A Bill to give equal status to the Irish language was welcomed by all sides in the Dáil yesterday. The Official Languages Bill 2002, introduced by the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Mr Ó Cuív, will give citizens the right to conduct their business with any State agency or Government department, in Irish.
The legislation, described as "historic", obliges State agencies to provide a service in Irish, to provide "higher quality services" in the Irish language.
An Irish language commissioner, who will have the status of Ombudsman, will be established under the legislation.
The commissioner will monitor efforts by departments and Stage agencies to ensure that official signs, public notices and advertisements will be in Irish as well as English. However, a bone of contention is a provision which disbars aggrieved individuals from seeking redress if State services do not provide the required services.
The Opposition is expected to introduce a number of amendments including provisions that the use of Irish in court cases would not be confined to Gaeltacht areas.
