Official Languages Act 2003
Number 32 of 2003
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT 2003
REVISED
Updated to 30 June 2024
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Official Languages Act 2003. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the Employment Permits Act 2024 (17/2024), enacted 25 June 2024, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 320 of 2024), made 26 June 2024, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number 32 of 2003
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT 2003
REVISED
Updated to 30 June 2024
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary and General
Section
1.
2.
3.
4.
4A.
Appointment of head of public body.
4B.
Report on performance of obligations under Act.
Organs of State
5.
Annual report to Houses of Oireachtas.
6.
Use of official languages in Houses of Oireachtas.
7.
8.
Public Bodies
9.
Duty of public bodies to use official languages on official stationery, etc.
9A.
Duty of public bodies regarding names, addresses and titles in Irish language.
9B.
Duty of public bodies regarding official forms.
9C.
Duty of public bodies regarding logos.
9D.
Names and logos of newly established statutory bodies.
9E.
10.
Duty of public bodies to publish certain documents in both official languages simultaneously.
10A.
11.
Use of official languages by public bodies.
12.
Publication of guidelines by Minister.
13.
Preparation of draft scheme by public body.
14.
Confirmation by Minister of draft schemes.
15.
16.
17.
Failure to prepare a draft scheme.
18.
18A.
Establishment of Advisory Committee.
18B.
Membership of Advisory Committee.
18C.
Functions of Advisory Committee.
18D.
Duty of Minister in respect of National Plan prepared under section 18C.
18E.
Public bodies in Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas.
18F.
19.
Prohibition on imposition of charges by public bodies.
19A.
19B.
Duty to comply with language standards.
19C.
Derogation from language standards.
19D.
Guidelines in respect of language standards.
An Coimisinéir Teanga
20.
Establishment of Oifig Choimisinéir na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
Publication of commentaries by Commissioner on practical application, etc. of Act.
30.
Placenames
31.
31A.
Establishment of Placenames Committee.
31B.
Membership of Placenames Committee.
31C.
Functions of Placenames Committee.
32.
33.
Construction of words in legal documents.
34.
Amendment of Ordance Survey Ireland Act 2001.
35.
Miscellaneous
36.
Public Bodies
An Coimisinéir Teanga
Acts Referred to
British-Irish Agreement Act 1999
Civil Service Commissioners Act 1956
Civil Service Regulation Act 1956
Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 1996
Data Protection Act 1988
European Assembly Elections Act 1977
European Parliament Elections Act 1993
Harbours Act 1946
Harbours Act 1996
Local Government Act 2001
Marriages (Ireland) Act 1844
6 & 7 Vict., c. 81
Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924
Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956
Ombudsman Act 1980
Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001
Place-Names (Irish Forms) Act 1973
Public Service Management Act 1997
Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921 to 2002
Number 32 of 2003
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT 2003
REVISED
Updated to 30 June 2024
AN ACT TO PROMOTE THE USE OF THE IRISH LANGUAGE FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES IN THE STATE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE OF BOTH OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE STATE IN PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS, IN ACTS OF THE OIREACHTAS, IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, IN COMMUNICATING WITH OR PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AND IN CARRYING OUT THE WORK OF PUBLIC BODIES; TO SET OUT THE DUTIES OF SUCH BODIES WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF THE STATE; AND FOR THOSE PURPOSES, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OIFIG CHOIMISINÉIR NA dTEANGACHA OIFIGIÚLA AND TO DEFINE ITS FUNCTIONS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLICATION BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CERTAIN INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE PURPOSES OF THIS ACT; AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [14th July, 2003]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text):
C1
Functions transferred and references to "Cathaoirleach" or "Cathaoirligh", "Leas-Chathaoirleach", "chief executive" and "deputy chief executive" construed (16.05.2024) by Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 (7/2024), ss. 10, 23, 25, 26, 28 and sch. 1 parts 1, 2, S.I. No. 207 of 2024.
Functions of Mayor
10. (1) All functions (other than functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1) that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Mayor.
(2) All functions (other than functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1) that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the chief executive of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Mayor.
(3) From the vesting day, a reference in any enactment (other than an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1) to Cathaoirleach shall, in so far as the reference applies to the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Mayor, or as including a reference to the Mayor, as the context requires.
(4) From the vesting day, a reference in any enactment (other than an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1) to chief executive shall, in so far as that reference applies to the chief executive of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Mayor, or as including a reference to the Mayor, as the context requires.
