New Language Commissioner Appointed - Supporters of the Irish Language Take To The Streets Of Dublin

It was announced this week that the new Irish Language Commissioner has been named to replace the outgoing Seán Ó Cuirreáin.  The new Commissioner, Rónán Ó Domhnaill, is a former political correspondent for Irish Television TG4 and Nuacht RTE.  The website Gaelport gives the following description of the new Commissioner: “ Mr. Rónán Ó Domhnaill, aged 38, is a native Irish speaker from An Cheathru Rua, Connemara, and is a political correspondent with Irish-language broadcast services TG4 and Nuacht RTE. “

Mr Ó Cuirreáin announced his resignation in December 2013 in dramatic testimony before the Irish Parliament's Joint Committee on Public Oversight and Petitions. During his final appearance before Parliament earlier this month, the Commissioner stated his decision to resign was in protest over the failure of the current government to support the Irish tongue as described in the Transceltic Feature article (The Fight to Save the Irish language).

The Galway Advertiser reported on the reaction of the Celtic League (Conradh na Gaeilge) to the daunting challenges faced by the new language Commissioner:  “According to the Conradh na Gaeilge, there are several outstanding problems which have been outlined by the current Language Commissioner which have been repeatedly ignored by the Government.  These include the marginalisation of the Irish language in the public administration system; the inadequate implementation of statutory language schemes by public bodies; the void left in the wake of the review of the Official Languages Act; the Government’s decision to merge the Office of  An Coimisinéir Teanga (The Language Commissioner) with the Office of Ombudsman; insufficient resources essential to the office to duly and fully fulfil its statutory obligations; the lack of staff proficient in Irish in the civil service; and the potential faults of the new system that is to take the place of the bonus marking Leaving Certificate scheme.”

Meanwhile the website Thejournal.ie are reporting that over one thousand protestors are expected to assemble tomorrow, 15 February, at Dublin’s Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square at 2 PM to protest the Irish Governments failure to protect the Irish language.  Below is an excerpt from the February 1st Transceltic news item (Irish Language Supporters Take To the Streets of Dublin), which describes the events leading up to tomorrow’s demonstration: 

" The upcoming language rights’ campaign will see Irish speakers take to the streets of Dublin on Saturday 15 February, to celebrate the language and to demand equality for Irish speakers. Providing services in Irish for those who wish to avail of their language rights does not mean that those who choose to use English in Ireland will be marginalised in any way; it is not a case of “Them” versus “Us”. The vast majority of the country supports the Irish language, and three out of ten people on the island of Ireland can speak some Irish.  As a nation, we need to ensure that our State deals with anyone choosing to use Irish with the public service in the same fair and efficient manner as they would be if they used English. Equality for one, equality for all. Ní neart go cur le chéile. "

Julian de Spáinn is Ard-Rúnaí / General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge since 2007 

http://www.gaelport.com/default.aspx?treeid=37&NewsItemID=10889

http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/66960/new-coimisinir-teanga-welc...

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/treibh/journalist-%C3%B3-domhnaill-nam...

http://www.thejournal.ie/gaeltacht-march-dublin-1309206-Feb2014/