Publication
Review of Official Language Act 2003
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht carried out a review of the Official Languages Act 2003.
1,400 survey responses and 262 submissions were received from interested parties during its public consultation process for the review.
The department has published on its website the submissions received from those who indicated their agreement to their submissions being published. It should be noted that the submissions are published in the language in which they were received and can be viewed here.
The Heads of the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2014 were compiled in the context of the review of the Official Languages Act. The Heads were published in April 2014 and were then referred to the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, in line with Government policy. The report of the Joint Committee regarding the Heads of the Bill was published on 24 February 2015.
Following the formation of the new government in 2016, the Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Seán Kyne TD, announced a review of the Bill. Following a comprehensive review and consultation period with key stakeholders, Heads of a revised Bill were submitted to Government on 29 May 2017. Government approval was received to proceed with the drafting of the bill.