Tagann cosaint na Gaeilge le bunphrionsabail an Chomhaontais Ghlais. Creidimid go bhfuil sé den riachtanas acmhainní a chaomhnú ionas go mbeidh an tsochaí ina mairimid inmharthanach amach anseo. Is acmhainn thábhachtach chultúrtha do phobal na hÉireann í an Ghaeilge, ach is acmhainn leochaileach, leonta í ar ghá í a chosaint. Is sinne caomhnóirí an domhain, agus is gá dúinn a chuid acmhainní go léir, acmhainní cultúrtha agus teanga san áireamh, a chur ar aghaidh go slán agus go folláin chuig na glúnta atá le teacht.

Áiríonn na teangeolaithe go bhfuil idir 6,000 agus 7,000 teanga ar domhan ach go bhfuil nócha faoin gcéad acu i mbaol a mbasctha faoi dheireadh na haoise seo. Tá 50 faoin gcéad de theangacha an domhain díbheo, rud a chiallaíonn nach bhfuil daoine óga á labhairt níos mó. Cé go bhfuil 200 teanga bhundúchasach i Meiriceá Thuaidh, tá a bhformhór i mbaol an bháis. Is tubaiste cultúrtha agus féiniúlachta é seo atá ag tarlú i ngan fhios do chuid mhór den phobal. Meastar go bhfuil teanga amháin ar an meán ag éag in aghaidh na coicíse. Ní fios go fóill an mbeidh an Ghaeilge i measc na dteangacha sin a chaillfear. Cé go maíonn 1.65 milliún duine sa Phoblacht, nó 40.8 faoin gcéad, go bhfuil siad ina gcainteoirí Gaeilge, agus go n-úsáideann 453,207 nó 11.2 faoin gcéad í go laethúil laistigh den chóras oideachais, ní úsáideann ach 72,148 duine, nó 1.8 faoin gcéad an Ghaeilge go laethúil lasmuigh den chóras oideachais. Tá an Ghaeilge ag cúlú go tapa mar theanga an phobail sa Ghaeltacht agus is minic í á lua ag saineolaithe idirnáisiúnta ar mheath teangacha.

Ní féidir le Glasaigh neamhshuim a dhéanamh den slad seo ar acmhainní cultúrtha an domhain. Ó bunaíodh an Comhaontas Glas, tugadh aird ar leith ar thábhacht na Gaeilge mar chuid d’acmhainní cultúrtha na hÉireann. Bunaithe ar phrionsabail na héiceolaíochta agus an pholasaí teanga, is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas aghaidh a thabhairt ar an gceist seo. Tugtar anseo thíos cur síos cuimsitheach ar na bearta a mholann an páirtí chun dul i ngleic le ceist na Gaeilge. 

2. An Ghaeilge agus an Stát

Toisc gur páirtí uile-oileánda é an Comhaontas Glas, tá dhá stát agus dhá pholasaí oifigiúla teanga i gceist. De bharr na staire, tá difríocht mhór idir an polasaí Gaeilge a bhí ag stát na hÉireann agus stát na Breataine go dtí seo agus is é is dóichí ná go mairfidh an difríocht tamall eile, in ainneoin an athruithe polaitiúil i dTuaisceart Éireann. Go stairiúil, thacaigh an stát ó dheas le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge go hoifigiúil (cé nárbh ionann an dearcadh oifigiúil agus an gníomh) ach bhí an stát ó thuaidh doicheallach go dtí le fíordhéanaí.

•a.       Straitéis náisiúnta agus áitiúil don Ghaeilge:

• Fáiltíonn an Comhaontas Glas roimh chinneadh an rialtais Straitéis Náisiúnta 20 Bliain a fhorbairt don Ghaeilge. Beidh an Straitéis seo bunaithe ar an dea-chleachtas idirnáisiúnta ar phleanáil agus ar pholasaí teanga. Chuir an Comhaontas Glas le forbairt na Straitéise seo.

• Ionas a chinntiú go mbeidh straitéisí náisiúnta agus áitiúla Gaeilge á n-athnuachan sa todhchaí, iarrann an Comhaontas Glas go gcuirfear bonn reachtúil faoin bpróiseas (mar atá in Albain agus sa Bhreatain Bheag) agus go leagfar cúram ar an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta straitéisí náisiúnta, Gaeltachta agus áitiúla (lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht) a ullmhú agus a fheidhmiú feasta don Phoblacht.

• Foilsíodh mórthuarascáil faoi staid agus stádas na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, Staideár Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, Samhain 2007. Fáiltíonn an Comhaontas Glas roimh fhoilsiú na tuarascála sin (pléifear an staidéar sin faoi 5 thíos).

