Legal Obligations

Chair of the Official Languages Act Task Group Appointment Process

Background

TU Dublin is committed to full compliance with the Official Languages Acts (2003 and 2021) and is establishing an Official Languages Act Task Group. The group will review compliance, identify improvements, and make recommendations to the University Executive Team to enhance bilingual services. The first step is appointing a Chair through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process.

Call for Expressions of Interest

An open Expression of Interest call will be issued to identify a suitable candidate for the role of Chair of the Task Group.

• This is a voluntary leadership position with responsibility for guiding TU Dublin’s approach to meeting its obligations under the Acts and fostering a culture of bilingualism and inclusion.
• The call will outline the role, responsibilities, and required qualifications, including that fluency in Irish is highly desirable.

Selection Panel Review

Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel made up of:

• The President of TU Dublin,
• The Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, and
• The Oifigeach na Gaeilge/Irish Language Officer.

The panel will assess each submission against the candidate profile, which includes:

• Knowledge of the Official Languages Acts and their relevance to higher education.
• Proven leadership, organisational, and communication skills.
• The ability to engage and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to promoting bilingualism and inclusion across TU Dublin

Recommendation and Appointment

Following the review, the President will make an appointment. l. Once appointed:

• The Chair will lead the establishment of the Task Group, including the nomination and appointment process for its 18 members, working closely with the Oifigeach na Gaeilge.
• The Chair will then oversee the group’s work, ensuring objectives are met and reports are submitted to the UET.

Expression of Interest: Chair of the Official Languages Act Task Group

TU Dublin is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the role of Chair of the Official Languages Act Task Group, which has been established to review the University’s compliance with the Official Languages Acts (OLA) 2003 and 2021 and to make strategic recommendations for enhancing bilingual services and communication across the University. This is a voluntary, additional role undertaken alongside existing duties and does not carry a workload allowance. It provides an opportunity to play a key leadership role in shaping TU Dublin’s approach to meeting its statutory obligations under the Official Languages Acts, while also promoting a culture of bilingualism and inclusion across the University community. About the Task Group

The Official Languages Act Task Group will:

• Conduct a review of TU Dublin’s current compliance with the (OLA) Acts.
• Identify areas requiring improvement and propose recommended actions to address them.
• Develop recommendations for a permanent oversight structure to ensure sustained compliance.
• Provide a report to the University Executive Team (UET) with actionable steps for improvement for their consideration.

The group will include representatives from across TU Dublin’s faculties, professional services, and the Students’ Union, with a maximum of 18 members.

Role of the Chair

The Chair will:

• Lead the establishment of the Task Group, including managing the nomination process in collaboration with Oifigeach na Gaeilge in line with its Terms of Reference – see below.
• Lead and coordinate the work of the Task Group in line with its Terms of Reference – see below.
• Seek and recommend appointments to the Task Group to ensure balanced expertise and representation.
• Ensure the timely completion of the group’s objectives and reporting to the UET.
• Facilitate constructive discussion and decision-making within the group.
• Hold the casting vote in the event of a tied decision.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will:

• Have knowledge of the Official Languages Acts and their relevance to higher education.
• Demonstrate proven leadership, organisational, and communication skills.
• Be committed to promoting bilingualism and inclusivity across TU Dublin.
• Possess the ability to engage and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Although fluency in Irish is not essential, it is highly desirable.

Application Process

Interested individuals are invited to submit:

• A statement (maximum 500 words) outlining their relevant experience, leadership skills, and vision for the work of the Task Group.
• A current CV.
• Please send your application to gaeilge@tudublin.ie by 17 November.

Selection Process

A small selection panel, including the President, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer and Oifigeach na Gaeilge, will review applications and make a recommendation for appointment to the UET.

 

Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference - Official Languages Act Task Group

 

There is a statutory obligation on TU Dublin to make specific provisions for the delivery of bilingual services in a coherent and agreed fashion through a statutory planning framework, known as a ‘scheme’, or as is currently being amended in legislation, to what will be referenced as a ‘standard’. To prepare for the new expected standards we advise the following:

• that all new ICT systems can correctly record the name of a person, address or title in the Irish language i.e. have functionality to record an accent on vowels such Seán Ó Dúill instead of Sean O Duill
• that any new form being devised should be fully bilingual, with the Irish language text appearing first
• that when renewing or altering a logo, that the text should be fully bilingual, with the Irish language text appearing first