THE IRISH Language Commissioner has reported both the Health Service Executive and the National Museum of Ireland to the Oireachtas for continued failure to comply with legislation on use of the Irish language.
An Coimisinéir Teanga Seán Ó Cuirreáin has said he had to take this “ultimate sanction” after a series of steps taken to try and ensure both State bodies responded adequately to recommendations he issued.
These recommendations were made as a result of complaints by members of the public, he pointed out at a press briefing in his office in An Spidéal, Co Galway. A “lack of co-operation” and “lack of will” were shown by both bodies in contact with his office, he said.
An audit of HSE West’s compliance with the Official Languages Act, carried out by his office in March 2009, found it breached commitments on recruitment and staff placement in Gaeltacht areas, commitments to provide bilingual forms and commitments to respect the right of patients to use a language of choice.
His office received a complaint in May 2009 that swine flu warnings had been posted by the HSE in English only at ports and airports, in hospitals and other public buildings. His office conducted two investigations, and advised the HSE to establish a high level group to ensure the recommendations were met within six months.
Mr Ó Cuirreáin said the National Museum of Ireland’s difficulties related to failure to take account of language duties when recruiting staff.
A complaint had been received by his office in November 2008 that the museum’s calendar of events was published in English only. Seven recommendations were issued to the museum in May 2009.
Two formal reports highlighting issues with both bodies were laid last week before both Houses of the Oireachtas, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said.