Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1986 > Committee on the Irish Language > Annual Report No. 01 - Joint Committee on the Irish Language 1985/86

Report

1. Introduction

1.1.1 The following duty is laid on the Joint Committee on the Irish Language in accordance with Paragraph 2 of the Orders of Reference, viz:

“(that it will) Report to the Houses of the Oireachtas — on item (a) (the use of Irish in the Houses of the Oireachtas) as soon as practicable and thereafter at least once a year on aspects of items (a) and (b) (the question of Irish in general)”.

The Joint Committee adopted the first report i.e.

“First Report on the extension of the use of Irish in the proceedings of the Dáil and Seanad and in the environs of both Houses”

on 17 July 1985 and it is timely, therefore, to report on the Joint Committee’s affairs since then.

1.2.1 This is the first time for an Oireachtas Joint Committee to deal specifically with the question of the Irish language and needless to say plenty of interest has been shown by the public in its activities. The members of the Joint Committee feel that as much information as possible should be made available regarding the Joint Committee’s progress in order that individuals and various organisations may be encouraged to continue in their efforts for the benefit of the Irish language.

1.3.1 Because the Joint Committee desired to concentrate on the question of the Irish language in the Houses of the Oireachtas without delay it will be noted from this report that most of the time was devoted to the first term of reference viz:

“the extension of the use of Irish in the proceedings of the Dáil and Seanad and in the environs of both Houses”.

Other issues were addressed also, of course, in the period under review here and these will be described below.

1.4.1 Although the first report was adopted on 17 July 1985 the Joint Committee intends to report here on the period 29 May 1985 — when the first meeting was held, to the end of June 1986, i.e. just over one year. On this basis the Joint Committee is hopeful that it will be in a position to provide an annual report each year in the month of July outlining the position for the twelve months to the end of June.

1.5.1 The purpose of this report is to give an account of the following items, viz:

— the activities of the Joint Committee from 29 May 1985 to 30 June 1986;

— the results achieved in that period;

— work in hand at the end of the period;

— difficulties which put in on the work of the Joint Committee;

— policy for the next year.

2. The Irish Language in the Houses of the Oireachtas

2.1.1 In the period under review twenty four meetings of the Joint Committee were held and most of the time at those meetings was devoted to the question of the Irish language in the Houses of the Oireachtas. In this chapter of the report an account will be given of the activities, etc. related to that question.

2.2.1 From their own experience the members of the Joint Committee understood that there was a need for positive action regarding the promotion of the Irish language in the Houses. Accordingly, it was decided on 26 June 1985 that it would be worthwhile:

(a) that a report be prepared without delay regarding various ways through which the use of more spoken Irish could be promoted within the Houses and a more Gaelic atmosphere promoted therein, generally; and

(b) that letters seeking views/information be issued to individuals and various agencies — including, inter alia, the Members of both Houses, the Whips of the Parliamentary Parties and the authorities in certain overseas Parliaments where more than one language was used.

At that meeting also, the fundamental principle was established that it would be preferable to make substantial progress on a phased basis rather than be trying to achieve too much too quickly.

2.2.2 Letters were issued to the Whips of the Parliamentary Parties and to the Members of both Houses on 10 July 1985. A copy of the letter issued to Members of the Houses is appended as Appendix A.

2.3.1 The first report was adopted at the meeting held on 17 July 1985 and a number of basic, attainable recommendations were made therein regarding:

(a) the speaking of Irish; and

(b) a greater prominence for Irish

in the Houses of the Oireachtas. An account was given also of the proposals which the Joint Committee had for the future at that point.

2.3.2 In that report it was recommended that badges be provided in Irish for visitors, etc., to the Houses and the Joint Committee is pleased that these were provided in the period under review. It was also recommended in it that signs in Irish be hung throughout the Houses. Again, the Joint Committee is pleased to relate that well-finished bi-lingual signs have now been provided.

2.4.1 Arising from a circular which the Chairman distributed to authorities in certain Parliaments on 11 July 1985, opinions and suggestions were received from the United Kingdom, from Canada, from Switzerland and from the European Parliament. The Joint Committee was invited to send a delegation to the European Parliament to examine the facilities there for translation and reporting in all the work of the Parliament and to consult with the experts who were dealing with these questions. A delegation visited the Parliament between 21 and 23 October 1985 and collected a lot of useful information.

