GAEILGE AGUS GAELTACHT
Each speech listed here is an edited speech. If you'd like to see the speech or debate in full, please go to the Oireachtas website and click on "Seanad Eireann" and then "Seanad Debates" and click on the relevant date as listed with each speech on this page.
Dingle Name Change (30/04/08)
Tuarascáil Bhliantiúl Coimisinéir Teanga (09/04/08)
Lack of Understanding for the Gaeltacht (15/11/07)
Dingle Name (14/11/07)
Gaeltacht Areas and the Minister (04/07/07)
Imbalance Between Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht Schools (04/07/07)
Translations into Gaeilge (04/04/07)
Dingle Name (28/09/06)
Dingle Name (28/06/06)
Use of Irish Language (27/06/06)
Dingle Name Change Plebiscite (20/06/06)
Dingle Name Change Plebiscite (24/05/06)
Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhúirne (05/04/06)
Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhúirne (30/03/06)
Lack of Minister's Progress (21/03/06)
Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhúirne (02/03/06)
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta - Elections (22/02/06)
University College Galway and the Irish Language (16/02/06)
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Dingle Name Change
30/04/08 - Fáilte go mór roimhis an cine ata déanta ag an Rialtais mar gheall ar ainm mo shean bhaile fhéin, Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. Mar a dúras go minic roimhe seo bhí trí ainmneacha i gcónaí ar an áit sin agus beidh trí animneacha i gcónaí ann. Mar críoch don scéal, níl aon ró-athrú déanta, ach fáiltím go bhfuil sé déanta. Níos mó agus níos tábhachtaí ná sin ná go ndúirt an tAire go bhfuil sé chun reachtaíocht a chur chun cinn a dhéanfadh cinnte de go mbeadh aon sórt pobalbhreith nó plebiscite i measc muintir aon áite níos tábhachtaí ná aon sórt ordú a dhéanfar faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla. This idea of giving rights back to people at a local level is important, especially in the sense that any plebiscite taken under local government legislation will always overrule any decision taken under the Acht teanga. I look forward to the legislation which will do that.
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Tuarascáil Bhliantiúl Coimisinéir Teanga
09/04/08 - Inné fuarthas an tuarascáil bhliantiúl ón Coimisinéir Teanga. Ba bhreá an rud é dá mbeadh díospóireacht sa Teach ar an méid atá ráite aige. Tá go leor molta agus ráite aige agus tá cur síos déanta aige ar na gearáin ar fad a fuair sé le linn na bliana. Bhí níos mó ná 600 gearán faighte aige. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeadh muidne sásta an tuarascáil a phlé. Deir an Coimisinéir nach bhfuil sé i bhfábhar éigeantas.
In other words, he is not in favour of returning to the days of compulsion in Irish in terms of appointing people agus rudaí mar sin. On the other side, ba mhaith an rud é go mbeadh traenáil ann do stát sheirbhísigh agus daoine eile. Déarfainn féin gur ceart traenáil a bheith ann do Bhaill na Dála agus an tSeanaid agus gur cóir go mbeadh seans acu freastal ar na Gaeltachtaí chun Gaeilge a fhoghlaim agus am a chaitheamh le muintir na Gaeltachtaí agus chun go mbeadh teangmháil acu le cultúr na Gaeltachta.
I would like a full debate on this. For years I have stated that Members of the Dáil and Seanad should have the opportunity to spend time in the Gaeltachtaí. In the 1920s when this country first introduced the Irish language to schools, the most effective thing done was to bring teachers to the Gaeltachtaí for three months at a time. It infused them with a love of Irish. Civil servants should also have the opportunity to spend time in the Gaeltachtaí. This was done 80 years ago. We could do it again and it would be sensible.
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Lack of Understanding for the Gaeltacht
15/11/07 - Luaigh mé inné na deacrachtaí atá ag tarlú sa Daingean mar gheall ar ainm na háite sin, Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. Tar éis éisteacht leis an mhéid a bhí le rá ag daoine eile agus é á phlé acu, ba mhaith liom an méid seo a rá i mBéarla. Many people believe that people living in the Gaeltacht who speak Irish are a kind of zealot. They are people who love and live their language. They are not bandits or fascists about their language even though some people outside the Gaeltacht may be like that.
A classic example is the lack of understanding about Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. Níor chuir sé isteach ar mhuintir an Daingin gurb é ainm Béarla nó Gaeilge é Dingle nó Daingean Uí Chúis. It was nothing to do with that. It was about changing the name of where they lived. If it had been changed to another Irish or English word they would have felt the same. As somebody from the Gaeltacht I ask Senators to understand that point regardless of whether they agree or disagree.
There is an example this morning of the kind of thing that drives people mad and which I support strongly. Muintir na Gaeltachta Connemara are faced with a bypass of Galway city which will directly cross the Gaeltacht area. It was set out in the environmental impact survey but was not available to them as Gaeilge until two weeks before the hearing, whereas it was available to everybody else for six weeks. Gaeltacht people are let down when they cannot do their normal business as Gaeilge. Sin an sort tacaíochta gur chóir go mbeadh ann doíbh. It is not about forcing people to do things against their will; it is chun tacaíocht a thabhairt doíbh siúd atá sé ar intinn acu agus atá ag iarraidh maireachtáil trí Ghaeilge. I ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to return to this House, not that he will give us any great sense in what he has to say, but ba mhaith liom an rud a phlé leis.
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Dingle Name
14/11/07 - Ba mhaith liom filleadh ar ábhar ar a labhair mé go minic anuraidh, sé sin ceist Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. I understand the Government has agreed with Deputy Healy-Rae that the wishes of the people of the town be granted and the name be changed back to Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis or a choice of either of those. That was determined by a plebiscite with 97% in support. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government should take this on board and make the decision required. There must be a period of time between the Minister issuing a regulation to change a name back to what it should be and the time it comes into operation.
This trouble with Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis, Gort and other places would not have arisen if the Local Government Act 2001, which was initiated in this House and allowed people to make a decision by plebiscite on the name of their area, was commenced. The Deputy Leader might raise with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the importance of commencing the Local Government Act 2002, which was passed four years ago and gives local authority to local people in the naming of the places in which they live.
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Gaeltacht Areas and the Minister
04/07/07 - One such issue that I have raised many times on the Order of Business concerns cúrsaí mhuintir na Gaeltachta sa tír seo. Bhíos ag éisteacht ar maidin leis an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív, ag caint mar gheall ar an chaighdeán Gaoluinne i measc Ghaeltachtaí na tíre, agus chuaigh sé timpeall ar na naíonraí sna Gaeltachtaí, agus cé chomh tábhachtach agus a bhí siad. Bhí an ceart aige. Níl dabht ar domhan ach go bhfuil an-dul chun cinn déanta ag na réamhscoileanna Gaoluinne — those pre-schools — atá ann chun tosnú a thabhairt na teanga do leanaí óga a thosóidís sna gnáthbhunscoileanna murach iad.
It drives me to distraction that the Minister with responsibility in this area has this morning washed his hands in regard the issue of Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. He has told us that it not his business, that it is being dealt with by Deputy Jackie Healy-Rae, the Taoiseach and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. After creating the chaos and the mess, he walked away from it, but it is better late than never.
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Imbalance Between Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht Schools
04/07/07 - I have gone to every [g]Gaeltacht school over the past 15 years. In every single one of them there are children with Spanish names, children whose families have returned from England, or whose families are strainséirí in the area, who are completely committed to the Irish language and want to learn it but do not have it in the house. The reason I mention that is that in those areas which are ceartlár na nGaeltachtaí, foinse na Gaeilge, the well of the Irish language, there is not the same level of support as there is for Gaelscoileanna in the Galltacht. Every time I make this point I get a sheaf of letters asking why I am opposed to Gaelscoileanna. I am not.
