Irish speakers sent to EU jobs while such roles unfilled in public service, Dáil told

The Government has boasted it has secured more jobs in the EU for fluent Irish speakers when it has failed to fill Irish-language posts in the public service, a leading Independent TD has said.

Galway West TD Catherine Connolly said she could not help but notice the irony in claims made in the House by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin and Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Jack Chambers that 138 people with proficiency in Irish were now working in the European institutions.

Speaking in Irish, Ms Connolly said: “You have said it without a hint of irony. It is ironic that you are not talking about opportunities here in Ireland (for Irish speakers) but the opposite, about the problems.

“You can send people who are fluent in Irish to fill jobs in Europe but you but you can’t get them here to fill vacancies in the public service.”

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The lack of Irish-language services (especially in health and social services) for people living in Gaeltacht areas has been a recurring issue for Irish language communities and organisations.

Ms Connolly was one of 17 TDs who participated in the Dáil debate on the Irish language held for Seachtain na Gaeilge. She said it was deeply disappointing there never had been a proper debate about the Irish language in the Dáil during her time there. Rather it happened within the framework of statements on the language read out by Ministers. There were no speakers from either Fine Gael or the Social Democrats.

Gaeltacht jobs

In a statement opening the session, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said despite the pandemic, 427 new jobs had been created in Gaeltacht companies in 2020. He accepted there had been a 6 per cent reduction in employment, mainly in the tourism sector in Irish speaking areas.

The Government, he said, had given additional funding to Udarás na Gaeltachta. He said progress had been made on promoting Irish in the North; that 22 language planning officers were now employed throughout the State, that a new policy requiring 20 per cent of new entrants to the public service would begin from 2030. He also referred to employment opportunities in the EU.

A number of Sinn Féin TDs criticised shortfalls in Government Irish-language policy. Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central) highlighted the lack of of Irish language services for Gaeltacht people.

He also said it was disgraceful that the Government’s new plan and guidelines on Covid-19 have yet to be translated into Irish, a week after their launch.

Both Mairéad Farrell (Galway West) and Pearse Doherty (Donegal) highlighted the dearth on infrastructure and employment in Gaeltacht areas, separately saying it was worse in these regions than elsewhere.

Ms Martin, in her statement, praised the way native speakers in the Gaeltacht were keeping the language alive. She said the Government was working towards setting up a consultative committee and national plan to deliver services through Irish.

“It is important there are State services in Irish available in Gaeltacht. We will address this issue in an incremental and uniform way, backed by research… If we are to do it properly it will take time and won’t be done overnight.”

Mr Chambers honed in on technology and said Irish-language programmes and technology aimed at children and teenagers. He also said he was frustrated at the slow pace of the Official Languages Bill, saying only a third of the amendments have been deal with, despite seven committee meetings having been held.

Bríd Smith of People Before Profit criticised the fact that Raidió Rí Rá was not available on FM.

Fianna Fáil TD Pádraig O’Sullivan called for more Irish-language naoinraí (children’s playgroups). Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said 23 per cent of people said they would like gaelscoileanna, yet they comprised only 5 per cent of schools.

The Green Party TD Marc O Cathasaigh argued for translation services in the Oireachtas be similar to those in the EU parliament, which would allow politicians go about their business bilingually.

Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary argued for direct elections to be held for the board of Udarás na Gaeltachta, which would make the agency more accountable and democratic.

Marks for Irish

There are probably more competent Irish speakers in this Dáil than there have been for some time, partly because of the increase in Sinn Féin TDs. The one obvious omission on Wednesday was that no Fine Gael TDs nor Social Democrats TD participated in the session. The only contribution from the Labour Party was made in English. What was the standard of Irish like in the Dáil session for Seachtain na Gaeilge?

Micheál Martin (FF): Disappointingly read from an uninspired script and left the chamber afterwards. Has relatively good Irish and can hold his own in a live interview but his level of proficiency appears to have disimproved in recent years.

Mary Lou McDonald (SF): Has worked hard at her Irish but it is still basic. Needs to rely on a script.

Catherine Martin (GP): The senior Minister has relatively good Irish and prepares assiduously. Might struggle in a live interview.

Jack Chambers (FF): The junior Minister, a little like his predecessor Joe McHugh, has worked hard on his Irish and improvement is obvious. Not up to long live interview yet.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF) : Fluent.

Pearse Doherty (SF): Fluent. Mellifluous.

Mairéad Farrell (SF): Fluent.

Eamon Ó Cuív (FF): Fluent.

Aindreas O Muineacháin (FF): Fluent

Duncan Campbell (LP): No Irish. Spoke in English on issue affecting students teachers on online Hibernia College.

Dara Calleary (FF): His Irish has improved. Odd stumble. Confident at speaking off the cuff and in live interviews these days.

Bríd Smith (BPB): Has put in huge effort to become a competent Irish speaker in past few years.

Peadar Tóibín (Aontú): Fluent

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (GP): Fluent

Mattie McGrath (Ind): Unique mash-up of Irish and English in his contribution. Made the effort.

Carol Nolan (Ind): Not fluent but competent.

Catherine Connolly (Ind): Fluent