Parliamentary Question No. 490 on Tuesday, 29th January, 2013
To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps being taken to ensure, while acknowledging the need for the State to secure savings, the continued existence of An Coimisinéir Teanga and the effective performance of the functions ascribed to this position as set out in the Official Languages Act 2003.
– Seán Kyne.
FREAGRA
AN tAIRE STÁIT SA ROINN EALAÍON, OIDHREACHTA AGUS GAELTACHTA (DONNCHADH MAC FHIONNLAOICH UASAL, T.D.)
As the Deputy will be aware, a decision was taken to merge the functions of the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga with the Office of the Ombudsman in the Government’s Public Service Reform Plan, published on 17 November 2011. Following a review in October 2012 of progress achieved to date, the Government agreed the following key reform actions to be progressed:
- The Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga is to merge with the Office of the Ombudsman.
- The statutory powers and functions of An Coimisinéir Teanga under the Official Languages Act 2003 will transfer to the Ombudsman and will be delegated to An Coimisinéir Teanga under the amending legislation.
- A statutorily appointed Coimisinéir Teanga will continue to independently exercise existing powers under the Official Languages Act and will continue to be Gaeltacht-based.
My Department is working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to implement these reforms. I am satisfied that, as a result of the Government decision of October last, a statutorily appointed Coimisinéir Teanga will continue to perform the functions assigned to that office holder, as set out in the Official Languages Act 2003.—–