Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá fios ag an Taoiseach go bhfuil an Ghaeltacht faoi níos mó bhrú ná mar a bhí riamh agus tá géarchéim ann sa Ghaeltacht agus i bpobal na Gaeltachta mar gheall ar an Rialtas seo agus Rialtais eile agus a mbeartais laige. Chuir na beartais seo le dul i léig na Gaeilge mar ghnáth-theanga na daoine.

The Irish language is under greater pressure than ever, particular in Gaeltacht communities which are losing much needed resources. The number of children being taught through the medium of Irish is declining. The previous Irish language commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, criticised the Government strongly over this and resigned in protest. In January, his successor Rónán Ó Domhnaill made practical recommendations to the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions and the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht published its report on the general scheme of the official languages (amendment) Bill. I do not have time to deal with this in detail, but the joint committee put forward a range of recommendations that would enable the language to remain as a living vibrant language if it was fostered and nurtured by the State and its institutions. It has been in the public arena for some time that the heads of the Bill will not reflect the recommendations of the joint committee.

It is ridiculous that the Government is not keeping to its strategy and commitments. The commissioner also reported the Department of Education and Skills to the Houses of the Oireachtas because it has failed to fulfil its obligations under the Education Act 1998. Other bodies that were in breach in respect of the use of Irish included the Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin Bus and the HSE.

Does the Taoiseach accept that the report by the Comisinéir Teanga is evidence that the State is not doing enough to protect and encourage the Irish language and go bhfuil sé soiléir nach bhfuil ag éirí leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. An ndéanfaidh an Taoiseach athbhreithniú iomlán neamphspleách ar an straitéis seo?

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