Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 435: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the Government has not yet signed or ratified the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30326/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The status of the Irish language is enshrined in Article 8 of the Constitution which recognises it as the national language and the first official language of the State. The English language, in the same article, is recognised as the second official language. In addition, the Official Languages Act 2003, which provides a statutory framework for the delivery of public services through the Irish language, defines the official languages in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Furthermore, in June 2005 the European Union unanimously accepted the Irish Government's proposal that official and working status be given to the Irish language in the European Union with effect from 1 January 2007.

In these circumstances, my considered view is that to regard the Irish language as having the legal status of either a regional or minority language would be inappropriate. For these reasons it is not proposed to ratify the charter in respect of the Irish language.