Language 1: Irish
Language 2: English
Use:: National / Regional
Use:: National
Use in percentages:: <5%
Use in percentages:: >75%
Language 1: Irish
Language 2: English
Comments on 1.3: A document from the Central Statistics Office detailing the latest (2011) Census data on use of the Irish language is available here (p98):
http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011pdr/Pdf,8,Tables.pdf
A crude summary of these figures would be that 41.4% of the public throughout the country stated that they could speak Irish, while the figure (see p101) was 69.5% in the Gaeltacht or Irish-speaking areas (mainly along the west coast).
Article 8 of Bunreacht na hÉireann (The Irish Constitution) states (in the official translation):
Article 8
1. The Irish language as the national language is the first official language.
2. The English language is recognised as a second official language.
3. Provision may, however, be made by law for the exclusive use of either of the said languages for any one or more official purposes, either throughout the State or in any part thereof.
Article 25, section 4 subsections 3-6 state:
3° Every Bill shall be signed by the President in the text in which it was passed or deemed to have been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, and if a Bill is so passed or deemed to have been passed in both the official languages, the President shall sign the text of the Bill in each of those languages.
4° Where the President signs the text of a Bill in one only of the official languages, an official translation shall be issued in the other official language.
5° As soon as may be after the signature and promulgation of a Bill as a law, the text of such law which was signed by the President or, where the President has signed the text of such law in each of the official languages, both the signed texts shall be enrolled for record in the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, and the text, or both the texts, so enrolled shall be conclusive evidence of the provisions of such law.
6° In case of conflict between the texts of a law enrolled under this section in both the official languages, the text in the national language shall prevail.
No
Yes
1.0: Shelta (also called ‘cant’ and ‘gammon’ used by Irish travellers)
2.0: Ulster Scots/Ullans
3.0: Irish Sign Language (differs from British Sign Language)
Comments on 1.5: Information on Ulster-Scots is available on the website of the Ulster-Scots Agency
http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com
1.0: --
Comments on 1.6: According to the 2011 Census, the top three immigrant nationalities are Polish, UK and Lithuanian, thus Polish, English and Lithuanian are the likely answers to this question. Details can be found in the following document:
http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011profile6/Profile,6,Migration,and,Diversity,entire,doc.pdf (p.7)
The new Census question, the answers to which are currently being processed, is “Do you speak a language other than English or Irish at home?” [coded yes/no, then, if yes, “What is that language?”]
Country 1: none
Country 1 (outside the European Union): none
No
Comments on 1.8: The Government decided it was not appropriate to have the Irish language denominated as a ‘Regional or Minority Language’. This decision seems, from a debate cited below (from 1994) to have been influenced by consideration of a language act (since enacted, 2003) and attempts to have Irish made an official language of the EU (2007). [http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/1994/05/25/00013.asp ]
More recently (2007), a more explicit statement came in answer to a Dáil [parliamentary] question; the Minister for Foreign Affairs, responding to a question as to when Ireland would ratify the Charter, said “The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has advised that given the constitutional status of Irish as the national language and first official language of the State, the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe is not considered to be a suitable mechanism for its promotion and protection. Consequently, there are no plans to sign or ratify the Charter in respect of the Irish language.”
[ http://debates.oireachtas.ie/dail/2007/07/04/00109.asp ]
Yes
--
Comments on 1.9: Ireland signed the Convention 7 May 1999 and it came into force 1 September 1999. Ireland submitted its first state report in November 2001, the second in December 2005 and the third in July 2011. The reports have focused in particular on the Traveller community, who have been accorded specific protection against discrimination under Irish law.
Yes
Original language: Airteagal 8
1. Ós í an Ghaeilge an teanga náisiúnta is í an phríomhtheanga oifigiúil í.
2. Glactar leis an Sacs-Bhéarla mar theanga oifigiúil eile.
3. Ach féadfar socrú a dhéanamh le dlí d'fhonn ceachtar den dá theanga sin a bheith
ina haonteanga le haghaidh aon ghnó nó gnóthaí oifigiúla ar fud an Stáit ar fad nó in
aon chuid de.
Airteagal 25, mír 4, ailt 3-6
3° Is é téacs de Bhille a gcuirfidh an tUachtarán a lámh leis ná an téacs a ritheadh nó a
mheastar a ritheadh ag dhá Theach an Oireachtais agus, má ritear Bille nó má mheastar
é a bheith rite amhlaidh sa dá theanga oifigiúla, cuirfidh an tUachtarán a lámh le téacs
Gaeilge agus le téacs Sacs-Bhéarla an Bhille.
