Ollscoil Mhá Nuad Cur i láthair 27 Bealtaine 2016

1. Ollscoil Mhá Nuad Cur i láthair 27 Bealtaine 2016

2. Seisiún Eolais • Background • Office of the Coimisinéir Teanga • Direct obligations • Commitments in language scheme • Universities Act 1997 • Language Awareness • Steps to consider

3. 1937 Constitution – Article 8 (Article 4 1922) The Irish language as the national language is the first official language. English is recognised as a second official language. Cúlra

4. Cúlra • Hardiman Judgement – Supreme Court (2001) “It is my opinion that it is not possible (at least in the absence of law of the type envisaged in Article 8.3) to exclude Irish, which is the national language and at the same time the first official language of the State, from any part of the public discourse of the nation or from any official business of the State or from the official business of any of its members. Nor is it possible in these contexts to treat it in a manner which is less favourable than the way in which the second official language is treated. Neither is it possible to prevent those who are capable and desirous of using Irish in making their case or in communicating from so doing or to disadvantage them when so doing in any national or official context.”

5. Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga • Official Languages Act 2003 – Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga established to handle complaints from members of the public and monitor the implementation of the Act • Rónán Ó Domhnaill is the Coimisinéir Teanga

6. Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga • 6 working in Office • Work divided between Complaints, Compliance and Communications • 4 main functions • Complaints from public • Advice to public • Monitoring implementation of Act • Advice to public bodies

7. Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga • Handling c.700 complaints annually regarding provisions of the Official Languages Act, or any other enactment relating to the use of an Official Language • Monitoring c.400 public bodies that come under the Act • First schedule to the Act – not updated since 2006

8. Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003

9. Reachtaíocht Teanga / Language Legislation

10. Maynooth University - Obligations • Section 9.2 – Written correspondence received in Irish must be responded to in Irish • Post • Email • Automated responses (not personal out of office)

11. Maynooth University - Obligations • Section 9.3 – Where a public body communicates in writing or by electronic mail with the general public or a class of the general public for the purpose of furnishing information to the public or the class, the body shall ensure that the communication is in the Irish language or in the English and the Irish languages • Referendum Commission booklet • Boil water notices • Property Tax Brochure

12. Maynooth University - Obligations • Section 10 (a-c) Publish certain documents simultaneously in both official languages • Any document setting out public policy proposals • Any annual report • Any audited account or financial statement

13. Maynooth University - Obligations • Regulations made under section 9(1) of the Act • Signage • Stationery • Recorded Oral Announcements

14. Maynooth University - Obligations • Any sign placed by or on behalf of a public body at any location in the State or outside the State shall be in Irish or in Irish & English

15. Maynooth University - Obligations - SignageNew signs - erected after 1 March 2009 The text in Irish is as prominent, visible and legible as the text in English.

16. Maynooth University - Obligations - Signage New signs - erected after 1 March 2009 The text in Irish does not appear first.

17. Maynooth University - Obligations – SignageSigns - erected before 1 March 2009 The text in Irish is not as prominent, visible and legible as the text in English. To be amended by 1/1/2026

18. Maynooth University - Obligations - Stationery • Notepaper • Compliment Slips • Fax cover sheets • File covers & other folders • Labels • Envelopes

19. Summary of Signage and Stationery Provisions • Text in Irish shall appear first • Shall be as prominent, visible and legible • Lettering in Irish shall not be smaller in size • Shall Communicate the same information • Shall not be abbreviated unless the word in English is abbreviated

20. Maynooth University – Obligations – Recorded Oral Announcements • Recorded oral announcements will be in Irish or in Irish and English • Messages in elevators • Messages at public telephone numbers • Recorded announcements on public transport

21. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • Language Scheme agreed between Public Body and the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht • No role for Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga in agreeing scheme • Schemes designed to be incremental – setting out a pathway towards all services being available in both languages

22. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • Scheme commenced on 23 June 2014 and will remain in force until a new scheme has been confirmed by the Minister • Commitments made in scheme are statutory commitments • Scheme sets out the services which NUI will provide in Irish, in English and in both languages

23. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • The Irish committee who is responsible for the promotion of Irish in the University, will keep the operation of the scheme under review. • Department heads and heads of services is responsible for implementing the scheme in their own areas and will monitor implementation from day to day with assistance from the Irish Officer. • The committee will prepare a report for the Governing Authority of the University regarding progress on the implementation of the scheme.

24. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • Broad commitments were made in the University's first Language Scheme to improve the quality of service through Irish. All those commitments were fulfilled. Among those commitments was the provision of a bilingual service in the following: The President's Office, Vice-President Academic, Registrar and Deputy President ’s Office, Admissions Office, Student Records Office and Academic Advisor's Office.

25. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • School of Celtic Studies and Oifig na Gaeilge works through the medium of Irish • All services to customer/clients are carried out through the medium of Irish except when services are requested through English by the client.

26. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • Services are provided in Irish or in both official languages in the following centres: • The Language Centre • The Library

27. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • The following offices provide an Irish service ( in some cases they receive assistance from Oifig na Gaeilge) • Dean’s Office • Vice-Presidents Academic,Registrar and Deputy President’s Office • Admissions Office • President’s Office • Student Services • Student Union: The Irish Officer • Office of the Academic Advisor

28. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • Any brochures or pamphlets agreed under the first Scheme will continue to be published in both languages within one cover. • Websites: A website entitled “An Ghaeilge san Ollscoil” will be created, and will cover all use of Irish in the University, both academic and cultural. This website will make it easier to access information about Irish in the University and will raise the profile of the language. • The amount of bilingual material on the University's website will be increased. • All ‘Fáilte’ texts on the website of each unit of the University will be available in bilingual format before the end of the Scheme.

29. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • Most communication with the public and with students about services is conducted through English, but certain services are available in Irish, namely: • Application forms from the Accommodation Office, Personnel Forms, Application Forms for prospective students, current students, mature students, and for current residents. • All information about Graduation Days is provided in both official languages. A bilingual questionnaire is circulated after the graduation.

30. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme The following parts of the University’s website are available in Irish only or in both official languages: • Oifig na Gaeilge • The Dept. of Modern Irish • The Official Languages Act. • Office of the Academic Advisor • The Language Centre • Freedom of Information • The Library By the end of the second Scheme, the following additional elements will have been implemented: • A special section will be established on the website entitled "An Ghaeilge san Ollscoil" and will cover all use of Irish in the University, both academic and cultural, which will make it easier for people to access information about Irish in the University and will raise the profile of the language.

31. Maynooth University - Commitments in your language scheme • By the end of the Scheme: • All ‘Fáilte’ texts on the website of each unit of the University will be available in bilingual format.

32. Universities Act 1997 Section 12 (e) The objects of a university shall include to promote the official languages of the State, with special regard to the preservation, promotion and use of the Irish language and the preservation and promotion of the distinctive cultures of Ireland Section 18(6)(a) In performing its functions a governing authority, or a committee where appropriate shall - Have regard to the promotion and use of the Irish language as a language of general communication and promote the cultivation of the Irish language and its associated literary and cultural traditions Section 31(1)(a) ….may have a charter, not in conflict with this Act, setting out …. The arrangements it has for the promotion and use of the Irish language and the promotion of Irish cultures

33. Language Awareness • Majority of complaints arise from a lack of understanding on the part of the State body of what their responsibilities are • When complaints concern individual interaction, incidents can be exacerbated by rudeness, dismissiveness or sarcasm on the part of the individual official within the state body • Important to understand how difficult it is to try and do your business with the State in Irish • Even if service is unavailable, being courteous and having an understanding can resolve the issue before it reaches our office

34. Steps to consider • Establishing clear systems and processes across all parts of the organisation for staff in relation to each aspect of the direct obligations. • Checks and balances for example proofing of signs, sign off required by section head that material is in compliance with OLA? • Stock take of signs and public phone numbers that are in place and must be amended. • Stock take of application forms/stationery (sign off required?) • Create space and a place don Ghaeilge

35. An Ghaeilge “It is a very easy thing to lose a language. All that is required is one short period of inattention or complacency or deliberation, and the community can find itself with a generation of children, none of whom speak the older community language. With that single break of generational transmission, language and all that goes with it, becomes a walking ghost. Prof James McCloskey- University of California, Santa Cruz- “Voices Silenced”

36. An Ghaeilge

37. An Coimisinéir Teanga An Spidéal, Gaillimh @ceartateanga 091504006 1890 504006 eolas@coimisineir.ie www.coimisineir.ie