However, it seems daft that in the Gaeltacht they require more students in order to appoint a teacher than in the Gaelscoileanna. It never made sense, but in the context of what the Minister with responsibility for Gaeltacht affairs has told us this morning, that there is a huge proportion of leanaí sna scoileanna Gaeltachta who do not have Irish coming into the school, if we are to restore the Irish language, let us be practical about it. I hope to be back here to have a long-term discussion leis an Aire faoi pholasaí sna Gaeltachtaí chun dul chun cinn, infheistiú agus infrastructúr a chur ar bun and much more in terms of involving ourselves in developing the Gaeltacht where people can live their lives through Irish and in Irish.
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Translations into Gaeilge
04/04/07 - In trying to get large corporations of all nationalities to produce their reports as Gaeilge, bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr féachaint ar na rudaí a ba chóir a dhéanamh. Mar shampla, foilsíodh tuarascáil an Choimisinéara Teanga an tseachtain seo. This is the kind of thing that drives me mad. Sa tuarascáil sin, he makes it very clear that the child protection guidelines on sexual assault are not available in the Irish language. The remedial and education service and child protection guidelines should be made available in the Irish language and not huge corporations producing their stuff trí Ghaeilge that nobody will ever read. It is time this Minister was asked what he is about and would he concentrate on doing the job he was elected to do and leave the decent people of west Kerry alone.
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Dingle Name
28/09/2006 - We have chosen to delay moving that legislation (the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill) until late next month. To credit Kerry County Council and the Kerry county manager they have, by a substantial majority, supported the holding of consultations with the people of Dingle, An Daingean Uí Chuís, in regard to naming their town. Members will be pleased to note that those consultations will take place in the next couple of weeks. They may also be pleased to note that local authorities very often have more understanding of local issues than Ministers in Government.
During the recess, the opportunities to study tré Gaeilge sa chathair seo are almost imithe. Tá sean-Ghaeilge tóghta de churaclam UCD agus ní féidir anois gnáth-Ghaeilge a chur mar ábhar céime i UCD on night courses. I believe the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs would make better use of his time dealing with such issues.
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Dingle Name
28/06/2006 - I am sure the House will join with me to show approval for the Government’s decision to refer to this country as Éire Ireland in Europe. This open-minded approach to bilingualism will be supported by the people in my home town. I ask that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs be made aware of the Government’s view on bilingualism and that the people of Dingle, who would like to have their town renamed Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis, can expect active support from those in senior positions in Government. This is a clear step forward by Government and we should formally rename my town Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis. This would be in line with Government policy and is supported by activists in the Government parties in Chorca Dhuibhne.
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Use of Irish Language
27/06/2006 - I rith na seachtaine seo caite, chuireadh tuarascáil nua ar fáil. It related to the state of the Irish language and how it has disimproved. It is well past time we had the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, in here to tell us cad tá go díreach ar siúl aige chun an Ghaeilge a chothú i measc na gnáth daoine. I have stated time and again that his policies are in no way directed towards ordinary people with ordinary problems, ach de réir deamhramh b’fhearr leis a bheith ag dul timpeall na háite ag aistriú ainmneacha áiteanna i gcoinne toill na daoine, upsetting people around the country agus ag chuir breo ar muintir tionscalaíochta na tíre chun tuarascáilí cheann bliana a chuir ar fáil i nGaeilge.
These matters might be important, but the real issue is the one I have been raising here since the day I was elected, that we need to support the Gaeltacht. In this situation, we see that there is a threat to the Irish language in Gaeltacht schools and in the Gaeltacht. Although this might be hard to believe, Gaeltacht schools which are dealing with people from all sorts of backgrounds — immigrants, people without Irish who have returned home from other countries, etc. — have a lower pupil-teacher ratio than gaelscoileanna. Gaelscoileanna are entitled to what they have, but it surely is a nonsense that we are not giving support do scoileanna sna Gaeltachtaí, foinse na Gaeilge, áit gur chóir gach tacaíocht a thabhairt do na muinteoirí, tuismitheoirí agus na húdaráis scoileanna.
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Dingle Name Change Plebiscite
20/06/06 - The House might note that in the meantime Kerry County Council has decided to conduct a plebiscite of the people of that town to establish their views and to facilitate a decision in this regard. The intention of our Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005, which we have chosen to hold back for the present, is to take note of the views of local residents. However, the Minister has stated that this plebiscite will have no legal standing and that he is prepared to ignore it, despite the fact the Official Languages Act, which he used to change the name to An Daingean, allows him to change it back.
The House will be pleased to hear that last week the Dingle GAA club, established for a century, changed its name to Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis, as did the local regatta club and various other groups in Dingle. I have no doubt what way the people will speak on this issue.
We would like to know whether the Government will accept the views of the local people. A detailed plebiscite will take place in October, involving a seven-stage process in which people will be asked whether they accept the dátheangach version of the name of the town, Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. If that is the case, will the Government accept that this is the way forward? I look forward to hearing the Government’s view. I know the Taoiseach and Government would not be unreasonable in this regard but there is one person in Government who is extraordinarily unreasonable.
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Dingle Name Change Plebiscite
24/05/06 - Senator Coghlan and I have …..a piece of legislation which would give back to muintir na Gaeltachta an cearta sibhialta sin atá ag aon duine eile timpeall na tíre. That is the right to decide and determine the name of their own place and have a referendum on it. In the past week, Kerry County Council has taken a decision, by 21 votes to four, to allow a plebiscite of the entire Dingle area in the autumn.
Senator Coghlan and I feel it would be more appropriate to move the motion after that. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs could then come before the House to tell us his reasons if he refuses to accept the views of the people.
This is a case of democracy turned on its head by this Minister. It has nothing to do with cónaitheoirí na Gaeltachta. That is a decision which is not taken by the people in any area, despite a suggestion made here last week that muintir na Gaeltachta could decide to be in or out of the Gaeltacht. That is decided politically, and it is a matter for Government.
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Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhúirne
05/04/06 - Tá mé ag féachaint anseo ar Department of the Taoiseach: Action Programme for the Millennium. Cuirfear plean náisiúnta don réamhscolaíocht agus don Ghaelscolaíocht le chéile. That has not been done. Cuirfear coiste náisiúnta comhordaithe ar bun. That has been done. The last thing that I wish to talk about is: cuirfear lár-ionad acmhainní ar bun chun áiseanna cearta oideachasúla a chur ar fáil le haghaidh fhoghlaimeoirí na teanga. Níor deineadh é sin. Anois, tá an tAire, an Teachta Hanafin, politician of the year, i bhfeighil an ruda seo. Tá an-jab á dhéanamh aici, agus tá mé cinnte go bhfuil sí báúil don teanga, something that I would not take from her, ach níor tharla aon rud.
Dhá scór bliain ó shin, agus mé ag freastal ar scoil na mBráithre Críostaí i nDaingean Uí Chúis, as it is correctly called, An Daingean as the Minister calls it, or Dingle Uí Chúis, as others call it, bhíos ag foghlaim mo chuid Laidine trí Ghaoluinn as téacsleabhar Béarla. It was natural and normal at the time, and we did not pay much attention to it, but it is utterly unacceptable that 40 years later the same thing is still happening. I will say this in English lest there be any doubt among those listening. My colleagues in the Gaeltacht who teach in primary schools — the same happens in post-primary schools — have been crying out for an Irish textbook of the standard that those in the rest of the country would expect of an English textbook. No aspect of the geography curriculum in primary or post-primary schools is available i nGaoluinn.
There are other examples. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is more interested in picking a fight with the people of the Gaeltacht by taking away their right to determine the names of where they live than what children learn in school. He is far more interested in what is written on a signpost or in ensuring that the NRA and other semi-State companies unnecessarily spend huge amounts producing hard copies of glossy, pictorial versions of their annual reports, a total waste of money. In the meantime, what was proposed for Baile Bhúirne would have produced, from day one, téacsanna agus leathanaigh Idirlíne as Gaoluinn and all sorts of information technology material trí Ghaoluinn to be used on the day by schools around the country looking for such texts.
