Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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295. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the Statutory Instruments he envisages being brought forward and signed by his Department during the first six months of 2025; to highlight in particular those concerned with the transposition and or implementation of further implementation of EU law requirements; those Statutory Instruments concerned with commencement of existing legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10339/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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It is envisaged that the following Statutory Instruments will be brought forward by my Department and signed during the first six months of 2025:

European Union Media Freedom Act Regulations 2025.

The European Union Media Freedom Act Regulations 2025 were signed on 6 February 2025. These Regulations give effect to certain provisions of the European Media Freedom Act, specifically in relation to the information gathering and cooperation powers of Coimisiún na Meán.

Official Languages Act 2003.

Section 18E of the Official Languages Act 2003.

Under Section 18E of the Official Languages Act 2003, as amended, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media shall set dates by which public services in and for Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas (LPA) will be made available through Irish, and by which public offices located in LPAs will operate through the medium of Irish. Pursuant to Section 18E, a Statutory Instrument will be brought forward and signed during the first six months of 2025.

Section 9A and 9B of the Official Languages Act 2003.

Section 9A of the Official Languages Act 2003, as amended, provides for the prescription of public bodies for the purpose of ensuring the correct recording and use of a person’s name (including the patronymic or matronymic form of the name), address or title (including the option to use no title) in the Irish language.

Section 9B provides for the prescription of public bodies for the purpose of setting out the content and layout of official forms to be in Irish or both Irish and English, with the possibility of different provisions for different bodies or forms.

My Department are working towards initiating this prescription process in the first half of 2025, following the issuing of guidelines to public bodies on the matter shortly along with consultations with relevant public bodies and Ministers, as appropriate.

First Schedule of the Official Languages Act 2003.

Paragraph 3 of the First Schedule of the Official Languages Act 2003, as amended, provides for the list of public bodies subject to the Act to be reviewed and updated by regulations at least once every 2 years. Pursuant to this, the most recent review is now nearing completion and a Statutory Instrument is to be brought forward and signed during the first six months of 2025.

Other Statutory Instruments may also arise during the period as needs be.