Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 19, 21 and 31 of 19 May 2005. The preparation of a 20 year strategic plan for the Irish language is being addressed through Fóram na Gaeilge. Three meetings of Fóram na Gaeilge have taken place to date and a fourth is scheduled to take place later this year.

As regards my plans for the promotion of the Irish language over the next year, the Deputy will be aware that this is part of the ongoing remit of my Department. This remit is carried out through a broad range of policies, including implementation of the Official Languages Act and the funding of agencies — including Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge — which are directly involved in promoting the Irish language.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent reported comments from a spokesperson for Aer Lingus that the significant cost involved for the airline in complying with the Official Languages Act 2003 puts the national airline at a significant disadvantage in comparison with its competitors; if he will consider revising the regulation demanding that Aer Lingus produces all its advertisements in Irish and English; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22581/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not propose to comment on remarks attributed to a purported spokesperson who may or may not represent views of the organisation named in the media report concerned.

My Department has written on several occasions to each of the public bodies covered by the Official Languages Act with information about the operation of the Act and to offer a more detailed presentation and question-and-answer session if that were considered useful. A number of public sector organisations have had questions and concerns about how the legislation impacts on them and these presentations have proved a useful way of explaining the facts and allaying undue fears. The offer from my Department to meet with public bodies stands.

Regulations under section 9(1) of the Act — which will cover matters such as advertising — are currently being prepared and I cannot give a precise date at this time for their coming into effect. However, they are being drafted on the basis of minimising any additional costs for public bodies in their implementation. The approach being taken is a pragmatic and phased one but one which is also consistent with the unanimous will of the Oireachtas that the Irish language should be used by public bodies for official purposes such as advertising.