New Irish language commissioner named
February 12, 2014
TELEVISION journalist Ronan O Domhnaill is to be appointed as the new Irish language commissioner.
He replaces the outgoing Commissioner Sean O Cuirreain, who resigned amid controversy last December. Mr O Cuirreain, who served in the post for 10 years and had another two years to go in his term, said the Government had no intention of implementing the many policy promises they made on the Irish language. The outgoing commissioner also said Irish-speaking people could not do business through Irish with state services despite the theoretical official status given the language. The resignation caused upset among Irish-speaking communities and a language rights demonstration is planned for Dublin on Saturday, February 15, starting at 2pm from Parnell Square.
The Irish language organisation, Conradh na Gaeilge, welcomed the new commissioner’s appointment but expressed disappointment that no effort was made to address the criticisms made by Mr O Cuirreain. Mr O Domhnaill, aged 38 and a native Irish speaker from An Cheathru Rua, Connemara, is a political correspondent with Irish-language broadcast services TG4 and Nuacht RTE. His appointment carries a yearly salary of €115,000. It must be ratified by the Dail and Seanad before it is formally confirmed by the President and Mr O Domhnaill will take up office on February 22 next.
www.independent.ie
Irish language secondary school meeting tomorrow in Derry
February 12, 2014
A public meeting will be held in Derry tomorrow to discuss plans for an Irish language secondary school in the city.
The meeting, which will be held in Rafters, Northland Road, on Wednesday at 7.30pm, will hear the concerns of parents about the delay in setting up a new Irish medium secondary school.
It will also hear from two speakers who will share their own experiences of attending Irish medium secondary education. A spokesperson for the organisers said; “Our children deserve the highest standard of education through the same language they have been educated in their primary years. “It is wrong that the gifts with which they leave our gaelscoils are not built upon when they go to secondary school. “Every year that goes by without a resolution is a disappointment to those who have lost out and a worry for parents of younger children. A viable option for establishing second level education is already on the table and, for the first time, has the support of all the schools and the majority of parents. “The meeting is not a platform for other agendas or for raking over the past; we have been distracted for long enough. “This is an opportunity for parents to put forward positive ideas on how we can move forward united together as a parent body and highlight this issue for the sake of our children.” The public meeting is open to all who want to see Irish Medium second level education restored in the city.
www.derryjournal.com
Ceiliúradh speisialta i nGaelscoil Longfoirt
February 12, 2014
Príomhoide
February 12, 2014
Cúrsaí Samhraidh Ógras
February 11, 2014
Acmhainní nua ar fáil ó Rascal Resources
February 11, 2014
Turas óige Feachtas
February 11, 2014
Rónán Ó Domhnaill nominated by the Government for the position of An Coimisinéir Teanga
February 11, 2014
Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s successor to be appointed by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins
Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., has announced the nomination of journalist Rónán Ó Domhnaill from An Cheathrú Rua for the role of An Coimisinéir Teanga.
Ó Domhnaill is a graduate of the National University of Ireland, Galway, and he has been political correspondent with Nuacht RTÉ/TG4 for the past seven years.
21 expressions of interest were received for the position of Coimisinéir Teanga following on from the announcement by current Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, in December that he will resign from his role on 23 February as a result of the Government’s failure to implement language legislation at the level of the State.
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 and Ó Cuirreáin’s announcement continues to be a hot topic with the Government coming in for some heavy criticism in recent months based on the reasons given for Ó Cuirreáin’s, the first Language Commissioner ever appointed, decision to resign.
Announcing the Government’s nomination, the Minister of State said: “I’m delighted that Mr. Ó Domhnaill has accepted the nomination to the position as the new Coimisinéir Teanga. He is held in high esteem by the Irish language and Gaeltacht communities in his capacity as a political correspondent and I am certain that his experience will greatly benefit him as An Coimisinéir Teanga”.
Ó Domhnaill faces a challenging role as Language Commissioner where he must confront several issues raised by the current Commissioner including the low standard of the language scheme system, the lack of competence in Irish throughout the state service, the Government’s new recruitment policy for the state service and the lack of an independent audit or review on the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
The outgoing Language Commissioner also cited the delay in the Heads of Bill regarding the review of the Official Languages Act 2003 which was announced in 2011, and the lack of details provided up until now regarding the merging of the Office of the Language Commissioner with the Office of the Ombudsman announced in the 2011 Public Service Reform Plan’.
An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin has congratulated Rónán Ó Domhnaill on his nomination, “I wish him every success in the challenging work of promoting language rights for the people of the Gaeltacht and Irish speakers in general” he said.
Uachtarán Chonradh na Gaeilge, Donnchadh Ó hAodha, said that the appointment of Rónán Ó Domhnaill as An Coimisnéir Teanga is welcomed but the Government is continuing to avoid the major issue which is the addressing the recommendations made by the outgoing Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin.
The recommendations and “pretence” raised by Seán Ó Cuirreáin, as well as the challenges facing the newly appointed Coimisinéir Teanga, will be discussed when Minister of State Dinny McGinley, T.D., appears before the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language and Related Matters on 6 March 2014.
An Coimisinéir Teanga is appointed by the President of Ireland on the advice of the Government following resolutions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann recommending the appointment. The period of appointment will last six years.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
Oíche eolais i nGaelscoil Gaelscoil na Giúise 26.2.2014
February 11, 2014
Beidh oíche eolais ar siúl san Ionad Pobail i dTeach na Giúise ar an gCéadaoin an 26ú Feabhra. Tá súil againn thú a fheiceáil ann. We will be holding an information evening on Wednesday the 26th of February at 7.30pm in the Firhouse Community Centre. Looking forward to meeting you there.
Eolaíocht na n-óg ag Pláinéadlann Ard Mhacha
February 11, 2014
