Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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34. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the proposal within the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language on encouraging, on a voluntary basis, companies to produce bilingual packaging, in view of the fact that such a measure would heighten exposure to and awareness of the Irish language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23875/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030in partnership with relevant stakeholders, including Foras na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta.As I set out in my detailed response to Parliamentary Question No. 630 on 10 March 2015, both Foras na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta are proactive in promoting bilingual packaging in line with their statutory roles in regard to the Irish language. In that context, the Deputy will be aware that bilingual labelling and packaging is a central element of the marketing strategy of many client companies of Údarás na Gaeltachta, including household names such as Folláin, Bácús Uí Bhaoill, Rí na Mara, Brian de Staic and Iasc de Brún.

Specific initiatives undertaken by Foras na Gaeilge with regard to the promotion of bilingual packaging include:

- Comharthaíocht Dhátheangach – Treoir ar an gCleachtasis Fearr,an e-book on best practice in bilingual signage, which is published and available on ;

- Pacáistíocht Dhátheangach – Treoir ar an gCleachtas is Fearr, an e-book on best practice in bilingual packaging, which is to be published shortly; and

- Q-Mharc Gnó le Gaeilge,a voluntary code of best practice for businesses that wish to use the Irish language, which is currently being compiled.

Specific initiatives undertaken by Údarás na Gaeltachta with regard to the promotion of bilingual packaging include:

- Gnó le Gaeilge/Business in Irish, a business guide to encourage and assist companies to increase and consolidate the use of Irish in the workplace and to implement language plans in the workplace;

- bilingual labelling and packaging being incorporated into the comprehensive language plan for agreement with all its client companies; and

- engagement with local businesses with a view to increasing the use of Irish in the business sector as part of the language planning process currently underway in Gaeltacht areas.

Finally, in this overall context, I welcome the findings of a recent survey undertaken by Millward Brown on behalf of Conradh na Gaeilge, which found that 42% and 37% of the populations in the south and in the north, respectively, believe that the use of the Irish language by the business sector is a unique selling point.