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Bille Gaeltachta Lochtach Roptha Tríd Theach Laighean

20/07/12

(English version follows.)

Tá imní léirithe ag éirígí maidir le cinneadh rialtas Átha Cliath an Bille Gaeltachta a bhrú isteach. Ta an bille cáinte go leathan ag eagraíochtaí Gaeilge, ag saineolaithe teanga agus ag grúpaí pobail lonnaithe sa Ghaeltacht.

Tá dhá phríomhréimse athraithe i mBille Gaeltacht 2012, an chéad cheann a tugadh isteach ó bhí 1956 ann: athstruchtúrú theorainneacha na Gaeltachta, agus athchóiriú an phróisis trína thoghann muintir na Gaeltachta ionadaithe do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Féachtar ar athstruchtúrú theorainneacha na Gaeltachta mar bheart dearfach agus riachtanach le cinntiú go bhfuil tosaíocht ó thaobh phleanáil teanga de tugtha do cheantair ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge fós á labhairt ag tromlach an phobail. Athróidh an Bille Gaeltachta nua teorainneacha tíreolaíocha na Gaeltachta agus tabharfaidh isteach teorainneacha nua bunaithe ar an scéal teangeolaíoch in achan cheantar, a thabharfar Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta orthu. Tabharfar aitheantas chomh maith do Bhailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta, bailte cóngaracha a sholáthraíonn seirbhísí don Ghaeltacht, agus do Líonraí Gaeilge taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht.

Molann an Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht go n-aithneofaí trí chatagóir éagsúla – A, B agus C, catagóir A an limistéar Gaeltachta is láidre – mar chuid de shainiú limistéir phleanála teanga, ach theip ar an Bhille Gaeltachta a ritheadh go deifreach tríd Theach Laighean inné [19 Iúil] rangú ar bith a shainiú, rud a bheas tionchar diúltach aige ar thosaíochtú chosaint na gceantar Gaeltachta is láidre. Agus torthaí údair an Staidéir Chuimsithigh Theangeolaígh ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ag taipseáint nach mairfidh an Ghaeltacht ach 15 go 20 bliain eile mar gheall ar an aistriú tapaidh teanga atá ag tarlú, beidh teip an bhille catagóirí a thabhairt do limistéir Ghaeltachta ina bac ar iarrachtaí leis an aistriú teanga a stopadh.

Scriosann an Bille Gaeltachta ceart phobail na Gaeltachta an bord ionadaithe a chuimsíonn Údarás na Gaeltachta a thoghadh. Sular ritheadh an bille seo, bhí fiche ball ag Údarás na Gaeltachta, seachtar déag acu tofa ag muintir na Gaeltachta. D’ainmnigh Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta na Sé Chondae Fichead an triúr eile. Le reachtú an bhille seo laghdófar líon na n-ionadaithe ar bhord an Údaráis ó scór duine go dáréag, seachtar acu ainmnithe ag an Aire agus cúigear ainmnithe ag na comhairlí condae a chlúdaíonn na limistéir Ghaeltachta.

Tá ionchur mhuintir na Gaeltachta i ról Údarás na Gaeltachta sa Ghaeltacht anois faoi ionsaí ag Dinny McGinley agus ní mór féachaint air mar choir in éadan na bpobal seo. Is beart náireach agus gráiniúil é an beart deireadh a chur le toghcháin don Údarás, in iarracht chun smacht a chur ar fheidhm an Údaráis mar fhoras forbartha pobalbhunaithe. Ní aon amhras go mothóidh pobail Ghaeltachta fágtha amach as a phróiseas déanta cinnithe. Ní bheidh bord Údarás na Gaeltachta ionadaíoch ar mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus a ionadaithe roghnaithe ag an Aire Gaeltachta.