People correctly stress the importance of gaelscoileanna and have lauded their achievements, but I visited every Gaeltacht school in west Kerry and in south Connemara a couple of years ago and did not find one classroom where every child had Gaoluinn ón chliabhán. In every class, there were a few. I was in foinse na Gaoluinne, i nDún Chaoin, agus bhí leanaí sa scoil sin, naíonáin shóisear a bhí tagtha ó Londain, ón Spáinn agus ón Ghearmáin, but those teachers are still trying to inculcate the Irish language without the support of textbooks, and that is completely and utterly wrong. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs should be taken to the real world, where such things are necessities.
Why have we not established the centre in Baile Bhúirne? People are opposed to it, but in the past week I have spoken to Údarás na Gaeltachta, and it is in favour. I have spoken to An Roinn Gnóthaí Tuaithe, Pobail agus Gaeltachta, and it is in favour, as is Foras na Gaeilge. All the main players are in favour. The Department of Education and Science is in ainm a bheith i bhfabhar. Cén fáth nach bhfuil sé tarlaithe? It is because somebody is blocking it somewhere, perhaps because it is too far from Dublin. This centre must be established in the Gaeltacht ionas go mbeadh beocht ann i measc mhuintir na Gaeltachta, i measc mhuintir na Gaoluinne, agus go mbeadh siad ag cur ar fáil na dtéacsanna agus gach rud eile atá ag teastáil ó na scoileanna tríd an tír.
Is mise an t-aon duine sa Teach seo ón nGaeltacht. Every time that I go home, people tell me of their problems. I do not know why there is not a Gaeltacht uprising over the way that they have been treated over the years. The smart comments about Gaeltacht grants are not what they need. They need to be able to live their lives trí Ghaoluinn. In terms of education, that means réamhscolaíocht, primary education, an dara léibhéal, an tríú léibhéal, ollscolaíocht and adult education trí Ghaoluinn. That is what this centre can do. If we do nothing else, we must railroad whoever is blocking this and deal with the issue. More importantly, the Minister should tell us who is blocking it, why it has not happened hitherto, and where the problem lies. We must show support for schools and education.
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Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhuirne
30/03/06 - The Leader will recall that during her time as Minister for Education there were various difficulties in terms of teaching Irish and Irish language resources. As Minister, she established a group to examine those matters. It was decided to establish a special centre in Baile Bhuirne in west Cork to provide Irish language teaching to support Gaeltacht schools, gaelscoileanna and ordinary schools teaching aspects of their curriculum through Irish. The idea was to use these most up-to-date methods and creative approaches, including information technology. That decision was taken by the Government in 1999 and money was made available for it.
The sod was turned by the following Minister for Education, Deputy Woods. It was also supported by the succeeding Minister, Deputy Noel Dempesy, as well as the current Minister, Deputy Hanafin. Nothing has happened, however, and I have been wondering why. I would like the Minister for Education and Science to attend the House to explain this to us. I have become aware that people within the Department of Education and Science are trying to block this project, as are people within the Irish language association, despite the fact that it has the full support of Údarás na Gaeltachta. It even has the full support of my friend the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, as well as the various Irish language bodies established on an all-Ireland basis.
This project is not happening because some people think that Baile Bhuirne is too far from Dublin and that nothing could happen that far away from the capital that could be any good. This is the most important thing that could happen to the Irish language but I believe there is uisce faoi thalamh here. Somebody is undermining a Government decision and I would like to know why. I have become aware that a submission made to the Department in the last month from the Coiste Oideachas Gaeilge agus Gaelscoileanna does not reflect the views of 80% of the people who sit on the board of that particular group, which advises the Department. There is something going on which we must examine. I would like the Minister to outline all the facts concerning this case.
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Lack of Minister's Progress
21/03/06 - Seo Seachtain na Gaeilge. Nuair a tháinig an Rialtas seo isteach, dúradh sa programme for Government go mbeadh plean aige don Ghaeilge that would be outlined and put into operation. Níl sin feicthe againn - níl sé ann. Ba mhaith liom díospóireacht ar aon dhul chun cinn ar an phlean sin agus cad é go díreacht ar aigne an Aire. Ba mhaith liom brú a chur ar an Aire dul chun cinn a dhéanamh. I would like to carry out an audit of the issues in which the Minister takes an interest and the issues which he ignores and the real needs of Gaeilge and Gaeltacht both in and outside of schools. I would like to discover why he avoids introducing every positive, creative and progressive proposal for the Irish language and insists on carrying out measures such forcing companies to do things they neither want or need to do and which are of no use to the Irish language.I would like a debate on the Irish language and the Minister’s plans for it.
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Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhuirne
02/03/06 - In 1999 the then Minister for Education, Deputy Martin, mhol sé go gcuirfí ionad oideachais Gaeilge ar bun i mBaile an Bhuirne i gCondae Corcaigh. The idea is that this institution would provide for Irish language schools, Gaeltacht schools and schools which try to teach certain languages, certain aspects of their curriculum, through Irish to have available to them various different texts, which would be developed and provided there, namely, a translation service. It is one of those great ideas with extraordinary syngeries, one of the best ideas ever about the Irish language. Everything that would come out of this would be used immediately. Teachers are crying out for it. We have schools in Ireland that are teaching Latin trí Ghaeilge from English language textbooks. That is happening all the time. Four Ministers have dealt with this matter but nothing has happened and I am deeply and utterly suspicious nothing will happen.
This is a great idea but, like every other great idea that was ever formed about Irish, if acting on it does not have some impact on the east coast, nobody wants to hear or do anything about it. This would give life to west Cork in that area and new life to the old college in Baile Bhuirne, and it would also provide something which is useful, sensible and progressive. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on this issue in order that we can discuss it with the Minister for Education and Science.
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An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta - Elections
22/02/06 - Bunaíodh an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta chun comhairle a thabhairt don Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta as well as to the various committees dealing with the curriculum. An jab atá acu ná iniúchadh ar chás speisialta na scoileanna Gaeltachta agus na gaelscoileanna. Tá an grúpa seo curtha le chéile ag an Aire faoin chumhacht atá aici faoi alt 31 agus alt 55 den Acht Oideachais 1998. Tá ainmniúcháin ag an Aire í fhéin agus ag grúpaí áirithe, mar shampla na cheardchumainn. Níl mé ag díriú isteach ar na grúpaí sin anocht. Tá daoine áirithe tofa as na gaelscoileanna agus as na Gaeltachtaí.
Tá géarghá ar an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta cosc láithreach a chur ar an toghchán atá ag dul ar aghaidh. An dheacracht atá ann ná seo — tá cosúlacht ann go bhfuil an próiséas atá á úsáid neamhshláindiúil agus, b’fhéidir, mídhleathach. Tá sé cinnte nach bhfuil aon bhunús dleathach ar seo. Tá deacracht ann mar nach bhfuil aon rialacha ná treoirlínte ar conas a rachfaidh an toghchán seo ar siúl foilsithe nó ar fáil. Níl aon soiléireacht ann ó thaobh liosta dóibh siúd go bhfuil cead vótáil acu. Níl register of electors d’aon shórt ann. Níl aon rialacha foilsithe mar gheall ar iarrthóirí — cad as dóibh, cad iad na coinníollacha atá ag baint leo, an bhfuil sprioclá ann gur chóir ainmneacha na hiarrthóirí a chur isteach, srl.
Ar an dtaobh eile den scéal, ba chóir go mbeadh seans ag iarrthóirí tarraingt siar nuair a fheiceann siad líon na ndaoine atá ainmnithe, go mórmhór ó thaobh na nGaeltachtaí de. Samhlaigh ar na ndaoine i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill, i nGaeltacht na Rinne i gContae Phort Láirge in aice leis an Aire Stáit, i gContae na Mí, i gCorca Dhuibhne, i gCorcaigh, i Maigh Eo agus i nGaillimh — b’fhéidir nach bhfuil a lán ag tarlú eatarthu go dtí go bhféachann daoine ar cé eile atá ag dul ag iarraidh toghchán. Tá gach seans ann go bhfuil daoine atá ar aon aigne a b’fhearr dóibh duine amháin a chur chun cinn agus na daoine eile atá ar aon aigne leo a tharraingt siar chun go n-éireódh le duine éigin eile an beart a dhéanamh.
