A chara, – Your report (Home News, October 31st) on the Government decision to abolish the extra 6 per cent awarded to those completing civil service entrance exams in Irish doesn't appear to have provoked much comment. The proposal, it seems, is to replace the current practice with some sort of a panel system reserved for candidates with Irish, and 6 per cent is again the figure mooted. Worryingly, however, we're told the details of the new system have still to be worked out.
As someone who is lucky enough to have both official languages of the State, I think it’s only right that citizens should be able to conduct their business with the civil service in the official language of their choice. I would be very happy with any new system which genuinely ensured that 6 per cent of civil servants were fully able and willing to provide a service in Irish. In the absence of concrete details on the new system, however, I can’t feel any assurance that this will be the case. – Is mise,
JOHN GLENNON,
Bannagroe,
Hollywood, Co Wicklow.