•b.       Reachtaíocht teanga:

• Is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go gcuirfear go cuimsitheach le líon agus le caighdeán na seirbhísí Gaeilge a chuireann an Stát ar fáil do dhaoine ar mian leo a gcuid gnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Dá bhrí sin, tacaíonn an páirtí go láidir le feidhmiú iomlán Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 sa Phoblacht agus leis an bhfeachtas ar son Acht Teanga don Ghaeilge sa Tuaisceart.

• Tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas leis an gcur chuige Ceanadach i leith sholáthar seirbhísí dátheangacha, ‘an tairiscint ghníomhach’. Faoin gcur chuige sin, poiblíonn eagraíochtaí stáit agus ranna rialtais a gcuid seirbhísí dátheangacha go leanúnach, ionas go dtuigfeadh pobal na mionteanga go bhfuil siad ar fáil gan stró. Ní dhéantar a leithéid faoi láthair, rud a lagaíonn éifeacht Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.

• Ionas ceannaireacht láidir pholaitiúil a chinntiú don reachtaíocht, molann an páirtí go mbunófar Aonad na Gaeilge i Roinn an Taoisigh chun an chinntiú go gcuirfear Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla i bhfeidhm i ngach cuid den rialtas sa Phoblacht.

• I bhfianaise líon mór na mbotún sa Ghaeilge ar chomharthaíocht phoiblí (go háirithe comharthaí bóthair) ar fud na tíre, iarrann an Comhaontas Glas go dtabharfaí cumhacht bhreise don Choimisinéir Teanga le cinntiú gur Gaeilge chruinn cheart a bheidh ar na comharthaí ar fad. 

• Is féidir seirbhísí poiblí Gaeilge a sholáthar ar dhá phríomhbhealach: (a) trí cháipéisí oifigiúla srl. a aistriú agus (b) trí dhaoine le Gaeilge a fhostú in eagraíochtaí stáit. Aithníonn an Comhaontas Glas gurb é (b) an bealach is éifeachtaí, ó thaobh teanga agus costais, chun seirbhísí Gaeilge a sholáthar ach gur ghá dul i muinín (a) go dtí go bhfostófar dóthain oibrithe dátheangacha. Chun a chinntiú go mbeidh ardchaighdeán Gaeilge scríofa in aon ábhar aistrithe, iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar eagraíochtaí stáit gan úsáid a bhaint as aistritheoirí nach bhfuil séala oifigiúil Fhoras na Gaeilge acu (eolas breise ar fáil ag http://www.gaeilge.ie/).

•c.        An Stát agus Earnáil na Gaeilge:

• I bhfianaise an taighde ar earnáil dheonach na Gaeilge, is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go ndéanfar athbhreithniú cuimsitheach ar struchtúr na hearnála agus go scrúdófar an gaol (idir mhaoiniú agus dhualgais) idir Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta agus na heagraíochtaí deonacha Gaeilge ar fud na tíre.

• Is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go ndéanfaidh Foras na Gaeilge taighde a choimisiúnú faoi úsáid na Gaeilge go náisiúnta, thuaidh agus theas, agus faoi dhearcadh an phobail i leith na Gaeilge, de réir na gceanglas reachtúil a leagadh ar an bhForas.

3. An Ghaeilge i gcúrsaí Oideachais

3.  
   1. An Ghaeilge sa Chóras Scolaíochta:

• Is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go ndéanfar athbhreithniú cuimsitheach ar mhúineadh agus ar fhoghlaim na Gaeilge ag an mbunleibhéal agus iarbhunleibhéal, sa Phoblacht agus i dTuaisceart Éireann (féach chomh maith Céim 42 den Pholasaí Oideachais). Ba cheart don áisíneacht trasteorann, Foras na Gaeilge (a bhfuil freagracht reachtúil ar leith orthu i leith an oideachais Ghaeilge), an t-athbhreithniú seo a choimisiúnú, i gcomhar leis an gComhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta ó dheas agus an CCEA sa Tuaisceart (NI Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment) maraon le geallsealbhóirí eile.

• Go dtí go léireodh an t-athbhreithniú thuas gur ghá a mhalairt a dhéanamh, tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas le feachtas Chonradh na Gaeilge maidir le feabhsú mhúineadh na Gaeilge (sa Phoblacht amháin), ar an gcoinníoll go rachfaí i gcomhar le múinteoirí agus le tuismitheoirí chun a dtacaíocht a fháil:

• o go múinfí gach ábhar oide bunscoile trí Ghaeilge i dtimpeallacht lán-Ghaeilge, ag foghlaim tríd an tumoideachas agus faoin tumoideachas, ar feadh tréimhse bliana acadúla dá chúrsa oiliúna.
• o go múinfí ábhar amháin sa bhreis ar an nGaeilge trí Ghaeilge do gach dalta bunscoile. Dhéanfaí píolótú ar seo i scoileanna nach Gaelscoileanna iad agus leathnófaí é chuig na scoileanna ar fad de réir a chéile;
• o go bhforbrófaí dhá shiollabas Ghaeilge ag an iarbhunleibhéal: ‘Teanga na Gaeilge’ agus ‘Litríocht na Gaeilge’. I scrúduithe an chúrsa ‘Teanga na Gaeilge’, dhéanfaí tástáil ar chumas labhartha, tuisceana, scríofa agus léitheoireachta an dalta, de réir Chomh-Chreat na hEorpa d’Fhoghlaim Teangacha. Chuirfí an cúrsa ‘Litríocht na Gaeilge’ ar fáil i nGaelscoileanna agus i Scoileanna Gaeltachta do dhaltaí a bhfuil cumas Gaeilge ar leith acu.