Ba mhaith liom sampla a thabhairt dos na deacrachtaí éagsúla. Tá na páipéir ballóide imithe amach faoin am seo. Creid é nó ná creid, tá misspellings ina lán acu. Níl aon tuiscint agam ar conas a chuirtear na liostaí le chéile. Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil na hainmneacha nó na sloinní in ord aibítreach. Níl aon tuiscint agam ar conas a cuireadh le chéile iad. Ní raibh aon eolas tugtha dóibh siúd atá ag vótáil ar na hiarrathóirí; mar shampla, cén sórt cúlra atá acu, cad iad na polasaithe atá acu, cad as dóibh — b’fhéidir go bhfuil sé sin ann — cén sórt taithí, cáilíochtaí nó cúlra atá acu nó cén sórt polasaithe a bheidh siad ag chur chun cinn. Ní raibh aon teacht ag na hiarrthóirí iad féin ar na daoine a bhí ag caitheamh vótaí. Ní raibh seans acu an rud a phlé nó aon sórt canbhasáil a dhéanamh. Tá an rud ag dul chun cinn faoi lánseol faoi láthair.
Má théann aon duine isteach sna cúirteanna chun ceist a chuir ar an gcúirt an bhfuil an toghchán seo dleathach, nó an féidir leis dul ar aghaidh, tá mé cinnte go mbeidh an chúirt ar aon aigne leo siúd atá corraithe mar gheall ar an tslí a bhfuil sé seo ag dul chun cinn. B’fhéidir go rinne duine éigin botún nádúrtha nó tharla míthuiscint macánta gan aon daoine a bheith ag déanamh aon rud d’aon ghnó anseo. Níl a fhios agam é sin, ach tá tuiscint mhór agam nár chóir é seo a dhul ar aghaidh. Tá tuismuitheóirí, múinteóirí agus baill de bhóird bainistíochta na scoileanna á thoghadh ar an chomhairle againn. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach. Tá jab tábhachtach acu. Tá sé an-thábhachtach don Ghaeilge agus don oideachas Gaeilge go mbeidh gach rud above suspicion and above question, i ndáiríre. Is é sin an rud atá i gceist agamsa. Caithfidh an tAire féachaint isteach sa rud seo. An rud atá á moladh agam ná gur chóir an rud seo a chur ar athló chun seans a thabhairt dúinn treoirlínte a chuir ar faíl agus a fhoilsiú, chun rialacha a bheith againn agus chun tuiscint a thabhairt do gach éinne faoi cad atá ar siúl.
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University College Galway and the Irish Language
16/02/06 - Tá mé sásta tacú leis an reachtaíocht seo, tá sé tábhachtach agus praiticiúil. Bhí an-bhrú ar an ollscoil go dtí seo ag fostú daoine mar bhí iachall orthu Gaeilge den scoth a bheith acu. Rómhinic, ní raibh an caighdeán sin Gaeilge ag daoine, go speisialta iad siúd as an iasacht agus ní raibh an ollscoil in ann postanna a thabhairt. Bhí all sorts of difficulties aici idir an dá linn agus bhí sí os comhair na cúirte níos minice ná uair amháin nuair a chuir daoine ina haghaidh.
Bhí na various Irish language groups on the east coast who are very slow to see practical approaches to the Irish language corraithe faoin mBille seo cionn is nach mbeadh tús áite ag an nGaeilge a thuilleadh in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus chuir sé isteach orthu. Tá seo i bhfad níos tábhachtaí don Ghaeilge ná aon rud a bhí ann roimhe seo. Go dtí anois, cé go raibh ar dhuine a bheith in ann Gaeilge a labhairt sula bhfaigheadh sé nó sí job san ollscoil, ní raibh aon bhrú nó aon fhreagrach ina dhiaidh sin ar an gcoláiste féin an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.
Tá sé an-tábhachtach anois go bhfuil sé mar cheann de phríomhaidhmeanna an choláiste an Ghaolainn a chur chun cinn. Is mór an trua é nach mbeadh an dearcadh praiticiúil céanna ar gach gné de pholasaí an Rialtais i dtaobh na Gaolainne. Inné sa Teach eile, bhíos ag éisteacht leis an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Ó Cuív, a bhí ag cur le liosta na gcomhlachtaí a mbeadh orthu as seo amach a gcuid tuairiscí bliantúla a fhoilsiú i nGaolainn. Ba bhreá an rud é a bheith ag éisteacht leis agus a fheiceáil cé chomh tábhachtach agus a bhí sé seo. Do chuir sé isteach orm, agus bhí mé buartha go mór agus mé ag éisteacht leis. Bhí sé an-tábhachtach, de réir dealraimh, go mbeimis in ann teacht ar the National Roads Authority’s tuarascáil bhlíantúil in a lovely glossy presentation ach go bhfuil sé i nGaolainn.
Ar an taobh eile den scéal, tá múinteoirí tríd an tír, i ngach cuid di, Gaeltachtaí, Galltacht agus Gaelscoileanna ina measc, ag iarraidh ceachtanna a mhúineadh gan aon téacsanna Gaolainne a bheith acu. I cannot for the life of me understand how it is more important to a Government that the National Roads Authority’s report and Government strategic plans should be produced in Irish when no one cares — I will not say what was in my mind — about schools trying to teach Irish without Irish textbooks.
Bhíos ag éisteacht leis an Aire inné, agus bhí sé ag tabhairt ceacht staire dúinn ar Dingle, An Daingean, Daingean Uí Chúis, cad as a dtáinig siad, agus cé chomh tábhachtach agus a bhí siad. That is fine. Bhí ceacht staire anseo, ach tá múinteoirí ag iarraidh stair a mhúineadh do rang 6 sna bunscoileanna gan téacs Gaolainne staire a bheith ar fáil acu. That is despite the fact that cúpla bliain ó shin tugadh all sorts of geallúintí dúinn that we would establish in west Cork áis nua a chuirfeadh ar fáil téacsanna, leabhair agus gach rud a bheadh de dhíth ar mhúinteoirí agus ag teastáil uathu agus ó scoileanna chun Gaolainn a chur chun cinn.
However, it is the old story. We will do the whole glossy bit and see the National Roads Authority, the National Treasury Management Agency and the Government strategic policies publish in Irish, while no one cares that, where we are teaching in Irish, we cannot get our hands on Irish textbooks. It must be 24 times more important that we spend the money going to develop those documents on producing textbooks for primary and post-primary schools.
That is what I want to see happen, namely, practical, sensible approaches. We must make Irish live, and it does not live on the other side of the National Roads Authority’s annual report. I am all for creating jobs making them available i nGaolainn, and the National Roads Authority being required to translate its report into Gaolainn. However, they can put that information up on the Internet. We need not publish it in hard copy, since it is enough if we have it available trí Ghaoluinn so that the translators and designers are kept in work without our wasting money producing stuff that will never be read.
The issue then was the central importance of developing Irish in education and the community. I am not straying one word from that issue. If we are to develop these ideas, we must have central people who will stand up as Gaolainn, trí Ghaolainn and le Gaolainn against zealots trying to destroy the language.
The people who are taking all of the wrong decisions on the Irish language will be enjoying their pensions before the people see the death of the language as a consequence. The decision makers will turn people against Irish while people in the Gaeltacht must put up with what is left. Everyone I know in the Gaeltacht and education who cares about the Irish language would support the Bill. It is positive because it is proactive.
One could ask a person from the west what is more important, making 100 different major public companies produce their annual reports through Irish or making Irish textbooks available.
