Madam, - I wish to comment on Pól Ó Muirí's article in your edition of December 20th, which purported to discuss the Government's recent statement on the Irish language but which dealt inordinately and inaccurately with Foras na Gaeilge, the statutory body which promotes Irish on an all-island basis.
Foras na Gaeilge is committed to the promotion of the Irish language. It is also committed to ensuring the best possible value for public money in pursuance of this goal. These commitments are not mutually exclusive; in fact, the opportunities afforded by Foras na Gaeilge's all-island remit are obvious to almost all - except your Irish language editor. He describes the establishment of Foras na Gaeilge as a "sop" to one political party, against which, it appears, he has an animus which taints his view of our organisation.
In fact the Belfast Agreement was an all-party agreement which had cross-community support. Moreover, from our experience, there is an appreciation across the political spectrum, North and South, of the importance of all-island co-operation through the implementation (or "cross-border") bodies and of the opportunities which such co-operation presents.
The importance of the bodies was recognised by the Taoiseach at a conference "The North/South Bodies five years on", held in UCD in May 2005, when he said: "The North-South bodies have worked quietly but efficiently for the good of all, North and South."
Mr Ó Muirí used his article to rehearse yet again the fact that Foras na Gaeilge has not published annual accounts regularly. He is very well aware that this is due to the complexity involved in the compilation of the reports of The North-South Language Body (of which Foras na Gaeilge is part); however, our sponsor Departments, North and South (respectively Culture, Arts and Leisure; and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs) are in receipt of the relevant material to date from Foras na Gaeilge.
Mr Ó Muirí also knows that the relevant authorities have ratified all the other usual documents which regulate a body such as ours or we would not continue to have the full support of both the Irish and United Kingdom governments.
As for his claim that Foras na Gaeilge "has still not provided a corporate strategy of its own", he will find it (Corporate Plan 2005-2007) - in both Irish and English - in the "publications" section of our website: www.gaeilge.ie.
He claims that Foras na Gaeilge "enjoys little support among the State's voluntary language groups" and says that the reason for whatever unspecified level of discontent there is among groups funded by Foras na Gaeilge, arises from "rows over recruitment and funding". Such items are a normal part of the discussions between the funded and the funding.
He describes the voluntary language organisations as being "strangled by the dead hand of Foras na Gaeilge". The most recent funding announcement from Foras na Gaeilge (December 11th) was for more than €8 million for the main Irish language and educational organisations - some strangulation! That aspects of co-ordination and oversight might not be welcomed by all groups in receipt of funding is hardly newsworthy. However, the fact that the article concentrated on this rather than on the substance of the Government's announcement displays a lack of perspective on the part of your Irish Language Editor.
In choosing to speak on behalf of some unspecified and disaffected rump of the voluntary Irish-language sector, the author ignored both the vast majority of Irish speakers and those others who wish the language well (and their money spent wisely on the language).
On behalf of this large constituency, Foras na Gaeilge warmly and wholeheartedly welcomes the Government's commitment to the language in its recent statement and congratulates Minister Ó Cuív for his continued efforts. - Yours, etc,
FERDIE MAC AN FHAILIGH, Príomhfheidhmeannach, Foras na Gaeilge, Cearnóg Mhuirfean, Baile Átha Cliath 2.