Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department has an operating language scheme in accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003; and the date when such a scheme was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15492/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently implementing its second Irish Language Scheme (2016-2019) as submitted to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in early 2016. I am pleased to confirm that so far we have met all the targets set out under the Scheme and that it will be reviewed later this year with a view to drawing up a third Irish Language Scheme.

The current Scheme aims to ensure that we meet our obligations under the Official Languages Act (2003) and promote the Irish language in our services. We also strive to incorporate promotion of the Irish language into public diplomacy activities by Ireland's Embassies, Consulates and other diplomatic missions abroad.

The Scheme reflects commitments made by my Department to enhancing the provision of Irish language services to citizens and to improving Irish language capability through recruitment and training and development. My Department has one designated Irish language post, that of the Irish Language Officer, who oversees implementation of the Scheme. 

A fluent Irish speaker works in each of our customer services teams in the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork. There are also a number of fluent speakers of Irish working in other areas of the Department and across Ireland's network of Embassies, Consulates and other diplomatic missions.

In addition, my Department maintains an ongoing positive working relationship with the Office of the Irish Language Commissioner in relation to our implementation of the Scheme.