A Chara,
Ón chomhdháil dheireanach a bhí againn, tá iarracht athnuaite déanta ag an Pháirtí Shóisialach le polasaí ar theangacha in Éirinn a fhorbairt. Ba mhaith linn polasaí a fhorbairt a bheidh in ann an Ghaeilge a chosaint agus a chothú, ag seachaint na gaistí seicteachais a chuir bac mór ar a forbairt sa Tuaisceart.
Tagann na gealltanais thíos leis an tsoiléiriú nach é ról ná rún an Pháirtí Shóisialaigh a insint do phobail teanga cad iad na riachtanais nó na héilimh ar cheart dóibh a bheith acu. Creideann muid, áfach, gur cheart go mbeadh na hacmhainní atá de dhíth lena gcuid riachtanais a bhaint amach curtha ar fáil dá n-eascródh a leithéid d’éilimh ó phobal áirithe teanga. Chuirfimis béim ar an ghá atá le tosaíocht a thabhairt don Ghaeilge agus don Ultais mar theangacha atá i mbaol, atá dúchasach sa tír seo
Cé nach bhfuil mórán teangacha nuathagtha i mbaol, creideann muid gur cuid de shaibhreas na daonnachta gach teanga, dúchasach nó a mhalairt, agus táimid ar son ardchaighdeán tacaíochta a chur ar fáil do theangacha nuathagtha. Tacaíonn muid fosta le polasaí speisialta chun aon teanga nuathagtha atá i mbaol a chosaint. Diúltaíonn muid don rogha bhréagach a chuirtear i láthair go minic go gcaithfidh muid deis a dheánamh idir cosaint teanga a mhaoiniú nó seirbhísí eile ar nós an NHS a mhaoiniú. Tá an saibhreas inár sochaí chun seirbhís sláinte lánmhaoinithe a chur ar fáil agus an t-uasmhaoiniú a sholáthar chun an Ghaeilge a leathnú agus a chosaint.
Faoi dheireadh, tá na tuairimí thíos go sonrach mar fhreagra ar d’iarratas. Tá ár dtuairimí ar theangacha in Éirinn i bhfad níos cuimsithí ná seo. Más mian libh tuilleadh eolais, ná bíodh drogall orbh teagmháil a dhéanamh linn.
- Glac le Polasaí agus Straitéis don Ghaeilge
Geallann an Páirtí Sóisialach;
- Tacú le glacadh le polasaithe agus straitéis teanga chuimsitheach Gaeilge agus Ultaise atá ag teacht le dualgais na Comhairle faoin Chairt Eorpach do Theangacha Réigiúnacha agus Mionlaigh agus faoin Acht Féiniúlacht agus Teanga (2022).
- tacú le bunús fóraim pobail leasmhara pobail teanga do phobail teanga ar mhian leo a leithéid d’fhóram, ag lorg ionchuir leanúnach ón phobal teanga sin, i bhforbairt agus i gcur i bhfeidhm aon pholasaí/straitéis teanga.
- tacú le bunú grúpa oibre na gcomhaltaí tofa chun monatóireacht a dhéanamh agus moltaí a thabhairt ar chur i bhfeidhm an pholasaí/straitéis.
2. Seirbhísí a chur ar fáil i nGaeilge
Geallann an Páirtí Sóisialach don pholasaí seo. Chomh maith leis an mhéid atá molta, tacaíonn muid le hUltais a chur leis mar an tríú teanga dhúchasach sa réigiún.
Táimid geallta do;
- “bearta réamhghníomhacha chun dul i ngleic le leatrom nó leithcheal i gcoinne” na Gaeilge, na hUltaise agus teangacha nuathagtha.
- ag cinntiú go gcuirtear gach caighdeán teanga i bhfeidhm, mar atá curtha ar an Chomhairle ag coimisinéir nua na Gaeilge agus na hUltaise/na Breataine.
3. Cuir áiseanna ar fáil chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn agus a chaomhnú
Geallann an Páirtí Sosialach do thacú le;
- áiseanna atá ar comhréir leis an leibhéal riachtanais chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn agus a chosaint.
- scéim deontais ar leith do ghrúpaí Gaeilge ar mian leo imeachtaí forbartha pobail a eagrú.
- scéim deontais ar leith do Sheachtain na Gaeilge chun tacú le grúpaí ar mian leo imeachtaí a eagrú mar chuid den fhéile.
- scéim scoláireachtaí ar leith do dhaoine, idir óg agus aosta, chun freastal ar chúrsaí Gaeltachta.
