The Council will develop a list of key strategic Council documents and publications to proactively be made available in Irish. The 10 most common front-facing forms (online and hard copy) will be identified and translated into Irish for immediate use. The Council commits to publishing information leaflets, marketing and promotional materials bilingually in printed form and online. In instances where consultations are being conducted and the subject matter has the potential to impact the use of the Irish language or the Irish language community themselves, consultation questionnaires, engagement sessions and associated documents will be conducted proactively through the medium of Irish/bilingually as part of the active offer.
Belfast City Council will adopt a new bilingual (Irish/English) corporate identity and the bilingual logo will become the new, proactive, de-facto council logo to be used comprehensively across all corporate branding. The English-only version of the logo will be available upon request. The same typeface and font-size will be used for both languages and the Irish text will be as visible and legible as the English text. The Council will promote the availability of the Irish language Council logo, use of bilingual English/Irish corporate signatures and Irish language City brand for use in correspondence, documentation, literature etc.
The Council will provide and promote interpretation and translation services across the Council.
The Council will codify the arrangements for the use of Irish in Council meetings through the Council’s Standing Orders. Members and those addressing the Council in Irish will not be placed at a disadvantage for doing so. Members of the public addressing the Council will be given the option of addressing the Council in Irish at their earliest interaction with the Council.
The Council commits to publishing regular and often bilingual English / Irish content across all social media platforms. Information posts, marketing initiatives, community / service announcements will take place in Irish and in English. The relevant officer(s) will work in conjunction with the marketing team to develop a comprehensive strategy on how best to promote the Irish language across the Council’s platforms. The Strategy will set out clear annual goals, increasing annually, around the per cent of social media posts produced.
The Council will develop and maintain a functioning bilingual (Irish/English) website. A choice of languages, English/Irish, will first appear on the Council home page and users will be asked which language they wish to view the site in. The Council website will also develop, host and regularly update a specific Irish language page, with information about the Irish language services available from Council, information on classes throughout the city and on Irish medium education.
The Council will promote Irish language events in the city and provide information in Irish about major upcoming events and the launch of any key strategic Council initiative.
The Council will provide staff with a code of courtesy for indigenous languages and provision of cultural awareness training.
