Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

Gabhaím buíochas as ucht an seans seo labhairt ar son na Gaeilge. Tá an díospóireacht seo an-tábhachtach agus b'fhiú dúinn go léir éisteacht leis na daoine atá ag obair ar son na Gaeilge. Caithimid éisteacht freisin leis na tuismitheoirí agus na daltaí sna Gaelscoileanna. Tá a lán rudaí maithe ar siúil sna scoileanna sin agus caithfimid foghlaim ó na daoine sin.

As a person not fluent in Irish, I wish to contribute to the development of this debate. It is essential to begin with the process of the teaching of the language in primary and second level schools. This has been a major issue for the last 20 or 30 years. The success stories of families, particularly those in Gaeltacht areas, and those involved in Gaelscoileanna have shown us the progressive way forward in regard to the language. Language must be taught with the support of the community and parents. Teaching the language in isolation in schools simply does not work.

We must acknowledge an element of hostility in society to the Irish language and culture. There is an opportunity for all-party support to deal with this hostility, particularly that emanating from political elements and the media. We have a duty as public representatives to show leadership on this issue and to challenge those who claim the language should not be taught in primary schools and that TG4 should be terminated. We are concerned these days with respect for different languages and cultures in our society. This is an opportunity to put such sentiments into practice.

The children of this nation have given us great examples of respect for cultural and linguistic diversity. Many primary schools, especially Gaelscoileanna, have given us a lead in regard to education and the removal of barriers. I am aware of several Gaelscoileanna which accommodate pupils of different nationalities. These children have no difficulty in coping with several different languages and cultures. Those concerned with the promotion of the Irish language have been to the fore on this issue because they see respect for culture and language as an important ethos in modern society.

However, an important issue is the existence of a rump within the Irish language movement which does not seem to be sufficiently open to dealing with those who may not have confidence in their ability to learn or speak the language. This latter may be a consequence of childhood experiences when there was a strong emphasis on the importance of correct grammar. Many people, including myself, have a positive attitude to Irish but are not fluent in the language. We have a duty, particularly those with the talent and gift of fluency in the language, to encourage and motivate such people in gaining confidence to be part of the movement to develop the language.

Unfortunately, some may be discouraged by their encounters with a sector of those involved in the promotion of the language. In every society there are those who send out a negative message. On the other hand, there are many in the Irish language movement who make a positive contribution. The Minister is acquainted with a friend of mine, Mr. Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, who is involved in Oideas Gael. Such people have dedicated much time to the language, formulated many credible policies and devised excellent projects to develop the language in their own communities.

These are issues from which we should not shy away in considering the development of the Irish language. Tá tábhacht faoi leith ag baint leis an teanga i dtaobh chultúr agus thraidisiún na tíre, ach is gá bheith réalaíoch faoi na athruithe ollmhóra atá tar éis teacht chun cinn le deich mbliana anuas. Tá grúpa amháin a deireann go bhfuil an Ghaeltacht agus an Ghaeilge ag fáil bháis, agus is léir ó na staitisticí is déanaí go bhfuil maolú an-mhór tagtha ar líon na gcainteoirí a úsáideann an Ghaeilge mar ghnáth-theanga cumarsáide sna Gaeltachtaí. Ar an taobh eile den scéal, tá fás agus forbairt dochreidte tagtha ar scolaíocht agus oideachas ó thaobh na Gaeilge, de rud a léiríonn go bhfuil an teanga ag fás agus ag forbairt mar theanga léinn seachas teanga cumarsáide.

Dar liom, tá freagra na ceiste i leith na teanga áit éigin idir an dá stól. Is duine dearfach mé agus feictear go bhfuil níos mó dúil ag daoine óga i gceist na teanga ná mar a bhí riamh. Feicim é seo sa tslí go mbíonn an cultúr á chur chun cinn ar fud an domhain. Tá bród agus meas ag daoine óga ar an gcultúr atá acu ach is gá dúinn an cultúr agus an traidisiún a leathnú agus a fhorbairt os comhair páistí agus daoine eile nach raibh an deis riamh acu an teanga nó nósmhaireacht chultúrtha na tíre seo a bhlaiseadh.