Chomh maith leis sin geallann muid feachtasaíocht a dhéanamh istigh agus taobh amuigh den Chomhairle ar son neart maoinithe atá ar mhaithe le mionteangacha go sonrach.
4. Méadaigh feiceálacht na Gaeilge
Cé go ngeallann an Páirtí Sosialach feiceálacht na Gaeilge a méadú, creideann muid go bhfuil cuir chuige cúramach de dhíth. In áiteanna éagsula, ní cosúil go mbeidh na prionsabail atá leagtha amach conspóideach ach i gceantair mheascaithe, ní cosúil gurb amhlaidh an cás. Seasann muid ar son aitheantas chearta na Gaeilge agus na hUltaise a úsáid i meicníocht an stáit, nó sa tsaol gnó, in ainmneacha pearsanta agus logainmneacha, nuair a thoilíonn an pobal, nuair a bhaintear toiliú amach trí fhíor-idirphlé pobail. Aithníonn muid, áfach, nach leor comharthaíocht Gaeilge amháin an teanga a cosaint, mar is léir sa Deisceart.
Níor cheart comharthaíocht a bhrú ar phobail in aghaidh a dtola ach níor cheart mionteanga a chur ar leataobh ach an oiread. Is féidir le fíor-rannpháirtíocht agus rialú pobail spás a chur ar fáil chun imní a chur in iúl, is féidir éisteacht leo agus chomhréiteach bainte amach.
Molann an Páirtí Sóisialach nós imeachta eile maidir le comharthaí sráide;
- a chuireann fíor-idirphlé daonlathach agus comhairliúchán mar chroíphrionsabail.
- a chruthaíonn spás le comhréitigh, ag tabhairt raon roghanna do phobail, lena n-áirítear comharthaí ilteangacha, comharthaí a chuimsíonn ainmneacha ceantair nó logainmneacha sa teanga a roghnaíonn an pobal agus réitigh chruthaitheacha eile a fhorbraíonn nó a mholann baill pobail.
- a chuimsíonn forálacha maidir le comharthaíocht sráide i nGaeilge agus teangacha eile a úsáidtear i bpobail.
Geallann an Páirtí Sosialach go méadófaí feiceálacht na Gaeilge sa cheantar na Comhairle. Ní mór bheith airdeallach, afách, i gcónaí ar an bhealach a fheictear saincheisteanna i gcomhthéacs na sochaí scoilte ina maireann muid.
Tá an an Páirtí Sosialach i gcoinne aon iarracht an seicteachas a úsáid in éadan teanga ar bith. Cé go mbaineann polaiteoirí Aontachtacha agus Náisiúnacha úsáid as teangacha go soiniciúil, tá fíor-imní ann a bhaineann le féiniúlacht agus cultúr. Le meas agus tuiscint níos airde a thógáil, laghdú dearcthaí seicteacha in éadan na Gaeilge san áireamh, tacaíonn muid le plé oscailte idir pobail. Is dóichí go n-éireoidh leis seo má thugann sé gnáthdhaoine le chéile. Nuair a chuireann muid gnáthdaoine i gcroílár na díospóireachta seo, creideann muid go dtugann sé deiseanna dúinn aghaidh a thabhairt ar fhíor-imní agus chun dul i ngleic le dearcthaí seicteacha i leith na Gaeilge sa phróiseas.
5. Feasacht a ardú agus dul i ngleic le claontacht
Geallann an Páirtí Sóisialach le;
- tacú le heagrú imeachtaí agus ceardlanna atá dírithe ar lamháltas, tuiscint agus fheasacht ar an Ghaeilge a mhéadú.
- tacú le feasacht a mhúscailt i measc fhoireann na Comhairle ar a ndualgais faoin Chairt Eorpach do Theangacha Réigiúnacha agus Mionlaigh agus faoin Acht um Fhéiniúlacht agus Teanga trí chlár oiliúna um ardú feasachta.
- tacú le feachtas feasachta cuimsitheach atá dírithe ar an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. Bainfear é seo amach trí úsáid a bhaint as na meáin shóisialta agus as fógraíocht ar ardáin agus fhoilseacháin ar líne agus seachtracha na Comhairle.
Socialist Party reply to Conradh na Gaeilge Irish Language Commitments #LE23
Below is a response to Conradh na Gaeilge’s request for commitments from the Socialist Party in support of the Irish Language.
