Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 March 2015
630. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on expediting the objective contained in the 20 year strategy for the Irish language between 2010 and 2030 of promoting and supporting the use of packaging which is bilingual in view of the fact that such a step would greatly heighten the visibility of the first language across the country. [10454/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 in partnership with relevant stakeholders, including Foras na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Under its statutory role to provide resources and support for the Irish language on an all-island basis, Foras na Gaeilge is compiling an e-book on best practice in bilingual packaging. The recommendations in the e-book entitled Pacáistíocht Dhátheangach – Treoir ar an gCleachtas is Fearr are based on research commissioned by Foras na Gaeilge and carried out by Dublin Institute of Technology. The e-book is primarily aimed at private sector companies and will demonstrate how bilingual packaging can be used to competitive advantage, in addition to highlighting international best practice in relation to minority languages.
I should add that Foras na Gaeilge has already produced an e-book on best practice in bilingual signage entitled Comharthaíocht Dhátheangach – Treoir ar an gCleachtas is Fearr which is available on www.gaeilge.ie/treoir. In addition, a voluntary code of best practice for businesses that wish to use the Irish language, Q-Mharc Gnó le Gaeilge, is being developed by Foras na Gaeilge.
As part of the grant assistance given by Údarás na Gaeltachta to client companies in the Gaeltacht, there are specific conditions in the grant agreement that relate to the use of the Irish language. A comprehensive language plan, incorporating bilingual labelling and packaging, is agreed by Údarás na Gaeltachta with all its client companies. Údarás na Gaeltachta has compiled a business guide, Gnó le Gaeilge/Business in Irish, to encourage and assist companies to increase and consolidate the use of Irish in the workplace and to implement language plans in the workplace.
It is also worth noting that bilingual labelling and packaging is already a central part of the marketing strategy of many client companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta, including household names such as Folláin, Bácús Uí Bhaoill, Rí na Mara, Brian de Staic and Iasc de Brún.
