Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
11. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department has engaged, or plans to engage, with a company (details supplied) regarding the availability of the Irish language on the company's operating system as part of efforts to promote the use of Irish in digital services and technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53283/26]
View answerLast year I established the Advisory Committee on the Irish Language in the Digital Sphere to provide advice on the implementation of my Department's Digital Plan for the Irish Language and to consider matters relating to the use and development of Irish in digital technologies.
At its meeting in February 2026, the Committee agreed that it would be beneficial to engage directly with a number of major technology companies to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with supporting Irish and other low-resourced languages in the digital sphere. The Department subsequently issued invitations to a number of companies to engage with the committee.
The company referred to by the Deputy was included in this correspondence, responded positively to this invitation and indicated its willingness to engage with the Committee. It is hoped that representatives from the company will attend a future meeting of the Advisory Committee to discuss matters relating to the Irish language and digital technologies. Arrangements for this engagement are currently being progressed through the Committee.
Separately, the Department – in collaboration with Údarás na Gaeltachta and the ADAPT Research Centre – is also preparing an international conference on low-resourced languages and digital technology. This conference entitled "Todhchaí na dteicneolaíochtaí teanga i ré na hintleachta saorga - Éagsúlacht teanga agus ceannasacht dhigiteach a thabhairt slán" / "The future of language technologies in the age of artificial intelligence - Safeguarding linguistic diversity and digital sovereignty” will take place in early November in Galway as part of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The conference will bring together policymakers, researchers, language organisations and representatives from the technology sector to examine the opportunities and challenges facing low-resourced languages in an increasingly digital environment. As part of these preparations, the Department is engaging with a range of technology companies regarding potential participation in the conference and related discussions.
