Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

An bhfuil? Tá go maith. What is happening with regard to seachtain na Gaeilge?

A special Oireachtas committee dealing with the Irish language solely, in all its ramifications, should be set up. Furthermore, a high level committee should be formed between the Department of Education and Science, RTE, TG4 and Radió na Gaeltachta to maximise the resources available for promoting the Irish language and explaining to people the cultural gem that is the Irish language, the fact that it is now in danger and what exactly we would lose should we lose our language. We must convey the message that engaging with the Irish language can bring joy and can enrich us. This is not something that will come from compulsion and legislation.

Recent reports into what it costs to produce some documents in Irish, which are neither bought nor read by anyone, indicate strongly the need to review the operations of the Official Languages Act and to have the political courage to make the appropriate amendments to that Act.

Tá sé tábhachtach go gcothaítear cumas leanaí an Ghaeilge a labhairt chomh luath agus is féidir, ábhar a bhfuil mé ag plé leis le fada. Ba cheart gramadach na Gaeilge a shimpliú agus na briathra neamhrialta a chur ar leataobh go bhféadfadh páistí dul i ngleic leis an Ghaeilge agus an seans acu í a fhoghlaim agus a labhairt níos luaithe.

Ina theannta sin, caithfear fáil réidh den tuiseal ginideach, ní fiú leanúint leis a thuilleadh ó thaobh leanaí a mhealladh don teanga, agus daoine fásta gan cumas labhartha na Gaeilge fosta. Dá mbeadh an Ghaeilge níos fusa dóibhsean, chuirfidís chuige níos tapúla ná mar atá.

Ba cheart don Roinn, nó cibé Roinn is cuí, féachaint ar cad is féidir a dhéanamh. Tá focail eile ag teacht isteach sa Ghaeilge anois, ach tá siad "artificiálta", chun focal den tsort a úsáid. Is ceart rudaí praiticiúla a dhéanamh, sin an fáth go molaim go gcuirfidh an tAire coiste ard-leibhéal ar bun idir An Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta, TG4 agus Raidió na Gaeltachta chun gur féidir an fheidhm is fearr a bhaint as na háiseanna sin chun an Ghaeilge a fhorbairt agus a chur os comhair na ndaoine cé chomh tábhachtach agus atá an teanga.

Céard atá i gceist? Tá logainmneacha ann ar fud na tíre ar fad, ní féidir éalú as sin, mar shampla, Port an Dúnáin sin Portadown. Tá a lán staire ag baint leis na logainmneacha. Má thuigeann leanaí foinse na logainmneacha sa cheantar, bíonn suim acu sa stair. Is as Contae Phort Láirge mé féin, the harbour that is shaped like a thigh, agus má fhéachann duine ar an léarscáil, feicfidh sé cén fáth go bhfuil an logainm sin ann. Focail ar nós dún, trá, cill, mór agus beag, tá siad uilig ann.

Impím ar an Aire rud éigean a dhéanamh. Tá na coiste agus tuarascálacha uilig againn ach cur chuige atá uainn.

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