Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Defence the proposals he has to continue to develop the use of the Irish language in the Defence Forces in line with Objective 12 of the Government Statement on the Irish Language, 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34159/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Defence Forces is proactive in the development and promotion of the Irish language. The following measures have been taken in this regard:

An Chomhairle Gaeilge ( Irish Language Council) was established in 2003;

The Defence Forces Official Languages Policy in the form of an Administrative Instruction was launched in 2004;

Scéim Óglaigh na hÉireann (Defence Forces Scheme) under the Official Languages Act was approved by the Minister for Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in Sep 2006. The scheme covers the period 2006-2009.

The development of the Irish language in the Defence Forces is led by An Chomhairle Gaeilge, which is responsible for implementing the provisions of the Scheme. These provisions aim to provide a service through Irish to all external and internal customers of the Defence Forces and provide for the promotion and use of the language in the organisation.

The following are some of the initiatives taken to date:

All major reports and strategy statements are published in Irish and English;

A number of commonly used Army forms have been translated into Irish. The full range of forms will be translated over the life of the current Scheme and future schemes;

The Defence Forces website is available in bilingual form;

All advertisements for careers in the Defence Forces are published bilingually;

A database of competent Irish speakers in the organisation has been established;

In 2007 Irish language classes have been conducted in seven different barracks;

An annual Irish Language Camp has been held in Dún Úi Mhaoilíosa in Galway for the past 15 years;

At present 5 Defence Forces personnel are under going third level study in Irish;

All signage in Defence Forces locations is being incrementally changed from English to Irish;

The promotion of Irish in the Defence Forces is fully supported by the Chief of Staff to whom An Chomhairle reports.