New Dáil subcommittee welcomed by Irish Language Groups
May 7, 2013
It has been announced that a newly established Dáil subcommittee will meet for the first time in the coming weeks with the Irish language as its sole focus.
The group will operate as a subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht and will focus on all aspects of the language with a particular emphasis on the implementation on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language.
At Tóstal na Gaeilge 2013, the annual event hosted by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge last February, the Irish language community expressed their dissatisfaction with the failure to implement the 20 Year Strategy and the lack of responsibility being displayed by the Government in relation to Irish language issues. Arising from events such as Tóstal na Gaeilge, as well as public meetings held by Conradh na Gaeilge and Guth na Gaeltachta the Irish language community delivered a clear message to Government, that the current efforts from the State were completely inadequate.
Conradh na Gaeilge welcomed the establishment of the subcommittee. Julian de Spáinn, Ard-Rúnaí Chonradh na Gaeilge said that the subcommittee is an opportunity for the Government to consult with the stakeholders who should be involved in the implementation of the Strategy as was done until now, as well as the Gaeltacht community.
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge welcome the establishment of the Dáil subcommittee and the step being taken by the Government towards the implementation of the promises made in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language.
A “proactive step” is how Kevin De Barra, Director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, the umbrella body for the Irish language voluntary sector, described the establishment of the new Dáil subcommittee. De Barra said: “Over the past number of years the Irish language community have become disillusioned with the role of the State in relation to Irish – the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy has been delayed, the review of the Official Languages Act has been delayed, and the future of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta is uncertain. This new Dáil subcommittee will give the Government the opportunity to scrutinise these important issues, and Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge will ensure these issues which are of grave concern to the public are suitably addressed”.
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