Lack of confidence remains among Irish language community
March 11, 2014
Following two appearances by the Minister of State at Oireachtas committee meetings this past week, the Government’s treatment of the Irish language remains a deep cause for concern for all parties involved.
Last Wednesday, a meeting of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions welcomed Minister of State for the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley T.D., to answer questions arising from the 2012 Report of An Coimsinéir Teanga and the fallout from Seán Ó Cuirreáin’s resignation. The following day the Minister of State came before the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language and Related Matters to discuss An Coimisinéir Teanga and other aspects of the 20 Year Strategy.
The Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions
While questioning the Minister of State, Dinny McGinley, on matters relating the language scheme process, Deputy Peadar Tóibín, Sinn Féin, asked if the Minister of State agreed that public bodies without any language scheme in place are breaking the law. Tóibín argued that such public bodies are not fulfilling their legal obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003 and were breaking the law by doing so. Minister McGinley replied by disagreeing with Deputy Tóibín’s take on the situation and stated that there are provisions within the Official Languages Act that all public bodies must adhere to.
The Minster of State informed that committee that the number of language schemes being ratified is increasing. He told the members that 16 new schemes were ratified in 2013, and 6 have been ratified so far this year. He described the system as complex and challenging but argued that the Department is taking positive steps as a part of the review of the Official Languages Act 2003 including increasing the number of staff to dela with the current backlog of schemes, the introduction of a template to standardise schemes and amending the current legislation.
Referring to the progress being made by the Department, Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Sinn Féin, stated that no action is being taken to address the 75% of expired schemes within the state service. Senator Ó Clochartaigh reminded the committee that 165 out of 600 public bodies have implemented language schemes and estimated that it would take 40 years for every public body to do so under the current system.
According to Minister McGinley, legal advice received by the Department stated that schemes are unable to expire as Article 14 (3) of the Official Languages Act states that schemes remain in place until a new scheme is ratified in its place. He informed the committee that his Department is responsible for language scheme matters alone and that all other matters relating to the Act fall under the office of An Coimsinéir Teanga.
Minister McGinley confirmed that a service agreement has been signed by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform meaning that the Department of the Gaeltacht is responsible for training within the state service.
The Oireachtas Sub-Committee on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language and Related Matters
Thursday’s meeting of the Oireachtas Sub-Committee on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language and Related Matters concerned the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
Following a progress report given by Minister of State, Dinny McGinley T.D., in which he described progress as satisfactory considering the current economic climate, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fáil, recommended that the Sub-Committee review the Strategy page by page and scrutinise the financial implications relating to all policies for the good of the language.
Responding to a question raised by Ó Cuív, Minister McGinley stated that while staff within the Department of the Gaeltacht spend much of their time working on the implementation of the Strategy, a Strategic Unit as mentioned in the Strategy is not in place – a deep cause for concern for those in attendance.
Referring to the Government Committee for the Irish Language, which is chaired by An Taoiseach, Senator Ó Clochartaigh recommended that the office of An Coimisinéir Teanga be given a monitoring role regarding the implementation of policies within the Strategy. The Minister reminded the Sub-Committee that the Government Committee and Departments themselves are responsible for all monitoring and that 11 Departments have compiled reports to progress the implementation. This is due to be rolled out throughout the state service.
Several members raised concerns over the draft Heads of Bill regarding the review of the Official Languages Act 2003. The Minister argued that the current Heads of Bill are recommendations refused to discuss them as they are yet to be agreed by the Government.
Among the other topics discussed at the meeting were the current newspaper scheme, the lack of a senior minister regarding Irish language matters and the rationalisation process within the Voluntary Irish Language Sector.
Bringing the meeting to a close, Minister McGinley stated that the current coalition was not responsible for creating the problems facing the Irish language and that this Government has showed its commitment by investing substantially in the language up until now.
While members of the opposition attended the meeting to discuss various aspects of the Strategy with the Minister, the only actual member of the Sub-Committee in attendance was Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú who acted as Chair.
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