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Seanad debates are available in full on the Oireachtas website
Each speech listed here is an edited speech. If you'd like to see the speech or debate in full, please go to the Oireachtas website and click on "Seanad Eireann" and then "Seanad Debates" and click on the relevant date as listed with each speech on this page.
Dingle Name Change (30/04/08)
Tuarascáil Bhliantiúl Coimisinéir Teanga (09/04/08)
Lack of Understanding for the Gaeltacht (15/11/07)
Dingle Name (14/11/07)
Gaeltacht Areas and the Minister (04/07/07)
Imbalance Between Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht Schools (04/07/07)
Translations into Gaeilge (04/04/07)
Dingle Name (28/09/06)
Dingle Name (28/06/06)
Use of Irish Language (27/06/06)
Dingle Name Change Plebiscite (20/06/06)
Dingle Name Change Plebiscite (24/05/06)
Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhúirne (05/04/06)
Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhúirne (30/03/06)
Lack of Minister's Progress (21/03/06)
Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhúirne (02/03/06)
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta - Elections (22/02/06)
University College Galway and the Irish Language (16/02/06)
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Dingle Name Change
30/04/08 - Fáilte go mór roimhis an cine ata déanta ag an Rialtais mar gheall ar ainm mo shean bhaile fhéin, Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. Mar a dúras go minic roimhe seo bhí trí ainmneacha i gcónaí ar an áit sin agus beidh trí animneacha i gcónaí ann. Mar críoch don scéal, níl aon ró-athrú déanta, ach fáiltím go bhfuil sé déanta. Níos mó agus níos tábhachtaí ná sin ná go ndúirt an tAire go bhfuil sé chun reachtaíocht a chur chun cinn a dhéanfadh cinnte de go mbeadh aon sórt pobalbhreith nó plebiscite i measc muintir aon áite níos tábhachtaí ná aon sórt ordú a dhéanfar faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla. This idea of giving rights back to people at a local level is important, especially in the sense that any plebiscite taken under local government legislation will always overrule any decision taken under the Acht teanga. I look forward to the legislation which will do that.
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Tuarascáil Bhliantiúl Coimisinéir Teanga
09/04/08 - Inné fuarthas an tuarascáil bhliantiúl ón Coimisinéir Teanga. Ba bhreá an rud é dá mbeadh díospóireacht sa Teach ar an méid atá ráite aige. Tá go leor molta agus ráite aige agus tá cur síos déanta aige ar na gearáin ar fad a fuair sé le linn na bliana. Bhí níos mó ná 600 gearán faighte aige. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeadh muidne sásta an tuarascáil a phlé. Deir an Coimisinéir nach bhfuil sé i bhfábhar éigeantas.
In other words, he is not in favour of returning to the days of compulsion in Irish in terms of appointing people agus rudaí mar sin. On the other side, ba mhaith an rud é go mbeadh traenáil ann do stát sheirbhísigh agus daoine eile. Déarfainn féin gur ceart traenáil a bheith ann do Bhaill na Dála agus an tSeanaid agus gur cóir go mbeadh seans acu freastal ar na Gaeltachtaí chun Gaeilge a fhoghlaim agus am a chaitheamh le muintir na Gaeltachtaí agus chun go mbeadh teangmháil acu le cultúr na Gaeltachta.
I would like a full debate on this. For years I have stated that Members of the Dáil and Seanad should have the opportunity to spend time in the Gaeltachtaí. In the 1920s when this country first introduced the Irish language to schools, the most effective thing done was to bring teachers to the Gaeltachtaí for three months at a time. It infused them with a love of Irish. Civil servants should also have the opportunity to spend time in the Gaeltachtaí. This was done 80 years ago. We could do it again and it would be sensible.
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Lack of Understanding for the Gaeltacht
15/11/07 - Luaigh mé inné na deacrachtaí atá ag tarlú sa Daingean mar gheall ar ainm na háite sin, Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. Tar éis éisteacht leis an mhéid a bhí le rá ag daoine eile agus é á phlé acu, ba mhaith liom an méid seo a rá i mBéarla. Many people believe that people living in the Gaeltacht who speak Irish are a kind of zealot. They are people who love and live their language. They are not bandits or fascists about their language even though some people outside the Gaeltacht may be like that.
A classic example is the lack of understanding about Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. Níor chuir sé isteach ar mhuintir an Daingin gurb é ainm Béarla nó Gaeilge é Dingle nó Daingean Uí Chúis. It was nothing to do with that. It was about changing the name of where they lived. If it had been changed to another Irish or English word they would have felt the same. As somebody from the Gaeltacht I ask Senators to understand that point regardless of whether they agree or disagree.
There is an example this morning of the kind of thing that drives people mad and which I support strongly. Muintir na Gaeltachta Connemara are faced with a bypass of Galway city which will directly cross the Gaeltacht area. It was set out in the environmental impact survey but was not available to them as Gaeilge until two weeks before the hearing, whereas it was available to everybody else for six weeks. Gaeltacht people are let down when they cannot do their normal business as Gaeilge. Sin an sort tacaíochta gur chóir go mbeadh ann doíbh. It is not about forcing people to do things against their will; it is chun tacaíocht a thabhairt doíbh siúd atá sé ar intinn acu agus atá ag iarraidh maireachtáil trí Ghaeilge. I ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to return to this House, not that he will give us any great sense in what he has to say, but ba mhaith liom an rud a phlé leis.
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Dingle Name
14/11/07 - Ba mhaith liom filleadh ar ábhar ar a labhair mé go minic anuraidh, sé sin ceist Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. I understand the Government has agreed with Deputy Healy-Rae that the wishes of the people of the town be granted and the name be changed back to Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis or a choice of either of those. That was determined by a plebiscite with 97% in support. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government should take this on board and make the decision required. There must be a period of time between the Minister issuing a regulation to change a name back to what it should be and the time it comes into operation.
This trouble with Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis, Gort and other places would not have arisen if the Local Government Act 2001, which was initiated in this House and allowed people to make a decision by plebiscite on the name of their area, was commenced. The Deputy Leader might raise with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the importance of commencing the Local Government Act 2002, which was passed four years ago and gives local authority to local people in the naming of the places in which they live.
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Gaeltacht Areas and the Minister
04/07/07 - One such issue that I have raised many times on the Order of Business concerns cúrsaí mhuintir na Gaeltachta sa tír seo. Bhíos ag éisteacht ar maidin leis an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív, ag caint mar gheall ar an chaighdeán Gaoluinne i measc Ghaeltachtaí na tíre, agus chuaigh sé timpeall ar na naíonraí sna Gaeltachtaí, agus cé chomh tábhachtach agus a bhí siad. Bhí an ceart aige. Níl dabht ar domhan ach go bhfuil an-dul chun cinn déanta ag na réamhscoileanna Gaoluinne — those pre-schools — atá ann chun tosnú a thabhairt na teanga do leanaí óga a thosóidís sna gnáthbhunscoileanna murach iad.
It drives me to distraction that the Minister with responsibility in this area has this morning washed his hands in regard the issue of Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. He has told us that it not his business, that it is being dealt with by Deputy Jackie Healy-Rae, the Taoiseach and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. After creating the chaos and the mess, he walked away from it, but it is better late than never.
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Imbalance Between Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht Schools
04/07/07 - I have gone to every [g]Gaeltacht school over the past 15 years. In every single one of them there are children with Spanish names, children whose families have returned from England, or whose families are strainséirí in the area, who are completely committed to the Irish language and want to learn it but do not have it in the house. The reason I mention that is that in those areas which are ceartlár na nGaeltachtaí, foinse na Gaeilge, the well of the Irish language, there is not the same level of support as there is for Gaelscoileanna in the Galltacht. Every time I make this point I get a sheaf of letters asking why I am opposed to Gaelscoileanna. I am not.