2.5.1 It was decided at the meeting held on 25 September 1985 to place bi-lingual advertisements in the national newspapers seeking views and suggestions from the public regarding the Orders of Reference. Although an emphasis was placed on the second term of reference in those advertisements, i.e. on the Irish language in general, plenty of worthwhile suggestions were received also in connection with the first one. There will be more about this below. A copy of the advertisement is appended as Appendix B.

2.6.1 At the meeting held on 20 November 1985 it was arranged to ask An Ceann Comhairle to provide a suitable room and suitable taperecorders to enable Members of both Houses to practice the Irish language using instructional tapes.

2.6.2 Arising out of the delay in providing the facilities mentioned in the preceding paragraph it was decided on 17 April 1986 to seek Room 114 formally. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges discussed this entire question on 28 May 1986 and it was agreed to provide Room 114 for the Joint Committee when it would not be in use for meetings of Oireachtas Committees. Arrangements were in hand at the end of the period under review regarding the fitting out of the room for use as a language practice room.

2.6.3 In the opinion of the Joint Committee this is a very important step forward because Members of both Houses will have an opportunity to practice their Irish regularly and at a level which will suit them i.e. facilities for lower, medium and higher levels will be available. The Joint Committee would like this to be only the beginning and that the system could be expanded subsequently.

2.7.1 Because of the wide range of work to be undertaken by the Joint Committee in connection with the second term of reference in particular, the members felt for some time that it would be beneficial to amend the Orders of Reference so that permission would be available:

(a) to appoint subcommittees; and

(b) to employ the services of consultants.

It was decided formally at the meeting held on 20 November 1985 to ask the Minister for the Gaeltacht to move a motion in both Houses to amend the Orders of Reference.

2.7.2 Motions were adopted in the Seanad and in the Dáil on 17 April 1986 and on 24 June 1986 respectively to amend the Orders of Reference as requested by the Joint Committee. A short debate was conducted in the Seanad on the issue but none was held in the Dáil.

2.8.1 From their own experience and from what they had been informed by other Members of both Houses, the members of the Joint Committee were always anxious about the lack of publicity in the national newspapers and in the media in general, for speeches, questions and proceedings in Irish in the Houses. In order to tease out this question an informal meeting was held with representatives of the Oireachtas Press Gallery Committee on 18 December 1985.

2.8.2 The meeting with the representatives of the Press Gallery Committee was worthwhile. The representatives outlined the difficulties which put in on them in relation to the reporting of proceedings in Irish and problems were discussed in detail. It was arranged that the Joint Committee would seek a meeting with the editors of the national newspapers and of the news room in RTÉ. Due to pressure of work the Joint Committee did not succeed in meeting with those people in the period under review but the question will be addressed early in Autumn.

2.9.1 In order to encourage Deputies and Senators to use more Irish in their official business it was decided on 19 February 1986 that it would be beneficial to have available a bi-lingual hand-book of terms used frequently in the work of the Houses. An Ceann Comhairle was requested to provide such a book and he indicated on 27 March 1986 that he proposed to have a similar book, which was available formerly, revised and republished. The Joint Committee welcomed this action and recommended that the book be provided, at the latest, before the return of the Members in the Autumn.

2.10.1 The first report from the Joint Committee was discussed in the Seanad on 6 and on 13 March 1986 and a lively debate was held. Thirteen Senators spoke on the Report and the Minister for the Gaeltacht replied to the debate.

2.10.2 It must be said that the number of Senators who participated in the debate was a source of satisfaction to the Joint Committee and it was clear afterwards that Members of that House had great sympathy and good-will towards the Irish language and towards the work of the Joint Committee in general.

2.11.1 The Joint Committee adopted the second report, i.e.:

“Second Report on the extension of the use of Irish in the proceedings of the Dáil and Seanad and in the environs of both Houses”.

on 24 April 1986. This was a comprehensive report and plenty of suggestions were made therein regarding the following items, viz:

(a) an atmosphere for Irish in the Houses;

(b) Irish in the proceedings of the Houses;

(c) the translation system;

(d) the reporting system; and

(e) future policy.