4° I gcás an tUachtarán do chur a láimhe le téacs Bille i dteanga de na teangacha oifigiúla
agus sa teanga sin amháin, ní foláir tiontú oifigiúil a chur amach sa teanga oifigiúil eile.
5° Chomh luath agus is féidir é tar éis Bille a shíniú agus é a fhógairt ina dhlí, ní foláir an
téacs den dlí sin lena mbeidh lámh an Uachtaráin nó, i gcás lámh an Uachtaráin a bheith
le téacs Gaeilge agus le téacs Sacs-Bhéarla an dlí sin, an dá théacs sínithe sin a chur isteach
ina iris nó ina n-iris in oifig Iriseoir na Cúirte Uachtaraí, agus is fianaise dhochloíte ar
fhorálacha an dlí sin an téacs a chuirfear isteach ina iris, nó an dá théacs a chuirfear isteach
ina n-iris, amhlaidh.
6° I gcás téacs Gaeilge agus téacs Sacs-Bhéarla de dhlí a chur isteach ina n-iris faoin alt seo
agus gan an dá théacs sin a bheith de réir a chéile, is ag an téacs Gaeilge a bheidh an
forlámhas.
[quoted from the site of the Dept. of An Taoiseach http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/irish/Foilseach%C3%A1in/Cartlann_Foilseach%C3%A1n/Foilseach%C3%A1in_2006/Foilseach%C3%A1in_de_2002/Constitution_of_Ireland_Irish_.pdf ]
English translation: Article 8 of Bunreacht na hÉireann (The Irish Constitution) states (in the official translation):
Article 8
1. The Irish language as the national language is the first official language.
2. The English language is recognised as a second official language.
3. Provision may, however, be made by law for the exclusive use of either of the said
languages for any one or more official purposes, either throughout the State or in any part
thereof.
Article 25, section 4 subsections 3-6 state:
3° Every Bill shall be signed by the President in the text in which it was passed or deemed
to have been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, and if a Bill is so passed or deemed
to have been passed in both the official languages, the President shall sign the text of the
Bill in each of those languages.
4° Where the President signs the text of a Bill in one only of the official languages, an official
translation shall be issued in the other official language.
5° As soon as may be after the signature and promulgation of a Bill as a law, the text of
such law which was signed by the President or, where the President has signed the text of
such law in each of the official languages, both the signed texts shall be enrolled for record
in the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, and the text, or both the texts, so
enrolled shall be conclusive evidence of the provisions of such law.
6° In case of conflict between the texts of a law enrolled under this section in both the
official languages, the text in the national language shall prevail.
Yes – see link below to authorised translation
http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Youth_Zone/About_the_Constitution,_Flag,_Anthem_Harp/Constitution_of_Ireland_March_2010.pdf
Regarding the provisions cited in Article 25, section 4, subsection 6, a similar intent is evidenced in Article 25, section 5, subsection 4.
Yes
Original language: Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003
English translation: Official Languages Act 2003
The Act seeks to set out the provision of services in the Irish language by means of language ‘schemes’ agreed between public bodies and the Dept responsible for the Act’s implementation [currently called The Dept. for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs]. These schemes may take account of the sometimes low level of current provision and seek to increase it, under the supervision of a Language Commissioner (along the lines of the Canadian model).
The previous Government agreed (30 November 2010) a 20-Year Strategy for Irish, a broad statement of its vision and goals for the period in question. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is currently conducting a review of the Official Languages Act 2003, in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. The Department received circa 1,400 survey responses and 260 submissions from interested parties during its public consultation process on the review which ended on 31 January 2012. Analysis of the recommendations received is underway.
Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 / Gaeltacht Act 2012 proposes the provision of certain services through the Irish Language in areas with varying percentages of Irish Speakers. An innovation here is the inclusion of areas outside the boundaries of the official Gaeltacht.