Cé go raibh breis ag 150 leasú molta ag eagraíochtaí teanga le plé ag an fhreasúra, chun reachtaíocht láidir a chinntiú don Ghaeltacht, rinne Dinny McGinley an cinneadh neamhaird a dhéanamh de gach uile cheann acu agus bhrúigh sé an Bille Gaeltachta tríd Theach Laighean roimh shos an tsamhraidh gan díospóireacht cheart. Agus faillí déanta aige ar mholtaí ó shaineolaithe teanga, ghrúpaí pobail agus eagraíochtaí teanga, léirigh McGinley don mhórphobal Gaeilge nach féidir aird a thabhairt ar an rún s’aige an Ghaeilge a choiméad agus a athbheochan.

Tá éirígí ag éileamh go gchuirfear na moltaí sa Staidéar Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht i gcrích go hiomlán, agus go gcuirfear na leasuithe molta ag eagraíochtaí Gaeilge agus saineolaithe teanga san áireamh sa Bhille Gaeltachta 2012.

Flawed Gaeltacht Bill Rushed Through Leinster House

éirígí has expressed its concern regarding the Dublin government’s decision to push through the Gaeltacht Bill which has been broadly criticised by Irish language organisations, language experts and community groups based in the Gaeltachtaí.

The 2012 Gaeltacht Bill, which is the first to be introduced since 1956, comprises two main areas for change: the restructuring of the Gaeltacht boundaries, and the alteration of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s process of electing representatives to the Údarás’ board by the Gaeltacht community.

The restructuring of the Gaeltacht boundaries has been seen as a positive move and one which is regarded as necessary to ensure areas where Irish is still spoken by the majority of those living in the community are prioritised in terms of language planning. The new Gaeltacht Bill will alter the geographical Gaeltacht boundaries and introduce new boundaries based on the linguistic situation in each area and be named Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. Gaeltacht Service Towns, which are nearby towns that provide services to Gaeltacht areas, and Irish Language Networks outside of the Gaeltacht will also be given recognition.

The Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht recommends that three distinctive categories – A, B and C, category A being the strongest Gaeltacht area – be recognised as part of defining language planning areas yet the Gaeltacht Bill which was hurriedly passed through Leinster House yesterday [July 19] fails to define any type of categorisation which will no doubt negatively impact on the prioritisation of protecting stronger Gaeltacht areas. In light of findings made by the authors of the Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht that indicated that the Gaeltacht will only survive between another 15 and 20 years due to the rapid language shift taking place, the failure of the bill to assign categories to Gaeltacht areas can only hinder efforts being made to stop the language shift which is taking place.

The Gaeltacht Bill also removes the right of Gaeltacht communities to elect the board of representatives which comprises Údarás na Gaeltachta. Prior to this bill being passed, Údarás na Gaeltachta had twenty members, seventeen of those who were elected by the Gaeltacht people. The other three members were appointed by the 26 county state’s Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. With the passing of this bill the number of representatives on the board of the Údarás will be reduced from twenty members to twelve, seven of whom will be appointed by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and five of whom will be nominated by five county councils that are located within Gaeltacht areas.

The input of the Gaeltacht people into Údarás na Gaeltachta’s role within the Gaeltacht community has now come under attack from Dinny McGinley and must be viewed as an offence against these communities. The move to end elections to the Údarás can only be described as a detestable and shameful move in an attempt to dominate the Authority’s function as a community based development body and will no doubt lead to Gaeltacht communities feeling left outside of its decision-making process. The board of Údarás na Gaeltachta will undoubtedly now cease to be representative of the Gaeltacht community with its appointees now being hand-picked by the Minister for the Gaeltacht.

Despite the fact that over 150 amendments had been proposed by language organisations for opposition parties to debate in an attempt to ensure strong legislation for the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley made the decision to ignore every last amendment and pushed the Gaeltacht Bill through Leinster House before the summer break without proper debate. By choosing to disregard proposals from language experts, community groups and language organisations, McGinley has proven to the wider Irish language community that his intent on maintaining and reviving the Irish language cannot be taken seriously.

éirígí are calling for the full implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Comprehensive Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht and for the amendments proposed by Irish language organisations and language experts to be included in the Gaeltacht Bill 2012.