Conradh lobbies TDs on Bord Snip language cuts

A number of Meath Dail deputies attended an information and lobbying day held in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, recently to give TDs and senators a chance to discuss Gaeltacht and Irish language issues following the Bord Snip Nua recommendations and the Government's draft 20-year strategy for the Irish language. Julian de Spáinn, general secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge, said there were representatives from every age group, from every Gaeltacht, and from constituencies across the country at the information day organised by Conradh na Gaeilge and Guth na Gaeltachta. "This campaign and information day shows that the Irish-speaking community both within and without the Gaeltacht, young and old alike, are united in their opposition to the recommendations of An Bord Snip Nua, and that there is an urgent need to let our elected representatives in the Dáil know our initial thoughts on the 20-year strategy for the Irish language, a draft of which is being discussed by the members of the Oireachtas," he added. The Irish language community will have a vital role to play in the strategy and Conradh na Gaeilge hopes that the community will be central to the implementation and promotion of the strategy across the board in the years to come. Éamonn Mac Niallais, spokesperson for Guth na Gaeltachta, said: "Guth na Gaeltachta welcomes the various statements made by both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, as well as the draft 20 year strategy that Minister " Cuív published recently, which indicate that the Government will continue supporting the Gaeltacht and the Irish language, as it has done to date, and that it will not be implementing certain proposals made by An Bord Snip Nua, but there are particular issues regarding the Gaeltacht that we must still clarify with our TDs. "It is very important that this proposed new structure of 'Údarás na Gaeilge', as proposed in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language, is clarified. It is critical for the future of the Gaeltacht and the sustainability of the language that this new authority continues to create employment in the Gaeltacht areas as Údarás na Gaeltachta has done to date, and it must be made clear that the Gaeltacht responsibilities of the organisation do not take a backseat under the new authority. "We need to also clarify other issues in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language such as the status of the body for Irish-medium education and schools in the Gaeltacht, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, for example." Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community working to promote the language. There are 200 branches of Conradh na Gaeilge and, since its foundation in 1893, members of the Conradh have been actively promoting Irish in every aspect of life in Ireland and especially its use in their own areas. Guth na Gaeltachta is a non-political, cross-party campaign concerned with the Irish language and the Gaeltacht. This community campaign was founded in the Gaeltacht to inform the public on the effect the proposed cuts for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht would have and to oppose such cuts.