However, it seems daft that in the Gaeltacht they require more students in order to appoint a teacher than in the Gaelscoileanna. It never made sense, but in the context of what the Minister with responsibility for Gaeltacht affairs has told us this morning, that there is a huge proportion of leanaí sna scoileanna Gaeltachta who do not have Irish coming into the school, if we are to restore the Irish language, let us be practical about it. I hope to be back here to have a long-term discussion leis an Aire faoi pholasaí sna Gaeltachtaí chun dul chun cinn, infheistiú agus infrastructúr a chur ar bun and much more in terms of involving ourselves in developing the Gaeltacht where people can live their lives through Irish and in Irish.
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Translations into Gaeilge
04/04/07 - In trying to get large corporations of all nationalities to produce their reports as Gaeilge, bheadh sé i bhfad níos fearr féachaint ar na rudaí a ba chóir a dhéanamh. Mar shampla, foilsíodh tuarascáil an Choimisinéara Teanga an tseachtain seo. This is the kind of thing that drives me mad. Sa tuarascáil sin, he makes it very clear that the child protection guidelines on sexual assault are not available in the Irish language. The remedial and education service and child protection guidelines should be made available in the Irish language and not huge corporations producing their stuff trí Ghaeilge that nobody will ever read. It is time this Minister was asked what he is about and would he concentrate on doing the job he was elected to do and leave the decent people of west Kerry alone.
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Dingle Name
28/09/2006 - We have chosen to delay moving that legislation (the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill) until late next month. To credit Kerry County Council and the Kerry county manager they have, by a substantial majority, supported the holding of consultations with the people of Dingle, An Daingean Uí Chuís, in regard to naming their town. Members will be pleased to note that those consultations will take place in the next couple of weeks. They may also be pleased to note that local authorities very often have more understanding of local issues than Ministers in Government.
During the recess, the opportunities to study tré Gaeilge sa chathair seo are almost imithe. Tá sean-Ghaeilge tóghta de churaclam UCD agus ní féidir anois gnáth-Ghaeilge a chur mar ábhar céime i UCD on night courses. I believe the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs would make better use of his time dealing with such issues.
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Dingle Name
28/06/2006 - I am sure the House will join with me to show approval for the Government’s decision to refer to this country as Éire Ireland in Europe. This open-minded approach to bilingualism will be supported by the people in my home town. I ask that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs be made aware of the Government’s view on bilingualism and that the people of Dingle, who would like to have their town renamed Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis, can expect active support from those in senior positions in Government. This is a clear step forward by Government and we should formally rename my town Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis. This would be in line with Government policy and is supported by activists in the Government parties in Chorca Dhuibhne.
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Use of Irish Language
27/06/2006 - I rith na seachtaine seo caite, chuireadh tuarascáil nua ar fáil. It related to the state of the Irish language and how it has disimproved. It is well past time we had the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, in here to tell us cad tá go díreach ar siúl aige chun an Ghaeilge a chothú i measc na gnáth daoine. I have stated time and again that his policies are in no way directed towards ordinary people with ordinary problems, ach de réir deamhramh b’fhearr leis a bheith ag dul timpeall na háite ag aistriú ainmneacha áiteanna i gcoinne toill na daoine, upsetting people around the country agus ag chuir breo ar muintir tionscalaíochta na tíre chun tuarascáilí cheann bliana a chuir ar fáil i nGaeilge.
These matters might be important, but the real issue is the one I have been raising here since the day I was elected, that we need to support the Gaeltacht. In this situation, we see that there is a threat to the Irish language in Gaeltacht schools and in the Gaeltacht. Although this might be hard to believe, Gaeltacht schools which are dealing with people from all sorts of backgrounds — immigrants, people without Irish who have returned home from other countries, etc. — have a lower pupil-teacher ratio than gaelscoileanna. Gaelscoileanna are entitled to what they have, but it surely is a nonsense that we are not giving support do scoileanna sna Gaeltachtaí, foinse na Gaeilge, áit gur chóir gach tacaíocht a thabhairt do na muinteoirí, tuismitheoirí agus na húdaráis scoileanna.
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Dingle Name Change Plebiscite
20/06/06 - The House might note that in the meantime Kerry County Council has decided to conduct a plebiscite of the people of that town to establish their views and to facilitate a decision in this regard. The intention of our Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005, which we have chosen to hold back for the present, is to take note of the views of local residents. However, the Minister has stated that this plebiscite will have no legal standing and that he is prepared to ignore it, despite the fact the Official Languages Act, which he used to change the name to An Daingean, allows him to change it back.
The House will be pleased to hear that last week the Dingle GAA club, established for a century, changed its name to Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis, as did the local regatta club and various other groups in Dingle. I have no doubt what way the people will speak on this issue.
We would like to know whether the Government will accept the views of the local people. A detailed plebiscite will take place in October, involving a seven-stage process in which people will be asked whether they accept the dátheangach version of the name of the town, Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis. If that is the case, will the Government accept that this is the way forward? I look forward to hearing the Government’s view. I know the Taoiseach and Government would not be unreasonable in this regard but there is one person in Government who is extraordinarily unreasonable.
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Dingle Name Change Plebiscite
24/05/06 - Senator Coghlan and I have …..a piece of legislation which would give back to muintir na Gaeltachta an cearta sibhialta sin atá ag aon duine eile timpeall na tíre. That is the right to decide and determine the name of their own place and have a referendum on it. In the past week, Kerry County Council has taken a decision, by 21 votes to four, to allow a plebiscite of the entire Dingle area in the autumn.
Senator Coghlan and I feel it would be more appropriate to move the motion after that. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs could then come before the House to tell us his reasons if he refuses to accept the views of the people.
This is a case of democracy turned on its head by this Minister. It has nothing to do with cónaitheoirí na Gaeltachta. That is a decision which is not taken by the people in any area, despite a suggestion made here last week that muintir na Gaeltachta could decide to be in or out of the Gaeltacht. That is decided politically, and it is a matter for Government.
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Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhúirne
05/04/06 - Tá mé ag féachaint anseo ar Department of the Taoiseach: Action Programme for the Millennium. Cuirfear plean náisiúnta don réamhscolaíocht agus don Ghaelscolaíocht le chéile. That has not been done. Cuirfear coiste náisiúnta comhordaithe ar bun. That has been done. The last thing that I wish to talk about is: cuirfear lár-ionad acmhainní ar bun chun áiseanna cearta oideachasúla a chur ar fáil le haghaidh fhoghlaimeoirí na teanga. Níor deineadh é sin. Anois, tá an tAire, an Teachta Hanafin, politician of the year, i bhfeighil an ruda seo. Tá an-jab á dhéanamh aici, agus tá mé cinnte go bhfuil sí báúil don teanga, something that I would not take from her, ach níor tharla aon rud.
Dhá scór bliain ó shin, agus mé ag freastal ar scoil na mBráithre Críostaí i nDaingean Uí Chúis, as it is correctly called, An Daingean as the Minister calls it, or Dingle Uí Chúis, as others call it, bhíos ag foghlaim mo chuid Laidine trí Ghaoluinn as téacsleabhar Béarla. It was natural and normal at the time, and we did not pay much attention to it, but it is utterly unacceptable that 40 years later the same thing is still happening. I will say this in English lest there be any doubt among those listening. My colleagues in the Gaeltacht who teach in primary schools — the same happens in post-primary schools — have been crying out for an Irish textbook of the standard that those in the rest of the country would expect of an English textbook. No aspect of the geography curriculum in primary or post-primary schools is available i nGaoluinn.
There are other examples. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is more interested in picking a fight with the people of the Gaeltacht by taking away their right to determine the names of where they live than what children learn in school. He is far more interested in what is written on a signpost or in ensuring that the NRA and other semi-State companies unnecessarily spend huge amounts producing hard copies of glossy, pictorial versions of their annual reports, a total waste of money. In the meantime, what was proposed for Baile Bhúirne would have produced, from day one, téacsanna agus leathanaigh Idirlíne as Gaoluinn and all sorts of information technology material trí Ghaoluinn to be used on the day by schools around the country looking for such texts.