2.11.2 In the opinion of the Joint Committee particular importance attached to the second report because an in-depth examination was carried out in it of all issues related to the Irish language in the Houses of the Oireachtas. The problems and difficulties to be overcome were identified and worthy, practical recommendations to surmount them were made. In addition to that, target dates on various issues were laid down and the report will be used by the Joint Committee as a work plan in the future to ensure that substantial progress is made.

2.11.3 A summary of the recommendations made in the second report is appended as Appendix C.

2.12.1 The members of the Joint Committee were of the strong view that Members (of both Houses) could not be expected to make worthwhile progress regarding Irish in the Houses on their own and, accordingly, letters were sent to the leaders of the Political Parties which had representation in the Houses, on April 16 1986. In that letter it was explained to the leaders that the Joint Committee wished to meet them or their representatives in order to describe what work was being carried out and what it was intended to do in relation to the Irish language in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

2.12.2 In the period under review the Joint Committee met the following representatives of various Parties:

At the end of the period under review it was intended to have a meeting with a representative of the Fine Gael Party, without delay.

2.12.3 The meetings with the representatives of the Political Parties which were held in the period under review were successful in the opinion of the Joint Committee. General discussions were held on the work of the Joint Committee, promotion of the Irish language in the Houses, necessity of Irish for positions such as Ceann Comhairle, etc., necessity of Irish in the Order of Business and the reasons for the decline in the use of Irish in the Houses. Many worthwhile suggestions emerged from these meetings and these will be included when the next report regarding the Irish language in the Houses is being prepared.

2.12.4 More than anything else that emerged from the meetings, the Joint Committee was pleased that every representative present promised the full support of his Party to the aims of the Joint Committee.

3. The Question of Irish in General

3.1.1 Due to the importance attached to the Action Plan for Irish 1983-1986 in connection with the Irish language it was decided on 25 September 1985 that an invitation be extended to representatives of Bord na Gaeilge to come before the Joint Committee to discuss the operation of the plan and the question of Irish in general.

3.1.2 Formal evidence was taken from representatives of Bord na Gaeilge on 30 October 1985 and on 6 November 1985 and the following issues were discussed generally:

(a) the Action Plan for Irish 1983-1986;

(b) the Irish language and communications issues;

(c) State Institutions; and

(d) the Educational System.

3.2.1 Because of the fact that Roinn na Gaeltachta has general responsibility for Irish language affairs it was decided on 25 November 1985 that an invitation be extended to officers from the Department to give formal evidence to the Joint Committee.

3.2.2 Officers of that Department met with the Joint Committee on 5 February 1986 and again on 17 April 1986 and the following issues were discussed:

(a) the Department’s schemes;

(b) the Irish language in the Gaeltacht;

(c) the Irish language outside the Gaeltacht;

(d) books in Irish;

(e) the Irish language and broadcasting matters;

(f) the Irish language organisations; and

(g) the work of the Joint Committee.

3.3.1 Arising from the submissions received from the public resulting from the advertisements placed in the national newspapers (see Para. 2.5.1), it was decided on 22 January 1986 to afford an opportunity to those who made submissions (and specifically requested an opportunity to speak) to discuss them with the Joint Committee.

3.3.2 Between 9 April 1986 and the end of the period under review the Joint Committee took evidence as follows:

3.3.3 A lot of issues obviously were discussed at these meetings and, although the various organisations had the same thing to say about several issues, the Joint Committee feels that they went well and a lot of advice, information and views were collected on the following items, which will be used by the Joint Committee in the future, viz:

(a) the Irish language in the Gaeltacht;

(b) the Irish language in the Houses of the Oireachtas;

(c) the Irish language in the Educational System;

(d) the Irish language and broadcasting issues;

(e) the Irish language and the State Sector;

(f) co-ordination of the Irish language organisations;

(g) the functions of the Joint Committee;

(h) national policy for young people regarding the Irish language; and

(i) service through Irish from the Public Sector.

3.3.4 It must be said that not all the evidence taken was favourable to the Irish language. One individual gave views on the Irish language regarding his dissatisfaction, etc., with the language and with it’s promotion. Although the members of the Joint Committee did not accept the view put forward they considered that it was interesting and was worth listening to.

