Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ceapaim go bhfuil sé dearfach go bhfuil an t-ábhar seo, cúrsaí Gaeilge, á phlé againn inniu i dtosach an Rialtais seo. Is mór an trua é agus is cúis náire é go bhfuil Béarla á labhairt againn inniu agus go mbíonn gnó na Dála ag leanúint ar aghaidh trí Bhéarla in ionad Gaeilge. Is cúis náire í cinnte nach bhfuil Gaeilge á labhairt againn beagnach 90 bliain tar éis tosach an Stáit.

We know the historical reasons we speak English, namely, the effect of the Famine, the effect of migration when so many Irish speakers died or left, the education system under Britain which undermined Irish, the growing perception that speaking Irish would not enhance one's job prospects and that English was the language of progress. When we think of the Easter Rising and the War of Independence, the leaders and the members spoke Irish and had a great love of Irish and yet Irish is not the language of the majority of the population. Government after Government since the foundation of the State has failed to encourage and spread the use of the language.

Is í an fadhb atá againn anois ná nach bhfuil aon fheabhas tagtha ar an ábhar seo agus anois ní labhraíonn ach mionlach sa tír seo an Ghaeilge. Roimh an nGorta Mór bhí Gaeilge mar an gcéad teanga ag beagnach 7 milliún duine. Anois labhraíonn níos lú ná 20,000 Gaeilge gach lá.

If we are to bring about an improvement in the use of the Irish language, we must start young. Ceapaim go mba chóir go mbeadh gach bunscoil mar Ghaelscoil i gcomhar ceithre nó cúig bliana ar a laghad. Ansin bheadh gach dalta scoile in ann labhairt as Gaeilge.

Another language could be introduced for the final two to three years at primary school because we know that children are like sponges at that stage. The common denominator with all languages is that language has to be taught to be spoken. Under the present system, children will learn Irish for eight years in primary school, three to six years in second level and will still leave the education system unable to conduct a conversation in Irish and, even more disappointing, many not liking Irish and having no pride in Irish as being part of our cultural identity. Cinnte tá job sármhaith á dhéanamh ag na Gaeilscoileanna, go háirithe na cinn atá lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Rud eile dearfach: tá a fhios againn go bhfuil suim ag tuismitheoirí go mbeadh níos mó Gaelscoileanna againn. We have to look at the way Irish is taught in our schools. Ba cheart go mbeidh na ranganna beomhar agus praiticiúil. The emphasis has to be on spoken Irish. There has to be a conversation with the Minister for Education and Skills on this issue, otherwise why bother teaching Irish. I say that as somebody who loves Irish. Unless we are going to take it seriously, we should throw our hat at it at this stage. I believe it is more beneficial to have the majority with a love of the language and able to speak it rather than have a few being super competent in Irish with the majority being left with a distaste for the language.

In December 2010, we had the publication of the 20-year strategy for the Irish language. What has been achieved in the first five years? It is strong on rhetoric and aspirations but very weak on implementation and action. I accept there were specific structures for the setting up a number of committees. Unless there is implementation, committees are merely talking shops. It speaks volumes, unfortunately, that in the last Government, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, could not conduct business regarding the Gaeltacht in the Irish language. I acknowledge the efforts made by the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, to make up for that shortfall. One has to ask how

serious an issue it is that the Minister whose first language is not Irish has responsibility for the Gaeltacht.

Yesterday I attended a presentation from Conradh na Gaeilge, chaired by Deputy Peadar Tóibín, in the AV room. It highlighted various positive signs from a number of surveys which indicated that at least 2 million people have some level of Irish, that 61% agree with additional support for the language and that 70% agree on the need for services through Irish to be in place for those who want those services. As we are trying to provide services in their own language for our new communities, there is a responsibility on us to provide those services in Irish for those who want them. Other points that emerged from the surveys included bilingual labelling and that the names of Government agencies and semi-State bodies should be in Irish. To bring all of this about requires leadership, commitment, compassion and investment. After that, it requires monitoring of the implementation of the strategy.

4 o’clock

I understand this issue is competing with a wide range of issues at Cabinet level but this has gone on far too long if we are serious about spreading Irish as a spoken language throughout the country and not confining it to Gaeltacht areas. I am struck by the widespread illiteracy rates in Cuba before the revolution. However, when the revolutionaries took over, there was a massive campaign to address this and there is now a literacy museum in Havana. Hundreds of volunteer teachers travelled throughout Cuba and within a few years, there was an amazing change with phenomenal improvement. I wonder if we could have a similar system in Ireland. We have an example with our neighbours in Wales. When travelling in Wales, one is more likely to hear Welsh being spoken even though it is a minority UK language. Their education system has adopted the approach of the language as part of their culture identity. There is a Welsh language commissioner who examines legislation with regard to implications for the language.

The surveys we heard about yesterday showed that more than six in ten respondents agree there are not many opportunities for young people to use their Irish outside the formal education system. The question must be asked as to how a change can be brought about to address that. I believe that young people have to be involved and that their practical solutions listened to. We know that we are not going to have a senior Minister for the Irish language, as had been sought, but I hope we will see an Oireachtas committee for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the islands. These three areas are under threat, not quite of extinction but under severe pressure, with regard to viability and sustainability. The committee has to take on the monitoring of the implementation of the strategy to ensure services through Irish are protected and to look at legislation to protect the language. It is vital that the Minister for Education and Skills supports educational measures with regard to the Irish language.

Bhí an t-ádh orm nuair a bhíos ag freastal ar an meánscoil go raibh múinteoirí Gaeilge agam a spreag ionam, agus i mo chairde, grá don teanga. Is teanga álainn í an Ghaeilge – an litríocht, an fhilíocht agus an ceol. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt don obair iontach atá á dhéanamh ag TG4, Raidió na Gaeltachta agus Raidió na Life i mBaile Átha Cliath agus na cláir trí Ghaeilge ar na stáisiúin eile. Ceapaim nach bhfuil sé ró-dhéanach an teanga a shábháil ach tá easpa deifre ann leis an obair seo. Braitheann sé ar an tiomantas don Ghaeilge agus ar infheistíocht sa Ghaeilge.

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