Official Irish language text of Language Strategy:
http://www.pobail.ie/ie/AnGhaeilge/Straiteis/Strait%C3%A9isGaeilge.pdf
Official English language text of Language Strategy:
http://www.pobail.ie/en/IrishLanguage/Strategy/StrategyEnglish.pdf
Bilingual text of 2012 Act mentioned above:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/acts/2012/a34112full.pdf#page=15
Yes
Original language: An tAcht Oideachais 1998
English translation: Education Act 1998 [for example]* (authorized)
Comments on 2.3: Among the “Objects of the Act” the following appear:
“to contribute to the realisation of national policy and objectives in relation to the extension of bi-lingualism in Irish society and in particular the achievement of a greater use of the Irish language at school and in the community;
to contribute to the maintenance of Irish as the primary community language in Gaeltacht areas”
* This particular Act is cited as an example of the legislative protection for Irish in the education system generally. The status of Irish as a core subject within the education system at primary and post-primary level has been the means by which speakers have been produced – see Pádraig Ó Riagáin Language policy and social reproduction: Ireland 1893-1993 (Oxford, 1997).
Incidentally, Article 18 of the Standing Orders of the Oireachtas [the Irish houses of government] requires bilingual [in Irish and English] publication of legislative Acts.
Another improtant piece:
Quotation in original language: An tAcht um Chomhaontú na Breataine-na hÉireann 1999
Quotation in English: British-Irish Agreement Act 1999
Is the English translation of the quotation authorized?: Yes
Reference (name of the law, article number, date)
Official Irish language text:
http://www.achtanna.ie/print/ga.act.1999.0001.1.html
Official English language text:
http://www.acts.ie/print/en.act.1999.0001.1.html
Comments on question, explanation of answers, sources
This Act established a number of North/South Implementation Bodies, as they came to be known, among them the Language Body – a component of which is Foras na Gaeilge, the functions of which are set out as follows:
Part 5 of Annex 1 sets out the functions of the Body. The Body will exercise these functions in accordance with the following arrangements and those set out in Part 7 below.
1.1 The functions of Bord na Gaeilge in regard to the promotion of the Irish language and its staff, assets and obligations will be transferred to the Body. Bord na Gaeilge will be dissolved. The functions of the Irish Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands in relation to financial support for certain voluntary Irish language organisations will also be transferred to the Body.
1.2 In carrying out its functions of developing terminology and dictionaries and supporting Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish, the Body, having regard to the legislative and other curriculum requirements applicable to each jurisdiction—
(a) (i) may review the curriculum resources made available for Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish, including the provision of appropriate textbooks, other teaching materials and teaching aids;
(ii) may conduct research into any matters relating to the provision of Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish in schools or other places, including the methods of teaching employed, the curricula taught and the assessment procedures adopted;
(iii) may publish, in such form as it considers appropriate, the outcomes of its research and reviews, including recommendations for action;
(b) will exercise the functions exercised prior to the establishment of the Body by the Irish Department of Education and Science, through An Gúm, with respect to the publication of books in Irish in support of Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish in schools and elsewhere;
(c) will exercise the functions exercised prior to the establishment of the Body by the Irish Department of Education and Science, through An Coiste Téarmaíochta with respect to the development of terminology and vocabulary in Irish; and
(d) will facilitate co-operation between the body to be established in accordance with Section 31 of the Irish Education Act, 1998 and any promotional body funded under Article 89 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998.
1.3 Arising out of research or a review carried out under paragraph 1.2 (a) the Body may give advice or make recommendations for action in relation to Irish-medium education and the teaching of Irish.
1.4 The functions of the Body in relation to the Irish language will be exercised by an Irish language agency of the Body. The working language of the agency will be Irish, subject to the provisions of the Financial Memorandum. Subject to the agreement of the Body the agency will decide its own title. In carrying out the Body's functions, the Irish language agency will have regard to the positions of the Irish language in the two jurisdictions. In Northern Ireland this position will be the British Government's commitments in respect of the Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity section of the Multi-Party Agreement and any relevant legislation. In Ireland, this position will be the constitutional and legal position of the Irish language, Irish Government policy and the measures and practices built up to foster and promote the language.
1.5 An Education Unit within this agency will carry out the functions outlined in paragraphs question 1
No
No
No
No
Yes
Quotation in original language: An tAcht Oideachais 1998
Quotation in English: Education Act 1998
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): See 2.3.1 above
Comments on 3.1: See 2.3.1 above
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta was founded under the provisions of Article 31 of the Education Act of 1998 to establish a structure to cater for the educational needs of Gaeltacht schools and of Gaelscoileanna*. There are functions also in Article 31 relating to the teaching of Irish in the country’s other schools.
The Comhairle’s role relates to both primary and post-primary education and the three main areas of work are: the provision of teaching resources; the provision of support services and; research.
