Madam, - John Waters (Opinion, February 4th) makes an excellent case for the "total immersion" of pupils in Irish at gaelscoileanna, rejecting Fianna Fáil Minister Mary Hanafin's instruction via circular 0044/2007.
I would go further. Given the all-encompassing use of English for communication in modern capitalism, it would make sense, where minority languages are under threat, to ignore the normally correct adjunct of teaching different languages as early as possible. Second level is surely early enough to teach the language that dominates children's environment and their future adult development.
It is unfortunate, however, that Mr Waters had to conclude his well-argued case with juvenile abuse about "ideological egalitarianism" and "multiculturalism". As a committed socialist, and a supporter of the ideological concepts that Mr Waters derides, I cannot see how there is any conflict between them and the desire to see that all children in this State are fluent in its "first language". - Yours, etc,
KEITH CARGILL, Drinagh, Ennistymon, Co Clare.