(5) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.
...
Functions of Príomh Chomhairleoir
23. (1) All functions conferred by or under an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Príomh Chomhairleoir.
(2) From the vesting day, a reference in an enactment specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to Cathaoirleach or Cathaoirligh shall, in so far as that reference applies to the Cathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Príomh Chomhairleoir, or as including a reference to the Príomh Chomhairleoir, as the context may require.
(3) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.
...
Functions of Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir
25. (1) All functions conferred by or under any enactment that, immediately before the vesting day, vested in the Leas-Chathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, vest in the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir.
(2) From the vesting day, a reference in any enactment to Leas-Chathaoirleach shall, in so far as that reference applies to the Leas-Chathaoirleach of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir, or as including a reference to the Leas-Phríomh Chomhairleoir, as the context may require.
(3) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.
Director general
26. (1) The chief executive of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after the vesting day, be known as the director general of Limerick City and County Council and is in this Act referred to as the “director general”.
(2) The person who, immediately before the vesting day, was the chief executive of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, continue in office and be referred to in accordance with subsection (1).
(3) On and after the vesting day, a reference in an enactment specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1 to chief executive shall, in so far as that reference applies to the chief executive of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the director general, or as including a reference to the director general, as the context may require.
(4) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.
...
Deputy director general
28. (1) On and after the vesting day, a deputy chief executive appointed by the director general under section 148 of the Principal Act shall be known as the deputy director general of Limerick City and County Council and is, in this Act, referred to as the “deputy director general”.
(2) The person who, immediately before the vesting day, was the deputy chief executive of Limerick City and County Council shall, on and after that day, continue in office and be referred to in accordance with subsection (1).
(3) On and after the vesting day, a reference in any enactment to deputy chief executive shall, in so far as the reference applies to the deputy chief executive of Limerick City and County Council, be construed as a reference to the deputy director general, or as including a reference to the deputy director general, as the context may require.
(4) This section shall apply subject to the modifications of the Principal Act specified in Schedule 3.
...
SCHEDULE 1
PART 1
Enactments for Purposes of Sections 10 and 23
|
Number and Year (1) |
Provision (2) |
Extent of Modification (3) |
|
No. 37 of 2001 |
Local Government Act 2001 |
Sections 11(5)(b), 11(8), 31(4)(a), 31(5), 31(7), 31(9), 31(11), 33, 34(2)(e), 36, 37, 38, 104(7)(a), 133(6)(a), 134(4)(b), 140(8), 141(1)(b), 141(4), 142(2)(a), 142(5)(f), 143(1), 147, 148, 158(3), 174(8), 178(2)(b), 178(5), 180(3)(a), 189(9), 190(9), 216(2)(a), 219(1) and 220(1); paragraphs 3(4), 4(2), 4(3), 6(1), 6(2), 6(3), 7(9), 10, 13(5)(e), 13(6) and 16(4)(c) of Schedule 10; paragraph 3 of Schedule 14. |
PART 2
Enactments for Purposes of Sections 10 and 26
|
Number and Year (1) |
Short Title (2) |
Provision (3) |
|
... |
... |
... |
|
No. 32 of 2003 |
Official Languages Act 2003 |
Section 4B(a) |
|
... |
... |
... |
C2
Functions transferred and references construed (1.05.2011) by Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 164 of 2011), arts. 2, 3 and sch., in effect as per art. 1(2), subject to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.
2. (1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any functions transferred by Article 3 are transferred to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
(2) References to the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs contained in any Act or any instrument made thereunder and relating to any administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
3. (1) The functions vested in the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs by or under the Acts specified in Part 1 of the Schedule and the provisions of the Acts specified in Part 2 of the Schedule in so far as they relate to—
(a) supporting and promoting the Irish language, including the co-ordination of policy in that regard, and the development of the Gaeltacht and the Islands,
(b) promoting the cultural, social and economic welfare of the Gaeltacht,
(c) supporting and promoting North/South co-operation in relation to the Irish language and Ulster-Scots heritage, culture and language, and
(d) An Foras Teanga, An Coimisinéir Teanga and Údarás na Gaeltachta, are transferred to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport.
(2) References to the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs contained in any Act or instrument made thereunder and relating to any functions transferred by this Article shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport.
SCHEDULE
Part 1
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Official Languages Act 2003 (No. 32 of 2003)
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