Irish Language Committee to start hearings on Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2017

The Committee will meet wit Críostóir Ó Faoláin Uasal, Bainisteoir Forbartha, Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise, and with representatives of Conradh na Gaeilge in the first of three public meetings which it will hold on this topic in the next fortnight.

Committee Chair Catherine Connolly said: “The Committee believes that the purpose of this Bill must be to provide a realistic choice to citizens as to the official language they wish to engage in when interacting with the State and its public institutions. Therefore, we are particularly interested in teasing out the issues around Heads 9 and 10 of the draft Heads of the Bill.  

Head 9 sets an objective of having 20% of officers in the public service recruited on the basis that they are proficient in and willing to function through the medium of the two official languages, Irish and English.  The Committee is anxious to know if it will apply across the public service, in every public sector organisation, in every section and at all grade levels and if it will apply in all recruitment competitions, both internal and external and in all types of competition.

Head 10 relates to the standards that will be required in the provision of services through either official language and the Committee is anxious to ensure that the services provided in both official languages are of an equally high standard.”
This meeting will take place at 5pm on Wednesday, 28 February 2018 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.