3.4.1 At the meeting held on 5 March 1986 it was decided to invite the new Director General of RTÉ to meet the Joint Committee in the future to outline the stance of that organisation in relation to the Irish language. RTÉ replied on 19 March 1986 that it would be more beneficial to all concerned, in their view, if the Joint Committee waited for a couple of months before holding a meeting.

3.4.2 RTÉ indicated orally on 15 May 1986 that they would prefer not to meet the Joint Committee until the Autumn because a number of appointments, which would have an impact on the Irish language, had yet to be made at a high level. The Joint Committee accepted this on 21 May 1986 and it is hoped to arrange the meeting with them in September, if possible.

3.5.1 In addition to the meetings held in the period under review the Joint Committee participated in other activities as follows:

(a) The Chairman of the Joint Committee spoke on 21 March 1986 at the official opening of a conference (held under the auspices of the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages) on the theme “Learners of lesser-used languages: Adult Communication Needs”;

(b) The Chairman of the Joint Committee spoke on 3 May 1986 at “Mórthionól ’86” organised by Bord na Gaeilge.

(c) Members of the Joint Committee were present when a video —— “Casadh na Taoide”, —— produced by Bord na Gaeilge was shown in Leinster House on 19 March 1986 —— the Minister for the Gaeltacht was in charge of this event; and

(d) The Joint Committee met a delegation from the Parliament in Quebec, Canada on 24 June 1986 while on a visit to this country and language issues in general were discussed.

4. Difficulties affecting the work of the Joint Committee

4.1.1 If the difficulties which affected the work of the Joint Committee could be described in one word, there is no doubt but that the word “delay” would be chosen. Practically everything that the Joint Committee had on hand in the period under review was affected by delays and this was a source of disappointment to the members.

4.2.1 As mentioned above (2.2.2) a letter was issued to all Members of both Houses on 10 July 1985. Because of the delay by Members in replying —— despite oral reminders to them, the Joint Committee had to issue another letter on 5 February 1986. The Joint Committee was not satisfied with the number of replies received.

4.3.1 Substantial delay attached to the provision of the badges and signs in Irish which are referred to above (2.3.2).

4.4.1 The Joint Committee was obliged to wait from mid October 1985 to March 1986 for basic information regarding reporting and translation in the Houses, which was required for the preparation of the second report.

4.5.1 From the outset the Joint Committee observed that there would be problems with transcripts of evidence because of the lack of reporters and typists with a facility in Irish to deal with them. Representations were made to An Ceann Comhairle, to the Minister for the Public Service and to the Leader of the Dáil but without a successful conclusion and no transcripts were available at the end of the period under review —— it should be pointed out that evidence was taken for the first time on 30 October 1985.

5. Epilogue

5.1.1 This report is merely a short description of what was on hand by the Joint Committee from the date of its inception to the end of the month of June 1986. It could be said that no wonderful feat has been achieved in that period but the Joint Committee can boast that the stance of the Irish language in Leinster House has improved substantially and that is no small step. The proverb states that Rome was not built in a day and the Joint Committee is satisfied that progress is being made. The work must continue and the Joint Committee intends that this will be the case.

5.2.1 In the period under review in this report particular emphasis was placed on the promotion of the language in Leinster House. This will be continued in the next year and more improvement will be expected. Other live issues in relation to the Irish language will be addressed also —— particularly educational matters, broadcasting matters and the question of Irish in the State Sector.

5.3.1 It is well known that the Irish language is a complex issue and that this Joint Committee or any other organisation cannot be expecting feats within a short space of time. Substantial progress may be made gradually —— something which will take plenty of time, and patience is needed. Major work has been instigated now by the Joint Committee and the members have the energy and the patience to bring it to a conclusion. The necessary progress will not be made without widespread support. It is clear that a support for the Irish language exists and the Joint Committee hopes that this will be shown substantially and frequently in the future —— inside the Houses of the Oireachtas and in the community in general.

5.4.1 In conclusion, the Joint Committee would like to thank all those organisations, people and institutions which helped it in the period under review.

(Signed) DENIS GALLAGHER T.D.

Chairman of the Joint Committee.

16 July, 1986.