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Tá sé fógartha ag na Daonlathaithe Sóisialta nach cuimsitheach ná cumhachtach go leor é Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, in ainneoin na 300 leasuithe a bhí molta ag lucht an fhreasúra nuige seo, agus céad leasú astu diúltaithe.

“Tá pobail áirithe na Gaeilge timpeall na tíre seo, idir muintir na Gaeltachta go cainteoirí agus teaghlaigh lán-Ghaeilge, ag brath ar reachtaíocht láidir agus uaillmhianach ón Rialtas seo,” arsa Gary Gannon TD, urlabhraí chúrsaí Oideachais agus Gaeltachta na nDaonlathaithe Sóisialta. “De réir a bhfuil feicthe againn go dtí seo, agus Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla ag dul tríd an Oireachtais faoi láthair, tá muid ag cailliúnt na deise chun cothrom na Féinne a thabhairt do lucht na Gaeilge faoi dheireadh in Éirinn.

“Caithfidh an Rialtas iarracht níos fearr a dhéanamh leis an mBille seo, ionas go mbeidh saol na Gaeilge níos folláine agus níos sofheicthe ar son gach éinne a bhfuil cónaí orthu anseo, idir cainteoirí dúchais agus foghlaimeoirí araon. Níor cheart go mbeadh muintir na Gaeltachta nó cainteoirí eile Gaeilge iompú ar an mBéarla sa 21ú Aois, ag druidim ar chéad bliain ó bhunaíodh an Stát.”

Dúirt Scott De Buitléir, eagraí Ghrúpa Gaeilge na nDaonlathaithe Sóisialta, nach bhfuil an Bille uaillmhianach go leor mar atá sé faoi láthair, in ainneoin na n-iarrachtaí dá bhfuil curtha ag lucht an Fhreasúra os comhair an Rialtais go dtí seo.

“Munar féidir leis an mBille seo bheith ina chosaint cuimsitheach do phobail áirithe na Gaeilge, sna Gaeltachtaí, sna cathracha, agus pé áit eile ina mbeadh siad in Éirinn, tá teipthe air. Tá seans ag Rialtas na hÉireann an fód a sheasamh agus reachtaíocht teanga níos láidre a chur i bhfeidhm, ach de réir an méid atá feicthe againn, is cosúil go mbeidh díomá ar phobal na teanga arís.

“Tá muidne sna Daonlathaithe Sóisialta tiománta do chosaint agus d’fhorbairt na Gaeilge mar theanga bheo phobail ar son an chéad ghlúin eile”, arsa an Buitléarach, “ach is cosúil nach bhfuil an léargas céanna sin ag páirtithe an rialtais seo.”

1/2/2021

No Merit in Official Languages Bill If It Fails to Protect Irish Language Communities

The Social Democrats have criticised the Official Languages Bill for not being either comprehensive or powerful enough, despite some 300 proposed amendments being submitted, 100 of them already voted down.

“The various Irish language communities around the country, from Gaeltacht communities to Irish-speaking families, are looking for strong and ambitious legislation from this current Government,” said Gary Gannon TD, Social Democrats’ spokesperson for Education and Gaeltacht Affairs. “Going by what we’ve seen so far, as the Official Languages Bill is progressing through the Oireachtas, we are losing grasp of that opportunity to give due respect to the Irish language community in the State.

“This Government must make a better effort with this Bill while they still can so that the Irish language can enjoy a healthier and more visible future for all living here, whether based in the Gaeltacht or in our cities, from native speakers to new learners. It is shameful for Gaeltacht residents or other Irish speakers to be forced to use English in the 21st Century, almost a century from the foundation of this State.”

Scott De Buitléir, organiser of the Social Democrats’ Irish Language Group, added that the Bill is not currently ambitious enough in its protections of the Irish Language or its speakers, despite the efforts of Opposition parties to propose improvements to the Government.

He said:

“If this Bill cannot provide comprehensive legislative protections for the Irish language community, whether in the Gaeltacht, our cities, or anywhere else in this country, then it will have failed. This Government has an opportunity to properly take a stand to provide strong language rights, but going by what we have seen thus far, our Irish language community is bound to be disappointed once again.

“We in the Social Democrats are committed to protecting and nurturing Irish as a vibrant living language for generations to come”, De Buitléir said, “but one wonders whether that commitment is as strong with this government’s respective parties.”

1/2/2021

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