While I have no statutory responsibility in regard to bilingual labelling of veterinary medicines , my Department has an interest in the Irish language becoming increasingly visible in the economic life of the State. Officials in my Department have, therefore, been in contact with officials in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, regarding the bilingual labelling of veterinary medicines and in particular the Court of Justice of the European Union’s recent ruling on their labelling in Irish.
Regarding bilingual labelling in general, the Government's 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 contains a commitment to examine the feasibility of introducing a voluntary code for bilingual labelling and packaging of all goods sold in Ireland, as a mechanism to develop the range of areas available in which people can choose Irish as a language of exchange.
In addition, paragraph 2.8.1.2 of the Governments 2018-2022 Irish Language Action Plan states that Foras na Gaeilge, through its ‘Gnó Means Business’ programme, will deliver a wide range of initiatives to support the use of the Irish language in business and economic life.