Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Fáiltím roimh an deis atá agam an Ghaeilge a phlé anseo inniu. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go bhfuil Seachtain na Gaeilge againn. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar chuid lárnach dár gcultúr náisiúnta. Feicimid inár gceantar féin an stair a bhaineann lenár teanga féin agus is rud fíorthábhachtach é.

I welcome the opportunity to try to speak in and talk about the Irish language, recognising how important it is for us for our nation and for our culture, recognising as well that it is something that links us to the tapestry of the many other countries and languages that enrich our planet and that give us different ways to think and to live.

I will try to highlight just a few issues. One such issue to which previous speakers referred and which relates to the area in Galway very near the Connemara Gaeltacht from which I come is the importance of the Gaeltacht. Tá an Ghaeltacht mar chroílár na Gaeilge agus caithfimid gach uile shórt a dhéanamh léi lena chinntiú go gcoinneoimid an Ghaeltacht ina phobal láidir agus bríomhar. Tá a fhios againn nach bhfuil ach 23% de theaghlaigh Gaeltachta ag tógáil a gcuid teaghlach trí Ghaeilge. Caithfimid déileáil leis sin. Only 23% of Gaeltacht families are raising their children through Irish. This is something that needs to be looked at in the context of the survival of the Gaeltacht.

Others have spoken of the fact that our planning laws need to be examined to ensure that it is possible for Irish speakers to stay close to their families and that Irish-speaking communities, and new Irish speakers, can live within the Gaeltacht and thereby strengthen it.It is important.

On education, ba bhreá liom aitheasc a thabhairt ar an rogha atá ag mic léinn na tíre oideachas a fháil trínár dteanga dhúchais. Tá sé dochreidte agus éadóchasach, breis is 100 bliain ó bhunú an Stáit, nach bhfuil rochtain ach ag 6.7% de dhaltaí ar Ghaeloideachas in ainneoin na díograise do Ghaelscoileanna fud fad na tíre. Diúltaíonn an easpa Gaelcholáistí i roinnt ceantar do líon mór mac léinn leanúint lena n-oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge. Dá bharr sin, ní féidir le leanaí a thosaíonn amach ar an oideachas as Gaeilge leanúint leis sa mheánscoil. Léiríonn an bhearna seo i soláthar an Ghaeloideachais teip ag an leibhéal pleanála, rud a chuirfidh le creimeadh na teanga i measc an phobail. Is gníomh gur féidir a dhéanamh láithreach ná Gaelcholáistí a bhunú sna ceantair ina bhfuil éileamh guthach dá leithéid d'institiúid, ina measc Baile Átha Cliath 2, 4, 6 agus 8, áit a bhfuil feachtas leanúnach ar bun ó 2019.

There was no Irish-language primary option for me when I was growing up in Galway, although there was for my brothers four years later. That made a difference. They have much stronger Irish. It makes such a difference to have the option of Irish language schooling at that early point. That option is very limited for people across Ireland, especially at second level, where it is very important. There are campaigns across Ireland to give people the choice of secondary school education in Irish but I will highlight the campaign in Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8. This campaign has been going on for a long time. A raft of communities that have done a great deal to bring the Irish language back and to have it spoken more in our cities have been looking for that secondary school option, which should be the right of every citizen as it is our first language. Ba chóir polasaí don Ghaeilge sa chóras oideachais ón réamhscoil go dtí an tríú leibhéal a fhorbairt anois. We need a policy on education in Irish from preschool right up to third level.

Ligfidh mé béim freisin ar cé chomh tábhachtach atá sé tacaíocht a thabhairt do na healaíona agus don chultúr trí Ghaeilge i mbailte agus i gcathracha ar fud na tíre a chothaíonn beatha, fuinneamh agus cruthaitheacht sa Ghaeilge agus sa chultúr Gaelach. I will also highlight the importance of arts and culture and funding for them. I am a little concerned about some of the approaches we are seeing at the moment in arts and culture. Some of the dynamic seems to be focused on what can be cut and what must be left, but it is important to ask what we can strengthen. Something that can be strengthened is the support for arts and culture in the Irish language and artists who work through the Irish language. Of course, such artists are not solely confined to the Gaeltachts but are found across the country.

We all know the importance of TG4 and Raidió na Gaeltachta. The importance of both has been well highlighted. They have created great opportunities for artists and storytellers and for stories that might not otherwise have been told. However, I will highlight some of the other forms of Irish-language culture that can be neglected, some of which are new and exciting. Raidió na Life does wonderful work in Dublin. It plays great music. I know some of the Irish-speaking DJs there and it is an extremely important space. There are also things like the pop-up Gaeltachts. I want to give a particular shout-out. Is tionscnamh iontach do dhaoine óga é Raidió Rí-Rá. Ba cheart breis maoinithe agus tacaíochta a thabhairt dó ionas gur féidir leis craoladh go lánaimseartha ar FM. Again, I wanted to particularly highlight Raidió Rí-Rá, a radio station run by young people. It should be given greater funding and support so that it can broadcast on FM full-time. It is exciting to see young people coming into that media space in the Irish language.

Labhróidh mé faoin ngá atá le síocháin a chur chun cinn ar oileán na hÉireann agus go hidirnáisiúnta. Is féidir le hÉirinn, agus ba cheart di, leanúint de bheith ina guth ar son na síochána ar fud an domhain. Is féidir linn peirspictíocht agus smaointe atá éagsúil ó thíortha eile maidir le síocháin a thabhairt. Is rud dearfach é an tAontas Eorpach, a bhfuil go leor teangacha ann. Is rud dearfach é freisin tír a bhfuil síocháin agus neodracht ina chroí aici. Níos mó ná riamh, caithfidh Éire anois leanúint ar aghaidh ag obair ar son na síochána ar fud an domhain.

I spoke there about peace. Ireland has something very special. It is a very good thing for Europe to have countries with different languages and cultures that they bring to the mix. However, it is also important for Europe to have neutral countries and countries that bring different experiences, insights and perspectives that can help to build a Europe of peace, strength and security. Ireland's voice, history, understanding of peace and position of neutrality has been a strength for Europe. As with our cultural differences, our different mandates strengthen Europe as a whole and create opportunities to link better with the rest of the world.

I have one last line. I do not have it in Irish but it is something I want to highlight. I will quickly acknowledge some of our other native languages, the Traveller languages of Cant and Gammon, which are also a part of Ireland's cultural tapestry. It is nice to acknowledge them. This House worked very hard on the recognition of Irish Sign Language. It makes us richer when the multiple languages within our State are recognised and celebrated.