A Chara,
Since our last conference, the Socialist Party has made a renewed effort to develop policy on languages in Ireland. We seek to develop a policy that is capable of protecting and fostering the Irish language while avoiding the pitfalls of sectarianism which has hindered its development in the North considerably.
While many newcomer languages are not endangered, we believe that indigenous or not, all languages are part of the wealth of humanity and we are in favour of offering a high level of support to newcomer languages. We also support special measures to protect any endangered newcomer language. We reject the false choice often presented that we can either fund language protection or fund other services like the NHS. The wealth exists in our society to provide both a fully funded health service and maximum funding to expand and protect the Irish Language.
The commitments below come with the clarification that it is not the Socialist Party’s role or intention to tell language groups what their needs or demands are or should be. However, we believe that language groups should be offered the resources required to meet their needs should such demands arise from a given language community. We emphasise the need to prioritise Irish and Ulster-Scots as endangered languages, indigenous to these shores.
Finally, the comments below are specifically in response to your request. Our views on languages in Ireland are significantly more comprehensive than this. If you would like further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
- Adopt an Irish Language Policy and Strategy
The Socialist Party commits to;
- Support the adoption of comprehensive Irish and Ulster-Scots language policies and strategy that is in keeping with the Council’s obligations under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages and the Identity and Language Act (2022).
- supporting language community stakeholder forums are developed for language communities which desire such a forum, seeking continuous input from that language community, in the development and implementation of any language policy/strategy.
- Supporting the establishment of an elected members working group to monitor and make recommendations on the implementation of the policy/strategy.
- Provide services in the Irish language
The Socialist Party commits to this policy. In addition to the proposed, we support the addition of Ulster-Scots as the third, indigenous language of the region.
We commit to;
- taking “progressive measures to tackle discrimination and intolerance as it pertains to” Irish, Ulster-Scots and newcomer languages.
- ensuring the implementation of all language standards, as placed on the Council by the incoming Irish language and Ulster-Scots/British commissioner.
- Resource the promotion and safeguarding of the Irish language
The Socialist Party commits to supporting;
- all necessary resources required to promote and safeguard the Irish language.
- the development of bespoke funding schemes to assist Irish and language groups aimed at organising community development activities and/or events.
- supporting the establishment of a bespoke Seachtain na Gaeilge funding scheme for groups who wish to organise events as part of the two week festival in March.
- supporting the development of a bespoke scholarship fund for young people and adults to attend the Gaeltacht.
Further we commit to campaigning within and without the Council for adequate funding which concretely benefits minority languages.
- Increase the visibility of the Irish language
While the Socialist Party commits to increasing the visibility of the Irish language we believe a careful approach is required. In some areas the principles outlined are unlikely to be contentious, however in mixed areas that is not necessarily the case. We stand for the recognition of rights of use of Irish and Ulster-Scots in the mechanisms of state and in business, in personal names and place names, where consent is reached through genuine community dialogue. However we would highlight that signage alone is not enough to preserve the language, as can be clearly seen in the South
Signage should not be imposed on any community against their wishes but neither can a minority language be excluded. Genuine community involvement and control can allow the space for concerns to be expressed, heard and meaningful compromise reached.
The Socialist Party proposes an alternative procedure with respect to street signage which;
- places genuine, democratic dialogue and consultation as core principles.
- creates space for compromise, giving communities a range of options, including multilingual signs, signs which include district or townland names in the communities chosen language(s) and other creative solutions that members of communities develop or propose.
- includes provisions for street signage in Irish and other languages used in communities.
The Socialist Party commits to ensuring greater visibility of Irish in the Council area. However due consideration must always be given to how issues are seen in the context of the divided society we live in.
The Socialist Party opposes any attempt to utilise sectarianism against any language. While Unionist and Nationalist politicians may use languages cynically, real concerns exist over identity and culture. In order to build greater respect and understanding, including reducing sectarian attitudes towards the Irish language we support open and genuine dialogue between communities. This is more likely to be successful if it brings ordinary people together. We believe placing ordinary people at the centre of this dialogue creates the opportunity to address genuinely held concerns and to constructively tackle sectarian attitudes towards the Irish language in the process.
- Raise awareness and tackle prejudice
The Socialist Party commits to;
- supporting the organisation of events and workshops aimed at increasing tolerance, understanding and awareness of Irish.
- supporting raising awareness amongst Council staff on their duties under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages and the Identity and Language Act through an awareness raising training programme.
- supporting a comprehensive awareness-raising campaign aimed at promoting the Irish language. This will be achieved through the use of social media and advertising on the Council’s online and external platforms and publications.