[see: www.cogg.ie ]
A recent (2013) decision by the Minister for Education and Skills is to amalgamate COGG with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment aims to enhance COGG's capacity for meeting its statutory functions. See :
http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2013013000064#N24
Yes
Quotation in original language: As above [the reference to Gaeltacht areas]
Yes
Quotation in original language: as above
Yes
Quotation in original language: see comment below
Comments on 3.4: See the reference to gaeltacht areas in the pieces about COGG above.
Yes
Quotation in original language: see comment below
Comments on 4.1: Third-level bodies in the public sector are included in the Official Languages Act 2003.
Actual provision is permitted, but not at all widespread in the third-level sector. Certain under- and post-graduate courses are offered through the medium of Irish, but most relate to the language itself or related issues (e.g. language planning).
For an overview see: C. Nic Pháidín and D. uí Bhraonáin, eds. University Education in Irish: challenges and perspectives (Dublin City University, 2004
Yes
see comments to previous question
Yes
see previous
More than 75%
More than 75%
More than 75%
More than 75%
More than 75%
More than 75%
More than 75%
More than 75%
Yes
Quotation in original language: 3rd level education in the public sector is subject to the Official Languages Act 2003 [cited previously].
Authorized
No
Yes
Humanities / Social sciences / Mathematics and natural sciences
Comments on 4.7: Academic publications are practially all in English, except in the field of Irish language studies themselves.
Yes
Comments on 4.8: The largest, national university, the National University of Ireland (with colleges in Dublin, Cork, Maynooth and Galway) has a matriculation requirement for students from Ireland which includes both English and Irish.
As the language of instruction throughout third level institutions in Ireland is predominantly English, individual course requirements would satisfy themselves that prospective students have a sufficient standard of English.
No
The print media is predominantly in the English language with a growing market share going to imports of UK newspapers.
There is no Irish language daily newspaper. Until February 2013 there were two weekly, printed Irish language newspapers: Gaelscéal and Foinse, the latter is a supplement with the popular English-language newspapers, The Irish Independent. Gaelscéal ceased publication due to declining readership and Foras na Gaeilge which had funded it is currently researching how best to provide a new service (printed or online) through the Irish Language medium.
Yes
Quotation in original language: An tAcht Craolacháin 2009
Quotation in English: The Broadcasting Act 2009
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): Irish language text:
http://www.acts.ie/print/ga.act.2009.0018.1.html
English language text:
http://www.acts.ie/print/en.act.2009.0018.1.html
Authorized
Comments on 5.2: The State broadcaster, RTÉ has particular obligations to the Irish language, but the majority of its programmes are in English.
The most notable feature of TV broadcasting in the past decade or so has been TG4 (originally called Teilifís na Gaeilge), a predominantly Irish language TV station. It has been on the air since 1996. [ see: http://www.tg4.ie/en/corporate/background.html ]
No answer
No answer
No answer
Mostly/always
No answer
No answer
No answer
Mostly/always
No answer
No answer
Comments on 5.3: 5.3: Only a very small amount of this - or any subtitling is in Irish.
The subtitling dubbling policies of TG4 are described in an article archived here:
http://www.aber.ac.uk/mercator/images/UinsionnMacDubhghaill.pdf. The other channels use English subtitles in the case of foreign films.
5.4: On TG4 popular children's cartoons are dubbed into Irish and the occasional feature film (one of the Harry Potter series, for example).
By and large, children's/youth programmes in general entail a greater degree of interactivity (texting, phonecalls for competitions, on-screen dedications, greetings) and are produced for TG4 (usually commissioned from independent production companies) in Irish, often mixing English-language pop material such as videos.
Yes
Reference (name of the law, article number, date): Broadcasting Act 2009, previously cited at 5.2.1
Comments on 5.5: Among the Objectives of the Broadcasting Authority cited in the Act [Section 25] are " that the number and categories of broadcasting services made available in the State by virtue of this Act best serve the needs of the people of the island of Ireland, bearing in mind their languages and traditions and their religious, ethical and cultural diversity"
and elsewhere in the same Section it is stated that the Authority and statutory committees shall seek to "promote and stimulate the development of Irish language programming and broadcasting services."
No
Comments on 6.1: Some of the semi-state organizations such as the main electricity company provide bilingual documentation (billing etc). Other semi-state organizations such as the transport companies use bilingual destination signage.
Some private companies use Irish bilingually, particularly in signage. This is quite common in both local and multi-national organizations (supermarkets such as Superquinn and Tesco, some of the big multinational hardware stores such as B&Q and some small independent shops). Some banks, such as Bank of Ireland, offer a bilingual service English/Irish option on their ATMS.
