Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 98:

In page 74, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(d) programming and services in the Irish language.”.

These amendments seek to ensure that the commission bears in mind the need to give prominence to Irish-language content and broadcasters on interactive guides. The amendments also empower the commission to make rules requiring interactive guides to support such prominence. The amendments seek to empower the Irish speakers using these guides and to ensure they have their right to engage with interactive guides in their own language respected in law. Interactive guides like TV guides and iPlayer catalogues - the Minister mentioned Sky, Virgin and so on - are there to make life easier. People can see what is on and pick what they want to watch, but for Irish speakers the only option is in a different language. There is a compellability factor there that we really should consider.

The commission, as the new regulator that ensures public service content is given prominence on these guides, should have the power to make rules as to what prominence is needed in the public interest, particularly when it comes to the Irish language. Our media is dominated by English. The vast majority of programmes on our televisions and of what we hear on the radio is in English. We need to strike a balance in that regard. We need almost to rebalance that to give Irish prominence for Irish-speaking communities in order that when we click onto our TV guide or a catalogue of shows, the option to receive it in Irish or in English is available. Every one of us in this room has that option already when it comes to accessing our emails. We can access our Oireachtas emails in Irish or in English. The technology is there to do that. The vast majority of us may opt for one language, but the potential for the other is there. As a country, we are committed to ensuring that people use and learn Irish in order that it becomes part of our daily lives, and the media serve a vital role in that regard. We all remember back to our secondary school days, when, if we were learning a foreign language, we were often shown a programme with subtitles in French, for example, as well as the audio being in French. If we could move towards that scenario for Irish, it would go some way to assisting those seeking to learn it and those who are in school to encourage them to become more fluent in the language. Amendments Nos. 98 and 99 would empower the commission to make rules as to how Irish-language content should be prominent on those interactive guides.

Amendment No. 100 is slightly different because it deals with the devices. If it is okay to mention one television brand by name, with Philips TVs, in the menu one can choose to set up the television in Irish, so the technology is available. What we need to ensure is that the use of that technology is encouraged among the other providers of televisions. That could greatly help learners. It also creates an environment in which Irish becomes immersive and a language in its own right that people use day to day because it is then almost constantly in their world. I understand that an Teachta Ó Snodaigh had proposed other amendments around subtitling and audio descriptions being included in both languages. I saw that as a very positive step, and I say that as somebody who has very little Irish and is busy learning at the moment. Having more exposure to Irish in various forums assists immensely with that. It also assists those who are currently Irish speakers and who may have disabilities. For those who may be visually impaired, to have the Irish in an audio description would ensure that their right as members of the Irish-speaking community is respected and upheld.

I ask the Minister to take these amendments on board, see their value and recognise that the technology for this to become normal in our world is already in use. When we go to set up our televisions we can choose which language we want to set them up in. Irish should be one of those languages. I ask the Minister to recognise the value of these amendments to those who are members of an Irish-speaking community.