Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Irish language will have full working rights in the EU from 1 January next year. Mar thoradh air sin, beidh gach reachtaíocht nua curtha ar fáil i nGaeilge, lena n-áirítear rialacháin, treoracha agus cinntí. At EU level, therefore, statutes will only be made available in Irish, including regulations, directives and decisions. It is astonishing that while we have made this progress in the European Union, the same language rights are not enjoyed here at home. In fact, the Government is appealing a High Court judgment that reaffirms the constitutional duty of the State to provide Irish language versions of Acts of the Oireachtas. Surely the Taoiseach agrees that all Acts, statutory instruments and regulations should be made available in Irish at the same time as the English version. It is unacceptable that the State is actively seeking to withhold language rights from its own citizens, rights that the European Union now provides. Níl sé sásúil beag ná mór go bhfuil an Stát seo ag déanamh a lán-dhícheall chun cearta teanga a shaoránaigh féin a choimeád siar - cearta ar a bhfuil an tAontas Eorpach ag freastal anois. Will the Taoiseach take a stand for Irish language rights and call on the Minister to withdraw his appeal? What action is envisaged to increase the number of High Court judges able to hear cases through Irish, as currently there is only one?

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