Irish Language Committee continues hearings on Heads of Official Languages Bill

Committee Chair Catherine Connolly: “At the meeting, the Committee will meet with representatives of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to discuss the Department's role in recruiting staff across the public service who are fluent in the two official languages of the State and who are able to deliver a service to the public in either official language.

The Committee is particularly interested in teasing out how the Department will address the proposal in Head 9 of the Heads of the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2017 which will provide that 20% of all new recruits to the public service will be proficient in the two official languages, Irish and English.

There are many questions regarding this proposal, in particular, whether it is a target or a requirement, will it cover all public sector bodies and include all grades, levels and sections, how will the proposed 20% be recruited and will it be a condition of their employment that they maintain their fluency in both official languages throughout their career in the public service.

We are also particularly interested in Head 10 and the level at which the standard of Irish to be expected will be set and how this will be decided on, monitored and maintained.  

The Committee is also interested in what steps the Department has taken in facilitating the policies outlined in the 20 Year Strategy on the Irish Language 2010-2030, how successful it has been in doing this, and what the results are.”

This meeting will take place at 5pm, tomorrow, Tuesday, 21 November 2017 in Committee Room 4, Leinster House. Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.