Considering the information in the original text, let’s rewrite it: “Glossary: Council of Europe – Council of Europe; guilt – shame; language amenities – language facilities; extremely notable – very significant; admiration – respect/esteem; formal gatherings – official meetings; culpability – blame; necessities – needs.
For anyone seeking an English or French script at the Council of Europe, it can be readily available within ten minutes. In stark contrast, this expediency doesn’t extend to the Irish language, a fact that has been bringing disgrace upon the country for years.”
The Minister of State, Thomas Byrne, who also held the position of Minister of State for the Gaeltacht earlier this year, made these comments whilst participating in a dialogue on the Government’s objectives for the Irish language, discussing Europe’s language amenities.
During his two year tenure (2020-2022) as the Minister of State for European Affairs, Byrne clearly appreciated, and was influenced by, the great esteem Ireland’s language was afforded in the European Union.
“The Irish language is not only acknowledged, but it is also revered. If a legal document is required in Irish, it is presented on par with the Slovak, English and French languages,” Byrne stated.
However, despite these significant strides in Europe, some lingual deficits persist domestically.
“There are myriad challenges awaiting us, we are aware of that,” added Byrne.
“In terms of using the Irish language at Brussels’ formal gatherings, it is sometimes less complex than it is in Ireland.”
Another issue brought up by Minister Byrne pertains to the equal status of English and French within the Council of Europe, and the ease of procuring documents in either language – a facility that remains lacking in Ireland.
“Obtaining an Irish script in under two hours is not achievable, often entailing several days of waiting,” he revealed.
“The status quo needs to and is undergoing change. The current populace should not be burdened with guilt, as this has been an ongoing issue for years.”
For a considerable length of time, the state system has been accused of neglecting the Irish language community and individual citizens who wish to exercise their rights in the primary official language. Byrne, who studied at a Gaelscoil himself, expresses a comprehension of the requirements.
“There is a pressing need for the Government and local authorities to make languages more accessible,” he proposed.
“He emphasised the importance of enabling local and business service usage by offering supportive options and financing relevant organisations involved,” says the spokesperson. Everyone, whether residing within or beyond the Gaeltacht, bears an obligation to uphold the integrity of the language.
In his perception, our approach towards the language is in question within Ireland. Communicating with pupils during school visits, he points out the ease with which multilingualism is embraced in places such as Luxembourg or Malta. In these nations, language diversity poses no hurdles, unlike our situation in Ireland.
He turns to Spain as an example, where numerous minority languages coexist and thrive. Multiple languages are spoken in Switzerland and northern Italy, yet they encounter no issues. What deters us from achieving successful multilingualism here in Ireland, he ponders.
He comments, “People’s inclination to shift their view is promising, however, propelling them in the right direction requires our endeavour.”
Questioned about the ability for change within the state system, Minister Byrne replied, “The eagerness might exist, yet they seem incapable at present. They have the desire, and are aware a law is impending.”
Following the 2021 amendments to the Official Languages Act, commitments and provisions remain pending. Among these is the requirement to create a National Irish Language Public Service Plan with the objective of ensuring that 20 per cent of new civil service recruits are proficient in Irish by 2030.
The government is to receive this plan within the next three months, after which it will be published. Minister Byrne decided to examine and ponder over this report during the summer before the government discusses it in the autumn.
Under the plan, a structured method for developing and delivering public services in Irish was presented. An imminent language awareness campaign will shed light on the job prospects within the civil service for Irish speakers.
“We’ll launch a campaign focused on this in September, but there’s still extensive groundwork required,” the Minister added. “We have to maintain a certain level of precision–and it seems there’s a great deal of work left to ensure such a proficiency permeates throughout the state system.”
“It’s inevitable,” he declared.
Gaeltacht
Based on the Census of 2022, nearly 20,000 inhabitants in the Gaeltacht were found not to use the Irish language daily. Could he view this as a linguistic emergency?
“Clearly, there is an emergency. Nonetheless, residents have the freedom to choose the language of their preference and neither I nor the Government can impose on their choices,” affirmed the Minister.
The Department’s officials had recent interaction with the campaigning group Bánú to address the ongoing issue of housing in the Gaeltacht, a matter that has been under the spotlight for a considerable time. The continuation of dialogues with them is anticipated in the near future.
With the execution of the Údarás Bill, Minister Byrne hopes to extend the role of Údarás na Gaeltachta in dealing with this crisis.
“My desire is for Údarás na Gaeltachta to take up a larger role in the housing aspect,” he voiced.
“There are steps I wish to take in the legislation pertaining to Údarás na Gaeltachta’s objectives. Discussions with legal advisors are ongoing. Although there is urgency, I am reluctant to push for the Bill’s enactment until a consultation involving my Department, the Department of Housing and the Authority has taken place regarding the matter.”
“I acknowledge the pressing nature of the matter. However, diligent execution is crucial.”
“The immediate priority is bringing this legislation to the Dáil before the summer break. We are vigorously working towards this.”
Does he remain optimistic about the longevity of the language?
“I foresee no issues with the survival of the Irish language. The language is still in constant use, advancements are made by the State, support comes from the European Union, and its importance is recognised nationally.”
“The attitude towards it is evolving. Previously, attending Gaelscoileanna was met with ridicule, a trend which no longer persists. However, I must note that the Gaeltacht is currently grappling with disagreements and its future isn’t as solidified as I would prefer.”
“I am confident in the determination of those aspiring to conserve the Gaeltacht, but we have a mission to accomplish, which involves facing the challenges in the Gaeltacht head-on, intending to administer our support where it’s necessitated.”
“He expressed his commitment, expressing that he would endeavour to do his utmost in the forthcoming year,” is what he conveyed.