People correctly stress the importance of gaelscoileanna and have lauded their achievements, but I visited every Gaeltacht school in west Kerry and in south Connemara a couple of years ago and did not find one classroom where every child had Gaoluinn ón chliabhán. In every class, there were a few. I was in foinse na Gaoluinne, i nDún Chaoin, agus bhí leanaí sa scoil sin, naíonáin shóisear a bhí tagtha ó Londain, ón Spáinn agus ón Ghearmáin, but those teachers are still trying to inculcate the Irish language without the support of textbooks, and that is completely and utterly wrong. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs should be taken to the real world, where such things are necessities.
Why have we not established the centre in Baile Bhúirne? People are opposed to it, but in the past week I have spoken to Údarás na Gaeltachta, and it is in favour. I have spoken to An Roinn Gnóthaí Tuaithe, Pobail agus Gaeltachta, and it is in favour, as is Foras na Gaeilge. All the main players are in favour. The Department of Education and Science is in ainm a bheith i bhfabhar. Cén fáth nach bhfuil sé tarlaithe? It is because somebody is blocking it somewhere, perhaps because it is too far from Dublin. This centre must be established in the Gaeltacht ionas go mbeadh beocht ann i measc mhuintir na Gaeltachta, i measc mhuintir na Gaoluinne, agus go mbeadh siad ag cur ar fáil na dtéacsanna agus gach rud eile atá ag teastáil ó na scoileanna tríd an tír.
Is mise an t-aon duine sa Teach seo ón nGaeltacht. Every time that I go home, people tell me of their problems. I do not know why there is not a Gaeltacht uprising over the way that they have been treated over the years. The smart comments about Gaeltacht grants are not what they need. They need to be able to live their lives trí Ghaoluinn. In terms of education, that means réamhscolaíocht, primary education, an dara léibhéal, an tríú léibhéal, ollscolaíocht and adult education trí Ghaoluinn. That is what this centre can do. If we do nothing else, we must railroad whoever is blocking this and deal with the issue. More importantly, the Minister should tell us who is blocking it, why it has not happened hitherto, and where the problem lies. We must show support for schools and education.
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Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhuirne
30/03/06 - The Leader will recall that during her time as Minister for Education there were various difficulties in terms of teaching Irish and Irish language resources. As Minister, she established a group to examine those matters. It was decided to establish a special centre in Baile Bhuirne in west Cork to provide Irish language teaching to support Gaeltacht schools, gaelscoileanna and ordinary schools teaching aspects of their curriculum through Irish. The idea was to use these most up-to-date methods and creative approaches, including information technology. That decision was taken by the Government in 1999 and money was made available for it.
The sod was turned by the following Minister for Education, Deputy Woods. It was also supported by the succeeding Minister, Deputy Noel Dempesy, as well as the current Minister, Deputy Hanafin. Nothing has happened, however, and I have been wondering why. I would like the Minister for Education and Science to attend the House to explain this to us. I have become aware that people within the Department of Education and Science are trying to block this project, as are people within the Irish language association, despite the fact that it has the full support of Údarás na Gaeltachta. It even has the full support of my friend the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, as well as the various Irish language bodies established on an all-Ireland basis.
This project is not happening because some people think that Baile Bhuirne is too far from Dublin and that nothing could happen that far away from the capital that could be any good. This is the most important thing that could happen to the Irish language but I believe there is uisce faoi thalamh here. Somebody is undermining a Government decision and I would like to know why. I have become aware that a submission made to the Department in the last month from the Coiste Oideachas Gaeilge agus Gaelscoileanna does not reflect the views of 80% of the people who sit on the board of that particular group, which advises the Department. There is something going on which we must examine. I would like the Minister to outline all the facts concerning this case.
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Lack of Minister's Progress
21/03/06 - Seo Seachtain na Gaeilge. Nuair a tháinig an Rialtas seo isteach, dúradh sa programme for Government go mbeadh plean aige don Ghaeilge that would be outlined and put into operation. Níl sin feicthe againn - níl sé ann. Ba mhaith liom díospóireacht ar aon dhul chun cinn ar an phlean sin agus cad é go díreacht ar aigne an Aire. Ba mhaith liom brú a chur ar an Aire dul chun cinn a dhéanamh. I would like to carry out an audit of the issues in which the Minister takes an interest and the issues which he ignores and the real needs of Gaeilge and Gaeltacht both in and outside of schools. I would like to discover why he avoids introducing every positive, creative and progressive proposal for the Irish language and insists on carrying out measures such forcing companies to do things they neither want or need to do and which are of no use to the Irish language.I would like a debate on the Irish language and the Minister’s plans for it.
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Ionad Oideachais Gaeilge Baile Bhuirne
02/03/06 - In 1999 the then Minister for Education, Deputy Martin, mhol sé go gcuirfí ionad oideachais Gaeilge ar bun i mBaile an Bhuirne i gCondae Corcaigh. The idea is that this institution would provide for Irish language schools, Gaeltacht schools and schools which try to teach certain languages, certain aspects of their curriculum, through Irish to have available to them various different texts, which would be developed and provided there, namely, a translation service. It is one of those great ideas with extraordinary syngeries, one of the best ideas ever about the Irish language. Everything that would come out of this would be used immediately. Teachers are crying out for it. We have schools in Ireland that are teaching Latin trí Ghaeilge from English language textbooks. That is happening all the time. Four Ministers have dealt with this matter but nothing has happened and I am deeply and utterly suspicious nothing will happen.
This is a great idea but, like every other great idea that was ever formed about Irish, if acting on it does not have some impact on the east coast, nobody wants to hear or do anything about it. This would give life to west Cork in that area and new life to the old college in Baile Bhuirne, and it would also provide something which is useful, sensible and progressive. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on this issue in order that we can discuss it with the Minister for Education and Science.
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An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta - Elections
22/02/06 - Bunaíodh an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta chun comhairle a thabhairt don Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta as well as to the various committees dealing with the curriculum. An jab atá acu ná iniúchadh ar chás speisialta na scoileanna Gaeltachta agus na gaelscoileanna. Tá an grúpa seo curtha le chéile ag an Aire faoin chumhacht atá aici faoi alt 31 agus alt 55 den Acht Oideachais 1998. Tá ainmniúcháin ag an Aire í fhéin agus ag grúpaí áirithe, mar shampla na cheardchumainn. Níl mé ag díriú isteach ar na grúpaí sin anocht. Tá daoine áirithe tofa as na gaelscoileanna agus as na Gaeltachtaí.
Tá géarghá ar an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta cosc láithreach a chur ar an toghchán atá ag dul ar aghaidh. An dheacracht atá ann ná seo — tá cosúlacht ann go bhfuil an próiséas atá á úsáid neamhshláindiúil agus, b’fhéidir, mídhleathach. Tá sé cinnte nach bhfuil aon bhunús dleathach ar seo. Tá deacracht ann mar nach bhfuil aon rialacha ná treoirlínte ar conas a rachfaidh an toghchán seo ar siúl foilsithe nó ar fáil. Níl aon soiléireacht ann ó thaobh liosta dóibh siúd go bhfuil cead vótáil acu. Níl register of electors d’aon shórt ann. Níl aon rialacha foilsithe mar gheall ar iarrthóirí — cad as dóibh, cad iad na coinníollacha atá ag baint leo, an bhfuil sprioclá ann gur chóir ainmneacha na hiarrthóirí a chur isteach, srl.
Ar an dtaobh eile den scéal, ba chóir go mbeadh seans ag iarrthóirí tarraingt siar nuair a fheiceann siad líon na ndaoine atá ainmnithe, go mórmhór ó thaobh na nGaeltachtaí de. Samhlaigh ar na ndaoine i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill, i nGaeltacht na Rinne i gContae Phort Láirge in aice leis an Aire Stáit, i gContae na Mí, i gCorca Dhuibhne, i gCorcaigh, i Maigh Eo agus i nGaillimh — b’fhéidir nach bhfuil a lán ag tarlú eatarthu go dtí go bhféachann daoine ar cé eile atá ag dul ag iarraidh toghchán. Tá gach seans ann go bhfuil daoine atá ar aon aigne a b’fhearr dóibh duine amháin a chur chun cinn agus na daoine eile atá ar aon aigne leo a tharraingt siar chun go n-éireódh le duine éigin eile an beart a dhéanamh.
