Compulsory English for Irish Language Organisations enforced by Foras na Gaeilge
February 17, 2014
The results of a rationalisation process on the voluntary organisations core-funded by Foras na Gaeilge were announced recently. Six organisations out of nineteen were selected to receive funding under the new model, and the other organisations will have their funding cut from 30 June 2014.
As a part of this process, Foras na Gaeilge wrote to the core-funded groups on 29 January 2014 to inform them that a Change Management Consultant had been appointed and would soon be available to assist the sector in its preparations for the new model.
On 02 November 2011, the core-funded groups under the auspices of An Fóram, wrote to Foras na Gaeilge and to the Ministers of the North South Ministerial Council requesting that a consultant with expertise in change management be appointed to assist the sector in formulating a new model for the sector which would best benefit the language. This request was denied.
There are two ways of interpreting the decision by Foras na Gaeilge. One could reason that the sector faces a major transformation, and that this is an honest effort by Foras na Gaeilge to support the organisations in dealing with the practical implications of this change.
On the other hand, this could be interpreted as a cynical act by Foras na Gaeilge. When the sector requested help in 2011, to formulate a model for the future which would be for the greater good of the language, and which they as a sector could support, their request was explicitly denied. Now that Foras na Gaeilge have announced the new model, and the six lead-organisations have been chosen, there are many who believe this latest action by Foras na Gaeilge to be a box-ticking exercise so that the North/South Body can claim to be supporting the sector.
Both these opinions were widely held by members of the Irish language community, and for those less cynical than others, perhaps this act could have been looked upon as an olive branch of sorts from Foras na Gaeilge. In their letter to the organisations, Foras na Gaeilge offered support in relation to issues such as contracts of employment, planning, salary and conditions of employment, continuity planning and project management.
As some organisations readied themselves to accept the olive branch, it then came to light that Foras na Gaeilge expected these organisations to undertake this work through English.
Some of these voluntary organisations have been operating in the Irish language sector for over 70 years. It was particularly insulting to the staff of these organisations that Foras na Gaeilge chose to announce the cessation of their funding via Twitter prior to contacting the organisations directly to convey the results of the process. It is even more insulting that Foras na Gaeilge would expect these long-standing Irish language organisations to undertake their activities through English in their preparations for the winding down of their funding by 30 June 2014.
In a statement to Gaelport.com, Foras na Gaeilge stated that the chosen consultants were appointed after a public competition on Etenders.
The criteria involved in choosing the consultant included:
Arising from the public competition, Treacy Consulting were appointed by Foras na Gaeilge as they “achieved first place under the criteria set out, especially in relation to experience in this area”.
If the company appointed to assist the sector cannot provide this service through Irish, it is difficult to see how they could gain any marks under numbers 4 and 5 on the list above. To tackle this shortcoming Foras na Gaeilge have explained that Treacy Consulting “have a translator to assist them in their work”.
According to reports on TG4 last week, it appears each of the six organisations chosen as lead-organisations have refused to deal with the consultants appointed by Foras na Gaeilge.
In its statement to Gaelport.com, Foras na Gaeilge said: “While the organisations undertake this vital work, Foras na Gaeilge believe it is of the utmost importance that they have access to the best consultants in terms of expertise, experience and skills who were chosen by way of a public competition”.
Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com