Foras na Gaeilge fund a scheme which offers to pay half (up to €1,000) of a private company's signage fees if printed bilingually. For more information see : http://www.gaeilge.ie/Foras_na_Gaeilge/Community_and_Business.asp#schemes
Company name and status:: see comments below
Comments on 6.2: All the large, private companies publish in English only.
Those in the state sector are covered by the Official Languages Act 2003 and publish the Annual Reports bilingually, in both Irish and English.
Comments on 6.3: The same patterns as evident at 6.2 holds true here.
0-10 countries
0-10 countries
Comments on 7.1: The Master's Degrees are available in the UK - predominantly Oxbridge - and in the US, in Celtic Departments such as those at Harvard and Notre Dame.
In a separate scheme, the Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht , has been making funds available to third-level institutions abroad since approximately 2006 to promote the teaching of Irish (see: http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Irish/IrishLanguageSupportSchemes/ThirdLevelEducationOverseas/.
Arabic: Secondary school
French: Secondary school
German: Secondary school
Greek: Secondary school
Italian: Secondary school
Japanese: Secondary school
Russian: Secondary school
Spanish: Secondary school
Added language: Hebrew Studies
Foreign language taught in primary or secondary schoo: : Secondary school
Added language: Latin
Foreign language taught in primary or secondary schoo: : Secondary school
Added language: Classical Studies
Foreign language taught in primary or secondary schoo: : Secondary school
*Although it is not part of the Primary School Curriculum in Ireland, the 'Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative' provide support to schools who wish to teach foreign languages in schools during course hours. See: http://www.mlpsi.ie/
What the State Examinations Commission calls "Non-Curricular EU Languages" also include Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian and Romanian
Name (official and English translation): Foras na Gaeilge (Budget c. €20m) [there is no officially accepted English language translation of Foras na Gaeilge]
Language(s):: Irish
Mission: : To increase the use of Irish in everyday life.
Relation to national government:: Foras na Gaeilge, although funded by the state (by two states, in fact) is an “arms’ length body” – operating at a remove from government.*
Activities:: Provision of funding to various Irish language organizations, implementation of various projects such as the flagship English-Irish Dictionary project, provision of terminology etc. etc. A full statement of Foras na Gaeilge’s remit is to be found in the British-Irish Agremment Act 1999. [ http://www.acts.ie/print/en.act.1999.0001.1.html ]
URL:: www.gaeilge.ie
Comments:: * Funding for Foras na Gaeilge is provided through two government departments, North and South. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (which has governmental responsibility for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht or ‘Irish speaking areas’) provides 75% of the budget, while the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure of the Northern Ireland Assembly provides the remaining 25%. Foras na Gaeilge’s remit is an all-island one (the promotion of the Irish language throughout the island of Ireland), making Foras quite unusual within EFNIL as being a language organization with a trans-national remit.
Structure:: Publicly founded
ame (official and English translation): Conradh Na Gaeilge [‘The Gaelic League’] (Budget c. €0.5m)
Language(s):: Irish
Mission: : The main aim of the organization is to re-establish Irish as the primary language of Ireland.
Relation to national government:: A Board comprised of representatives elected from a local branch network; Staff (c.6 full-time, paid staff)/ Funded by Foras na Gaeilge who are an “arms’ length body” (as described above)
Activities:: : Irish Language Classes, Irish Language events such as "Seachtain na Gaeilge" (Irish Language Week),
URL:: www.cnag.ie
Structure:: Publicly founded
ame (official and English translation): Comhdháil Naisiúnta na Gaeilge [‘The National Conference of Irish’] (Budget c.€0.7m)
Language(s):: Irish
Mission: : to 'strengthen and consolidate goodwill and support for the Irish language and its usage as a living language so that it may be used freely and widely in all aspects of Irish life'.
Structure: A Board made of representatives of 24 member-organizations from within the Irish language sector; Staff (c.8 paid, full-time staff)
Relation to national government:: Funded by Foras na Gaeilge who are an “arms’ length body” (as described above)
Activities:: An Chomhdháil currently sees its role as providing leadership to those involved in community and voluntary work on behalf of the Irish language; to provide analysis of Government policies with reference to the language and the development and promotion of new policy measures’ [from its website]
URL:: www.gaelport.com
Comments:: Structure: A Board made of representatives of 24 member-organizations from within the Irish language sector; Staff (c.8 paid, full-time staff)
Structure:: Publicly founded