Resignation of An Coimisinéir Teanga (The Language Commissioner)
December 11, 2013
The Association of Irish Development Officers in the public service has described the resignation of An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin as a disastrous blow to the development of front‐line Irish language services. “The lack of staff capable of providing services in both official languages of the State continues to hinder the ability of state organisations to provide services to the public through the Irish language. We call on the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and on the Government, to act immediately to restore faith in State support for the Irish language, our national language and the first official language of this country.”
“We are very disappointed, as is the Commissioner, with the delay in the review of the Official Languages Act, 2013, particularly given the fact that many public and state organisations have campaigned for a new recruitment system which would ensure the recruitment of Irish speakers into the public service to serve the needs of the Irish speaking population, both within and outside the Gaeltacht,” says Aoileann Nic Dhonncha, PRO for the Association of Irish Development Officers.
As well as serving the needs of the Gaeltacht population, large numbers of Gaelscoileanna have opened throughout the country in recent years, and State services through Irish are needed to serve the graduates of these schools. More emphasis needs to be put on the Irish language in the recruitment process for public bodies, so that we in the public sector can properly fulfil our front line language obligations, without any extra cost,” says Aoileann Nic Dhonncha.
“The Association would like to thank the Language Commissioner, Seán Ó Cuirreáin for his help and support of our daily efforts to ensure the proper implementation of the Official Languages Act at the front line in the public sector. Seán’s resignation as Commissioner is a big loss to Irish speakers throughout the country, as he was an extremely professional pioneer, as the first Irish Language Commissioner, who excelled in his service to the Customer and the State.
The level of services through Irish which are provided by public bodies in the Gaeltacht, and elsewhere, is entirely dependent on there being sufficient staff who are proficient in Irish to provide those services.
The current recruitment system does not ensure enough staff that are proficient in Irish, nor will the new system as recently proposed by the Government, and as a result, the provision of services through Irish is unsatisfactory.
This fosters a lack of confidence in the State’s ability to provide high‐quality services through the Irish language, which undermines the demands of the Irish speaking and Gaeltacht communities for Irish language services from the State, despite their Constitutional right to receive such services in our native tongue.
Cumann na nOifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge
www.cumannofg.wordpress.com cumannofg@hotmail.com
Oifigeach Caidrimh Poiblí: Aoileann Nic Dhonncha, Co Átha Cliath Theas (086) 8228916.
Cathaoirleach: Roibeard Ó hEartáin, Co. Chiarraí (087) 7989727.
Rúnaí: Máire Seó Breathnach, Co. Phort Láirge.
Suíomh Idirlíon: Seán Ó Daimhín, Co. Dhún na nGall.
Meáin Shóisialta: Oonagh Ní Chéilleachair, Co. Mhaigh Eo.
