Ms Yvonne Cooke:

In addition to what the Deputy has raised I will make a few points and I will go back to what I said earlier. We will continue to do outreach before competitions and to have a longer term plan. On the issues the Deputy raised, in schools and colleges when people are thinking about what they will put on their CAO forms, An Garda Síochána should always be to the fore as a career or vocation option. There are a few ways in which we will do that in addition to what we have already discussed. I mentioned liaison in schools but for people who are moving into their teens and really thinking about what they want to do, we have launched an internship programme this year and part of our Irish language strategy plan is to have a bespoke or specific programme for the Gaeltacht areas. Individuals who speak Irish should have an opportunity to come into An Garda Síochána, experience what it is like to be in the organisation and consider if it is a career, job or vacation for them going forward.

The Deputy mentioned token Gaeilgeoirí and we have many Gaeilgeoirí across the organisation. With the outreach programme we are running we have had so many people come forward and say they would like to be visibly present within it, in particular within the Gaeltacht areas. There is that lovely saying that if you can see it you can be it but with the Irish language it is a case that if you can hear it you might consider this as being a place for you for the future. The onus cannot always be placed on Gaeilgeoirí within the organisation to advocate for the Irish language. It is incumbent on us all to do so. The opening address mentioned our focus on the fáinne. Over 1,000 individuals within the organisation have varying levels of Irish proficiency. The committee has heard today about our attempts to speak the language and that needs to continue. We want to create a grá or love of the language and to be seen to do so within the organisation. We all have a role to play in that in our leadership and I say that to make the point that it is not just a responsibility for the Gaeilgeoirí.