Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

On 19 December 2006, the Government published a policy statement on the Irish language, The Irish Government: Statement on the Irish Language 2006. The statement commits the Government to the development of a 20-year strategy.

The Government's policy is to increase awareness and use of the Irish language as a community language on a phased basis. Its specific aim is to ensure as many citizens as possible are bilingual in Irish and in English. The intention is not to displace the English language but to strengthen the Irish language. In many European countries, it is a normal occurrence that people are bilingual. The vision for Ireland is similar, with both English and Irish being widely used on a daily basis.

I am meeting Fóram na Gaeilge next Monday to discuss further the development of the strategy and the role of the Fóram in this regard. I intend the Government's policy statement, launched by the Taoiseach before Christmas, to be the foundation for practical action for the Irish language, based on a modern approach and a comprehensive strategy.

See this speech in context