Tá seanfhocal ann a deireann, "Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam", agus aontaím go hiomlán leis an ráiteas úd mar is tríd an teanga ar féidir leis an duine aithne cheart a chur ar a oidhreacht féin. Tá sé suas don Rialtas seo déanamh cinnte de go gcuidíonn Aontas na hEorpa linn an teanga a chaomhnú agus a thógáil ar aghaidh san aonú haois is fiche. Táimse dóchasach sa ghlúin atá le teacht agus, cé go bhfuil fadhbanna agus tuairimíocht láidir i gcoinne na teanga, ní mór do Ghaeilgeorí na tíre an fód a sheasamh agus leanúint ar aghaidh ag tabhairt inspreagtha agus deiseanna labhartha do muintir na hÉireann sa ghlúin atá ag teacht.

Tá cúpla moltaí agam. Ba chóir córas nua a chur i bhfeidhm i leith mhúineadh na Gaeilge i mbunscoileanna mar is léir go bhfuil laige agus easpa dul chun cinn ann maidir leis an teanga labhartha. Bheadh sé mar chúram ag múinteoir amháin nó múinteoirí an teanga a mhúineadh amanta faoi leith do gach rang sa scoil. I meánscoileanna ba cheart béim níos mó a chur ar an dteanga labhartha ó thaobh scrúduithe de agus ba cheart go mbeadh sé mar chuspóir go gcaithfeadh gach uile dalta tréimhse amháin sa Gaeltacht idir an chéad bhliain agus é nó í an scoil á fhágáil sa séú bliain.

These are the types of issues that I would like to raise in the debate. Many progressive people are involved and interested in the Irish language. I pay tribute to the broadcasting station, TG4, which has made a considerable contribution to a positive image of the Irish language. I say this in all sincerity as I have spoken to many people who have commented that when it comes to presentation as regards Nuacht and other programmes, TG4 can match other television stations at an international level. I commend the TG4 staff on the excellent work and on the station's performance over a number of years.

Again, I take issue with those in the broader society who challenge the wisdom of spending money on our language and culture. They emerge now and again to attack stations such as TG4 and question the use of public money in this regard. We should make no apologies for supporting our language and culture.

I welcome recent developments in the peace process and the talks on Northern Ireland. One of the happiest occasions I have witnessed, in Glencolumbkille, County Donegal, was to see members of the Unionist tradition coming there to learn Irish, to get involved in the culture and celebrate the language. That has been happening in recent years. It is part of the larger picture in terms of the peace process when one sees people from a different tradition and culture interested in learning about our culture and language, taking into account mutual respect for difference. It is not about taking over a people's language and identity but rather working and living together on the island of Ireland.

Among the progressive forces in Irish society leading the charge on these issues are the people in the Irish language movement. Also among the progressive forces, and we should make no apology for this, are people who constantly campaign for Irish independence and unity who are directly involved in the language movement, and I commend them. This is part of our history going back generations. It should be passed on to our children and to future generations because there is a major problem with a sector of society. In the context of by-elections, for example, it is not democratically acceptable that up to 60% of the electorate do not bother to vote. There is something wrong and this must be addressed. There is a cultural problem and a democratic problem and they are interlinked and intertwined.

Those are a few short comments on the Irish language movement and the debate on Irish. It is appropriate that there are a number of cainteoirí dúchais in the Dáil as well as a number of people with a few words of Irish, together with Deputies who have a positive attitude towards the language but might not necessarily have the confidence to use it. As part of this debate I ask the Minister to listen to all the different strands. He should listen to us and open his mind and heart. A positive majority of people is genuinely interested in the language and all they require is encouragement.

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