Official Languages Act 2003

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Number 32 of 2003

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT 2003

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Preliminary and General

Section
1.	Short title and commencement.
2.	Interpretation.
3.	Expenses.
4.	Regulations.

PART 2

Organs of State

5.	Annual report to Houses of Oireachtas.
6.	Use of official languages in Houses of Oireachtas.
7.	Acts of the Oireachtas.
8.	Administration of justice.

PART 3

Public Bodies

9.	Duty of public bodies to use official languages on official stationery, etc.
10.	Duty of public bodies to publish certain documents in both official languages simultaneously.
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.	Periodic review of schemes.
16.	Amendment of schemes.
17.	Failure to prepare a draft scheme.
18.	Duty to carry out schemes.
19.	Prohibition on imposition of charges by public bodies.

PART 4

An Coimisinéir Teanga

20.	Establishment of Oifig Choimisinéir na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.
21.	Functions of Commissioner.
22.	Powers of Commissioner.
23.	Conduct of investigations.
24.	Exclusions.
25.	Disclosure of information.
26.	Report of findings.
27.	Schemes of compensation.
28.	Appeals to the High Court.
29.	Publication of commentaries by Commissioner on practical application, etc. of Act.
30.	Reports of Commissioner.

PART 5

Placenames

31.	Definitions.
32.	Placenames orders.
33.	Construction of words in legal documents.
34.	Amendment of Ordance Survey Ireland Act 2001.
35.	Repeal.

PART 6

Miscellaneous

36.	Role of Ombudsman.

FIRST SCHEDULE

Public Bodies

SECOND SCHEDULE

An Coimisinéir Teanga

Acts Referred to
British-Irish Agreement Act 1999	1999, No. 1
Civil Service Commissioners Act 1956	1956, No. 45
Civil Service Regulation Act 1956	1956, No. 46
Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 1996
Data Protection Act 1988	1988, No. 25
European Assembly Elections Act 1977	1977, No. 30
European Parliament Elections Act 1993	1993, No. 30
Harbours Act 1946	1946, No. 9
Harbours Act 1996	1996, No. 11
Local Government Act 2001	2001, No. 37
Marriages (Ireland) Act 1844	6 & 7 Vict., c. 81
Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924	1924, No. 16
Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1956	1956, No. 21
Ombudsman Act 1980	1980, No. 26
Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001	2001, No. 43
Place-Names (Irish Forms) Act 1973	1973, No. 24
Public Service Management Act 1997	1997, No. 27
Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921 to 2002

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Number 32 of 2003

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT 2003

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:

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Official Languages Act 2003

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