Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

Is cúis áthais dom deis a bheith agam labhairt sa díospóireacht thábhachtach seo. Ní amháin gur ábhar tábhachtach é, tá dúshlán os ár gcomhair chun ar dteanga dúchais a choimeád beo do na blianta atá romhainn.

Fáiltím an t-aitheantas sa straitéis don chóras oideachais. Sin an tsuim faoi leith atá agam sa díospóireacht seo. Ní cainteoír ó dhúchas mé ach tá grá faoi leith agam don teanga. Aontaím go hiomlán leis an Teachta Adams agus tá súil agam go mbeidh i bhfad níos mó ócáidí againn an t-ábhar tábhachtach seo a phlé sa Dáil. I am not a native speaker but I have an interest faoi leith in this topic. I welcome it and thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak in the debate today.

I represent a constituency which has a Gaeltacht area, Cape Clear in south-west Cork. If the momentous events of the past week were to bring anything home to us it is the importance of our Irishness. We all shared pride when our distinguished visitors made utterances as Gaeilge. Our pride levels reached a new high when we heard them speak in our native tongue.

In an era of increased co-operation across states, especially in the European Union where there are ever fewer boundaries and more common denominators, currencies and laws applied across the member states, there are ever increasing challenges to our identity as a State. Our culture and heritage are more under threat. As there are fewer and fewer distinguishing factors separating countries the threat to our identity has never been greater. We need to assert our own national identity and one way to do this is with a vibrant, strong and proud language of which we can all avail and make use.

In my background as a teacher I had the pleasure, or whatever one might term it, of teaching from junior infants to sixth year at both primary and secondary level. I taught Irish as a language to students at every level along the way. The teaching of the language is the single greatest challenge to the survival of this language. In this country, unfortunately, our approach is to teach children to read, spell and write the language before we teach them to speak it. It is a simple anomaly but for generations it has caused mayhem to the successful teaching of Irish. We come at it from a reverse point of view because, of course, we should teach our children to speak first and foremost before concentrating on aspects such as spelling, grammar, verbs and all the different aspects we emphasise. I would like to see that very simple step being taken. I believe it is coming in gradually and recognition is dawning over time but we need to work more diligently towards that position.

Apart from the anomalies I mentioned in the teaching of the language I consider compulsion to be the great enemy of the Irish language. It did not matter who said it, or which leader of which party brought it about but as it happened it was the leader of Fine Gael, now the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, who first proposed getting rid of compulsion for the Irish language. I cannot agree more. It was the most welcome step I heard mentioned in the debate on the Irish language as long as I have been discussing it, even before my college days.

It is time we set the language free. In this modern day and age Irish is the only compulsory subject on the leaving certificate syllabus. Typically, 17 is the age of students who have completed transition year and are heading into fifth year. In this State we allow 17 year olds to drive a car on the roads if they have a licence but we do not allow them the freedom to choose whether they wish to study Irish. Any teacher, without exception, who has taught in a fifth year or leaving certificate classroom could tell of the hatred and animosity towards the Irish language that may build up by forcing students at that stage of life to study Irish against their will. This makes it difficult and challenging for the teacher who is trying to foster an environment of genuine passion and love for the language.

We must set the language free and move away from the compulsory element. We should realise that we are a grown-up State and that there are more than enough students who are keen to learn the language, who enjoy studying the language and who relish the challenge presented by learning our language and keeping it alive. There is no need to force anyone of 17 years of age in the school system to do anything relating to Irish.

Contrary to what some fanatical elements of the pro-Gaeilge lobby might suggest - I have encountered many of them during this debate and earlier a speaker referred to writing letters to The Irish Times - the proposals suggested by the Taoiseach do not suggest banning the language. However, it is noteworthy that the time in our history when our language flourished most was when the language was banned. However, I do not propose or support this. Rather, I prefer to encourage the freedom to choose and to encourage by rewards and points, thus providing the incentive to take Gaeilge to leaving certificate level.

See this speech in context