Ba mhaith liom sampla a thabhairt dos na deacrachtaí éagsúla. Tá na páipéir ballóide imithe amach faoin am seo. Creid é nó ná creid, tá misspellings ina lán acu. Níl aon tuiscint agam ar conas a chuirtear na liostaí le chéile. Ní dóigh liom go bhfuil na hainmneacha nó na sloinní in ord aibítreach. Níl aon tuiscint agam ar conas a cuireadh le chéile iad. Ní raibh aon eolas tugtha dóibh siúd atá ag vótáil ar na hiarrathóirí; mar shampla, cén sórt cúlra atá acu, cad iad na polasaithe atá acu, cad as dóibh — b’fhéidir go bhfuil sé sin ann — cén sórt taithí, cáilíochtaí nó cúlra atá acu nó cén sórt polasaithe a bheidh siad ag chur chun cinn. Ní raibh aon teacht ag na hiarrthóirí iad féin ar na daoine a bhí ag caitheamh vótaí. Ní raibh seans acu an rud a phlé nó aon sórt canbhasáil a dhéanamh. Tá an rud ag dul chun cinn faoi lánseol faoi láthair.
Má théann aon duine isteach sna cúirteanna chun ceist a chuir ar an gcúirt an bhfuil an toghchán seo dleathach, nó an féidir leis dul ar aghaidh, tá mé cinnte go mbeidh an chúirt ar aon aigne leo siúd atá corraithe mar gheall ar an tslí a bhfuil sé seo ag dul chun cinn. B’fhéidir go rinne duine éigin botún nádúrtha nó tharla míthuiscint macánta gan aon daoine a bheith ag déanamh aon rud d’aon ghnó anseo. Níl a fhios agam é sin, ach tá tuiscint mhór agam nár chóir é seo a dhul ar aghaidh. Tá tuismuitheóirí, múinteóirí agus baill de bhóird bainistíochta na scoileanna á thoghadh ar an chomhairle againn. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach. Tá jab tábhachtach acu. Tá sé an-thábhachtach don Ghaeilge agus don oideachas Gaeilge go mbeidh gach rud above suspicion and above question, i ndáiríre. Is é sin an rud atá i gceist agamsa. Caithfidh an tAire féachaint isteach sa rud seo. An rud atá á moladh agam ná gur chóir an rud seo a chur ar athló chun seans a thabhairt dúinn treoirlínte a chuir ar faíl agus a fhoilsiú, chun rialacha a bheith againn agus chun tuiscint a thabhairt do gach éinne faoi cad atá ar siúl.
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University College Galway and the Irish Language
16/02/06 - Tá mé sásta tacú leis an reachtaíocht seo, tá sé tábhachtach agus praiticiúil. Bhí an-bhrú ar an ollscoil go dtí seo ag fostú daoine mar bhí iachall orthu Gaeilge den scoth a bheith acu. Rómhinic, ní raibh an caighdeán sin Gaeilge ag daoine, go speisialta iad siúd as an iasacht agus ní raibh an ollscoil in ann postanna a thabhairt. Bhí all sorts of difficulties aici idir an dá linn agus bhí sí os comhair na cúirte níos minice ná uair amháin nuair a chuir daoine ina haghaidh.
Bhí na various Irish language groups on the east coast who are very slow to see practical approaches to the Irish language corraithe faoin mBille seo cionn is nach mbeadh tús áite ag an nGaeilge a thuilleadh in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe agus chuir sé isteach orthu. Tá seo i bhfad níos tábhachtaí don Ghaeilge ná aon rud a bhí ann roimhe seo. Go dtí anois, cé go raibh ar dhuine a bheith in ann Gaeilge a labhairt sula bhfaigheadh sé nó sí job san ollscoil, ní raibh aon bhrú nó aon fhreagrach ina dhiaidh sin ar an gcoláiste féin an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.
Tá sé an-tábhachtach anois go bhfuil sé mar cheann de phríomhaidhmeanna an choláiste an Ghaolainn a chur chun cinn. Is mór an trua é nach mbeadh an dearcadh praiticiúil céanna ar gach gné de pholasaí an Rialtais i dtaobh na Gaolainne. Inné sa Teach eile, bhíos ag éisteacht leis an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Ó Cuív, a bhí ag cur le liosta na gcomhlachtaí a mbeadh orthu as seo amach a gcuid tuairiscí bliantúla a fhoilsiú i nGaolainn. Ba bhreá an rud é a bheith ag éisteacht leis agus a fheiceáil cé chomh tábhachtach agus a bhí sé seo. Do chuir sé isteach orm, agus bhí mé buartha go mór agus mé ag éisteacht leis. Bhí sé an-tábhachtach, de réir dealraimh, go mbeimis in ann teacht ar the National Roads Authority’s tuarascáil bhlíantúil in a lovely glossy presentation ach go bhfuil sé i nGaolainn.
Ar an taobh eile den scéal, tá múinteoirí tríd an tír, i ngach cuid di, Gaeltachtaí, Galltacht agus Gaelscoileanna ina measc, ag iarraidh ceachtanna a mhúineadh gan aon téacsanna Gaolainne a bheith acu. I cannot for the life of me understand how it is more important to a Government that the National Roads Authority’s report and Government strategic plans should be produced in Irish when no one cares — I will not say what was in my mind — about schools trying to teach Irish without Irish textbooks.
Bhíos ag éisteacht leis an Aire inné, agus bhí sé ag tabhairt ceacht staire dúinn ar Dingle, An Daingean, Daingean Uí Chúis, cad as a dtáinig siad, agus cé chomh tábhachtach agus a bhí siad. That is fine. Bhí ceacht staire anseo, ach tá múinteoirí ag iarraidh stair a mhúineadh do rang 6 sna bunscoileanna gan téacs Gaolainne staire a bheith ar fáil acu. That is despite the fact that cúpla bliain ó shin tugadh all sorts of geallúintí dúinn that we would establish in west Cork áis nua a chuirfeadh ar fáil téacsanna, leabhair agus gach rud a bheadh de dhíth ar mhúinteoirí agus ag teastáil uathu agus ó scoileanna chun Gaolainn a chur chun cinn.
However, it is the old story. We will do the whole glossy bit and see the National Roads Authority, the National Treasury Management Agency and the Government strategic policies publish in Irish, while no one cares that, where we are teaching in Irish, we cannot get our hands on Irish textbooks. It must be 24 times more important that we spend the money going to develop those documents on producing textbooks for primary and post-primary schools.
That is what I want to see happen, namely, practical, sensible approaches. We must make Irish live, and it does not live on the other side of the National Roads Authority’s annual report. I am all for creating jobs making them available i nGaolainn, and the National Roads Authority being required to translate its report into Gaolainn. However, they can put that information up on the Internet. We need not publish it in hard copy, since it is enough if we have it available trí Ghaoluinn so that the translators and designers are kept in work without our wasting money producing stuff that will never be read.
The issue then was the central importance of developing Irish in education and the community. I am not straying one word from that issue. If we are to develop these ideas, we must have central people who will stand up as Gaolainn, trí Ghaolainn and le Gaolainn against zealots trying to destroy the language.
The people who are taking all of the wrong decisions on the Irish language will be enjoying their pensions before the people see the death of the language as a consequence. The decision makers will turn people against Irish while people in the Gaeltacht must put up with what is left. Everyone I know in the Gaeltacht and education who cares about the Irish language would support the Bill. It is positive because it is proactive.
One could ask a person from the west what is more important, making 100 different major public companies produce their annual reports through Irish or making Irish textbooks available.
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