Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

Beidh mé ag plé ábhair thábhachtach inniu, an Ghaeilge agus a ról sa todhchaí. Tá mé ag freastal ar ranganna faoi láthair chun feabhas a chur ar mo chuid Ghaeilge mar tá a fhios agam go bhfuil sin tábhachtach. Le cúnamh Dé, tá súil agam go mbeidh mé in ann díospóireacht iomlán a phlé trí mheán na Gaeilge i gceann cúpla míosa. The Irish language is a beautiful rich language. Obviously on 1 January it became an official working language of the EU, which I welcome. It has been reported in the media that there is a shortage of translators and more students need to be encouraged to study Irish at third level.

The Irish language is in crisis. As Deputy Deasy said, fewer people speak the language now than in 2002. Shocking statistics emerged from the report published last week. The study states the Irish language will no longer be the main spoken language in Gaeltacht areas in 15 to 20 years time. The Government needs to act immediately on the recommendations in the language study. The Minister has previously stated he would not examine the recommendations for another year but the language cannot wait. It must be protected and promoted nationwide. Gaeltachts are essential to the future of the Irish language and they must be protected. A radically different approach to the language is needed in both our education system and in society. Above all, we need a Government that will produce a national strategy for the Irish language to ensure its future existence, which will make a clear and honest assessment of where we stand and what the Government wants to achieve for the language. Sadly, no strategy exists.

The Minister has established a language advisory committee but it has no role nor has it the power to issue a report or recommendations. Instead, it will report to him on whether he should develop a strategy. How can the language survive or thrive if it has no long-term direction? A national strategy would ensure all bodies and initiatives promoting the language have a clearly defined role and a clear sense of purpose. Fine Gael proposes a strategy that will set out the recommendations to be implemented by the Government for the development of the language over the next 20 years. Deputy Kenny was the first person in recent years to highlight the crisis in the Irish language. He outlined Fine Gael's vision to bring it into the 21st century. His radical approach to reforming and reviving Irish is built around a simple goal, which is to equip our people, particularly our young people, with a real, useful and communicative knowledge of the language. The issue is to bring that vision to the next level and specify the policies of how Fine Gael in government would reform and revive Irish.

A modern Irish syllabus is needed and I am disappointed the Minister of Education and Science is not present for the debate. The language needs to be made attractive to schoolgoers. While I welcome her proposal to increase the percentage of marks allocated for spoken work, I challenge her to visit a school anywhere in Dublin and teach the current leaving certificate syllabus to an ordinary level class. I guarantee she would meet obstacles, as most modern day students do not want to know anything about 16th century literature. The syllabus is wrong and completely out of date and this has not helped the promotion of the Irish language. Currently, the secondary school syllabus is driving students to hate the language. Discussion is needed on why Irish is failing in the education system and how it can be improved. Antagonism towards the language also needs to eliminated.

A majority of the population does not use Irish on a daily basis, as Deputy Ring outlined and, despite receiving more than 1,500 hours of education in the language, many young people leave school without a reasonable command of it. The State needs to get the teaching of Irish correct at primary level because if a love of the language is not instilled in pupils at that level, it will not be followed through as they pass through the education system.

I commend the work of Foras na Gaeilge, which has done a great deal to promote the language among the general population. Given the number of immigrants entering the State, the language should also be promoted in their communities. What plans has the Minister to ensure immigrants are aware we have a native tongue and that they can learn the language easily? In government, Fine Gael would increase investment in gaelscoileanna and address the critical shortage of educational publications in Irish. The Minister should address this. My constituency, Dublin North East, has three gaelscoileanna — Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Gaelscoil Colmcille and Pobalscoil Neasáin. I commend the work of the principals and teachers in these schools in the promotion of the language.

There could be a bright future for the language but only if the Government and the Minister have the courage and vision to implement necessary reforms and pursue far-reaching policies. My party has the courage and vision. We would like the population to love the Irish language so that it will thrive. Fianna Fáil has had an opportunity throughout the years to revive the language and the Minister's legacy leaves a lot to be desired. Hopefully, he will pay heed to the contributions to this debate and will do everything he can to revive the language. Fine Gael in government would do all it could for the language. Gabhaim buíochas don Chathaoirleach agus don Aire as bheith ag éisteacht le mo chuid tuairimí inniu.

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