Conradh slams Irish community’s exclusion

Irish language organisation Conradh na Gaeilge has hit out at the Government’s failure to properly consult the Gaeltacht community in the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language, 2010-2030.

Following a meeting of members of the Irish language community at the Menlo Park Hotel on Friday last, the organisation has called for the establishment of a high-level structure recognising the language community as stakeholders in the implementation of the Government’s 20-Year Strategy.

President of Conradh na Gaeilge, Mr Donnchadh Ó hAodha, said that the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht had given the Irish-speaking community no role or representation within the current structure that makes decisions with regard to the strategy. 

“There is a colossal difference between being consulted with and having concrete input into decisions being made,” said Mr Ó hAodha. “It is not enough to consult with the Irish-language and Gaeltacht community if that community doesn’t have representation on the board that makes the decisions regarding the Strategy.” 

Conradh na Gaeilge claims that stakeholders in other industries and cultural sectors are represented at policy-making tables when important decisions are being taken and the group is demanding that the same recognition and role be afforded the Irish-speaking community. 

The organisation is seeking the establishment of a Planning Unit, involving representatives from both the authorities and the community, which would seek to pre-empt any problems with language-based decisions by securing agreement on important issues effecting the community. 

Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge said that attacks on Irish language institutions such as the merging of the offices of An Coimisinír Teanga and the Ombudsman, would not have occurred had there been proper consultation with the community. 

“The 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language is failing to have any real impact on the public as the Irish-language and Gaeltacht community have no ownership or control over its implementation,” said Mr de Spáinn.

“The people don’t have a place at the table where the decisions on this language legislation are being made and as a result, the Government’s decisions lack the grassroots’ expertise, drive and experience to guide the authorities in the right direction to further and foster the Irish language,” he added.