na nAirí – faoi Airteagal III-339 den dhréacht-bhunreacht.
D'fhonn na féidireachtaí a choiméad faoi athbhreithniú agus an cheist a chur chun cinn, bíonn teagmhálacha rialta idir oifigigh mo Roinnse agus na Ranna eile atá bainteach leis an gceist seo. Ta sé ró-luath a rá fós cén toradh a bheidh ar na comhráití sin.