Crisis in Irish-speaking community following resignation, warn activists
December 6, 2013
An Réiltín is Gile – dráma le Fíbín
December 5, 2013
Nuachtlitir Ráth Chairn
December 5, 2013
Tomorrow is the deadline for the applications for the position of prinicipal at Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh
December 5, 2013
http://www.foras.ie/vacancies/
A dark day for the Irish language
December 5, 2013
Irish language community concerned over resignation of Irish Language Commissioner
Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, announced on 4 December 2013 that he is to resign from his position on 23 February 2014.
An Coimisinéar made this announcement while discussing the Annual Report of An Coimisinéir Teanga 2012 in front of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions. Referring to the report, Ó Cuirreáin said that 2012 “was not a vintage year for the promotion of the Irish language in the public sector, and for every one step forward there appeared to have been two steps backwards”.
The Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga was established in 2004 under the Official Languages Act 2003 to monitor the compliance of public bodies with provisions under the Act.
During the discussion, the Commissioner referred to the lack of implementation and the low standard of the language scheme system, the lack of competence in Irish throughout the stateservice, and the government’s decision to merge the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga with the Office of the Ombudsman, although no details have been made available regarding this since it was announced in November 2011.
An Coimisinéar criticised the government’s new recruitment policy for the stateservice and estimated that it would take 28 years to raise the current level of fluency in Irish in the Department of Education and Skills from 1.5% to 3%.
While discussing the vacuum which has surrounded the review of the Official Languages Act 2003, proposed in November 2011, An Coimisinéar stated that should the use of Irish in dealing with Gaeltacht communities and ensuring an adequate Irish language capacity in public administration not be addressed, any amendment will be seen “as a fudge, a farce or a falsehood”.
An Coimisinéir said that he had not seen “morale and confidence so low” among the Irish community in his 30 years of work, and that the current public administration system is marginalising the language.
Following the years in the role, and with two more left in his appointed term, Ó Cuirreáin said that “there is little else I can personally achieve in that timeframe in relation to language rights for Irish speakers and Gaeltacht communities”. It is therefore with regret that I announce that I have decided to resign from my position as Coimisinéir Teanga on 23rd February next. I have informed the President of Ireland of this decision today as required by legislation”.
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh described the 4 December 2013 as a dark day for the Irish-speaking community but said that he understood the commissioner’s decision was based on principle. Referring to the heavily critical report compiled by an Coimisinéar, Ó Clochartaigh said that it is impossible for the office to fulfil its duties with little or no support from the government or from state bodies.
Minister of State Dinny McGinley expressed regret at an Coimisinéar’s decision to resign two years prior to completing his appointment, 16 April 2014.
Conradh na Gaeilge described the announcement as a “disastrous blow to the Irish language”.
“The announcement made by An Coimisinéir Teanga today that he is to resign is undoubtedly the worst blow to the Irish language in many long years. Conradh na Gaeilge can well understand his reasons for stepping down; the Government has made bad decision after bad decision in relation to the Irish language since taking office in 2011. One only has to look at the decision to merge An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) into the NCCA, the total disregard shown by the Government for the amendments recommended for the Gaeltacht Act 2012, and even the changes planned for the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga itself” said Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge, Donnchadh Ó hAodha.
Kevin De Barra, Stiúrthóir Chomhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, said “Seán Ó Cuirreáin and his team could not have done anymore over the past ten years to ensure the correct implementation of the Official Languages Act. That role has become more challenging in recent years due to the lack of support from government and the general lack of political will.
“The review of the Act, announced in November 2011, was a positive step towards implementation, however, we are still waiting for the results of that process two years later. It is a huge blow to the Irish language that someone as fair and versatile as Seán Ó Cuirreáin is resigning from such an important role, but I completely understand his reasons for doing so”.
“What is the point in having the Office of An Coimisinéar Teanga if it receives no support from the government, as this makes it impossible for the commissioner and his team to fulfil their duties”, he said.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Update on Gael-Choláiste an Phiarsaigh, opening in 2014
December 5, 2013
Information for first year parents (2014-15)
The Board would like to invite you, and all parents who have registered their children for the academic year starting September 2014, to a meeting in St John’s GAA Club House, Ballinteer, on Wednesday the 18 December 2014, 8.00pm.
Language chief quits over lack of Irish in civil service
December 5, 2013
THE head of one of the main Irish language groups has resigned, claiming many of those working for the civil service and other public bodies can only conduct business through English.
