Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 31 May 2022

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government

Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 25:

In page 26, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: “(c) the objectives, outputs and strategies of the Commission for achieving the aim of increasing the use, visibility, and prominence of Irish, and achieving equal access by Irish speakers to participate, in the electoral and democratic processes.”.

This amendment is born out of frustration experienced over years by many in Gaeltacht areas, in particular, and outside them, whereby the rights of Irish speakers have not been recognised or have been ignored. They may receive communications in the English language only or, at times, the English language may be the primary means of communication used by the State for election purposes to the detriment of the Irish language because it is then seen as less important in those areas. The amendment will provide that the commission will understand from the start its role in ensuring those rights will be upheld and that the use of the Irish language will be visible in all publications, particularly within Gaeltacht areas, in order that Irish speakers can fully engage and take part in the democratic process without having to alter their names or change their direction because material has not been made available or communications to them are not in the language of their birth, in many cases, and the primary language of the State, the national language as indicated in the Constitution. As I understand it, even with the Official Languages Act, there is a need for this type of provision to be reflected in the duties and objectives of any State organisation. Given this will be a new organisation, it is important that it understands fully from day one that this will be one of its primary functions.

Obviously, the primary function is the electoral register and the election process but that has to be done while recognising other rights.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.