David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate, as I feel quite strongly about this issue. I am not alone in that my experience of learning Irish at school was appalling. It was viewed at the time that the way to teach Irish was to physically beat the language into children. I do not wish to cast aspersions on the teachers of the day because that was the way things were done. The way Irish has been taught in schools since the foundation of the State has turned more people off than it has encouraged to speak the language. Unfortunately, that still pertains. I worked as a career guidance counsellor for 20 years until I was elected to the House and part of my job was to interview students. I taught in a large school, which catered from almost 1,000 students at one stage. I interviewed every pupil on a number of occasions during their time in the school and their loathing for the Irish language always stood out. I do not say that with pride and it was not the fault of teachers. If the students had a choice, they would have given up Irish.

I know a young man who attended Irish college last summer and he had a great time, as everybody does. The students had fun and bhí siad ag labhairt Gaeilge. However, I met him recently when he had just finished school for the day. His attitude to Irish had totally changed. He said the way Irish is taught in school is awful. He hates it and wants to give it up and he is not alone. There is something terribly wrong when that is happening. I accept the Minister's bona fides because he is genuine about his desire to promote Irish but the Government must turn this around. Teenagers must experience fun and excitement when learning Irish and they must not be burdened with literature, grammar and so on before they can speak the language but that is not happening. They are given textbooks in primary and secondary school, which are dire. The language is being killed by the Government, which is trying to promote it. It is in the Government's gift to change this but it is not doing so. The Government is driving the language down children's throats.

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