An Coimisineir Teanga Sean O Cuirreain accused the Government of being “hypocritical” on the issue. The former deputy head of Radio na Gaeltachta said the authorities insisted on Irish as a mandatory Leaving Cert subject – while at the same time denying citizens the provision of various services through Irish. An Coimisineir Teanga monitors compliance by public bodies with the Official Languages Act. Mr O Cuirreain was formally appointed as the first Coimisineir Teanga in 2004 and was reappointed for a second term in 2010. But yesterday he said that we were moving towards a situation where the use of English would be compulsory for citizens wishing to interact with public bodies. He said Irish speakers in Gaeltacht areas were not being catered for, and warned it was now time to confront this issue “once and for all”.
SURVIVAL
“Requiring the people of the Gaeltacht to conduct their business in English with state agencies flies in the face of any policy which suggests the survival of the Gaeltacht is on the State’s agenda,” he said. He told a sitting of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions that the absence of staff competent in Irish was a key problem. Accordingly, recruitment and promotion in the civil service needed to be “immediately” examined. He stressed that the Official Languages Act should be reviewed in this context otherwise the process would be seen as “a fudge, a farce or a falsehood”. The Irish language group Conradh na Gaeilge described the shock resignation as “undoubtedly the worst blow to the Irish language in many years”.
Donnchadh O hAodha, President of the Gaelic League, said he could “understand his reasons” for stepping down as the Government had made “bad decision after bad decision” in relation to the Irish language. Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley said: “I regret, of course, that An Coimisineir has decided not to complete his term of appointment – which extends to April 2016. “
www.independent.ie
Commissioner resigns over Government failures on Irish
December 5, 2013
An Coimisinéir Teanga Seán Ó Cuirreáin has announced his intention to step down following the failure by Government to implement legislation designed to improve services to the public through Irish.
The Coimisinéir Teanga, whose role is to monitor compliance by public bodies with the provisions of the Official Languages Act, told a sitting of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions that he believed the State was quickly moving towards a situation where the use of English would become compulsory for citizens wishing to interact with public bodies. The former deputy head of Radio na Gaeltachta said it was “hypocritical” of the Government to insist on Irish as a mandatory subject for the Leaving Cert only then for the State to deny citizens the provision of services through Irish.
Citing the widespread failure of departments and public bodies to take measures to ensure the right of citizens to use Irish when interacting with state agencies, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said three quarters of statutory language schemes had expired without renewal by the end of 2012 with a quarter of them out of date for three years or more. The failure to promote these “fundamental pillars” of the legislation – agreed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with state bodies – represents a “significant risk”, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said. Criticising of the lack of services provided through Irish for Gaeltacht communities, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said it was time to deal with the issue “for once and for all”. “Requiring the people of the Gaeltacht to conduct their business in English with state agencies flies in the face of any policy which suggests that the survival of the Gaeltacht is on the State’s agenda,” he said.
The absence of staff with competence in both official languages is one of the main obstacles to the delivery of services in Irish as well as in English, Mr Ó Cuirreáin said. He added that it is “essential” that the issue of the Irish language in recruitment and promotion in the civil service be revisited “immediately”. Mr Ó Cuirreáin warned that any review of the Official Languages Act would be seen as “a fudge, a farce or a falsehood” if these failures are not addressed. “As we begin to regain our economic sovereignty, it would be a travesty if we were to lose our linguistic sovereignty – a cornerstone of our cultural identity, heritage and soul as a nation. I believe this to be a clear and present danger.” Mr Ó Cuirreáin was formally appointed as the first Coimisinéir Teanga in February 2004 under the Official Languages Act and was reappointed for a second term in 2010.
www.irishtimes.com
Resignation of Irish Language Commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin
December 5, 2013
Seán Ó Cuirreáin announced this evening that he is resigning from his role as Irish Language Commissioner.
Mr Ó Cuirreáin said he was concerned about the State’s lack of commitment to the protection of Irish speakers’ rights. The former deputy head of Radio na Gaeltachta said that he felt he was left with no other choice but to resign from his position. Mr Ó Cuirreáin was the first person to be appointed to the role of An Coimisnéir Teangain in 2004. Part of his remit was to ensure the implementation of Irish language legislation. His resignation is due to take effect in February.
www.independent.ie
Bua an Cheoil – JJ Ó Dochartaigh
December 5, 2013