• Cé go n-aithníonn an Comhaontas Glas tábhacht na scileanna labhartha, i bhfianaise na bhfadhbanna le litearthacht sa Ghaeilge, is mian leis go dtabharfadh an córas oideachais i ngach cuid d’Éirinn an aird chéanna ar na scileanna eile teanga: an léitheoireacht, an scríobh agus an tuiscint.

• Bunaithe ar an taighde idirnáisiúnta ar shealbhú teangacha, tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas go láidir leis an tumoideachas Gaeilge ag gach leibhéal den chóras oideachas in Éirinn, thuaidh agus theas, an luath-thumoideachas san áireamh. Is mian leis an bpáirtí go ndéanfar breis taighde ar an tumoideachas in Éirinn, faoi mar atá molta ag Gaelscoileanna, Foras na Gaeilge agus An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta.

3.  
   2. Oiliúint múinteoirí

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas go gcuirfear plean do chúrsaí inseirbhíse Gaeilge do mhúinteoirí bunleibhéil agus iar-bhunleibhéil ar bun. San áireamh sa phlean sin, bheadh cúrsaí athnuachana Gaeilge agus modheolaíocht don Ghaeilge sna Gaelscoileanna, i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus i scoileanna eile.

• Is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go múinfí gach ábhar oide bunscoile trí Ghaeilge i dtimpeallacht lán-Ghaeilge, ag foghlaim tríd an tumoideachas agus faoin tumoideachas, ar feadh tréimhse bliana acadúla le linn a gcúrsa oiliúna (féach thuas).

•c.        Seirbhísí Oideachasúla Eile

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar an rialtas a chinntiú go mbunófar gan a thuilleadh moille an Lárionad Náisiúnta don Oideachas Gaeltachta i mBaile Bhuirne i nGaeltacht Chorcaí, faoi mar atá geallta le fada (féach 5 thíos).

• Is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go gcinnteofar seirbhísí i nGaeilge do pháistí a bhfuil deacrachtaí foghlama acu agus go bhfreastalófar ar a gcuid sainriachtanas teanga, go háirithe sa Ghaeltacht (féach 5 thíos).

• Ba chóir go mbunófar clubanna obair bhaile do dhéagóirí le Gaeilge nó atá ag foghlaim na Gaeilge sna hIonaid Ghaeilge i gceantair uirbeacha éagsúla ar fud na tíre (féach 6 thíos).

• Iarrann an páirtí go mbunófar córas náisiúnta scoláireachtaí chun cabhrú le daoine óga freastal ar choláistí samhraidh. An Roinn Oideachais agus Eolaíochta a dhéanfadh riaradh ar a leithéid.

• Aithníonn an Comhaontas Glas gur mian le líon mór daoine fásta in Éirinn a gcuid Gaeilge a athnuachan. Bunaithe ar mhúnla shéala na n-aistritheoirí (féach 1.1 thuas), is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go ndéanfadh Foras na Gaeilge, i gcomhar leis na páirtithe leasmhara, creidiúnú ar chóras náisiúnta aosoideachais ionas a chinntiú go gcuirfear cúrsaí Gaeilge den chéad scoth ar fáil do dhaoine fásta ar fud na tíre.

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar an Roinn Airgeadais dreasachtaí cánach a cheadú do dhaoine fásta a thabharfadh faoi fhoghlaim na Gaeilge sa chóras aosoideachais agus do dhaoine fásta a bheadh ag iarraidh seal a chaitheamh sa Ghaeltacht.

4. Na Meáin Chumarsáide

4.  
   1. Teilifís:

• Tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas le méadú i ndeontas TG4 agus áitíonn an páirtí gur cheart don rialtas méadú a cheadú go leanúnach. Ba chóir go mbeadh bonn airgeadais TG4 treoirnasctha.

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar TG4 breis clár d’fhoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge a chraoladh. D’fhéadfaí cláracha d’fhoghlaimeoirí a craoladh cheana a athchraoladh.

• Aithníonn an Comhaontas Glas nach leor buiséad TG4 chun seirbhís iomlán teilifíse i nGaeilge a chur ar fáil agus gur ghá dó, dá réir sin, cláir Bhéarla a chraoladh. Ionas éiteas Gaeilge an stáisiúin a chaomhnú, áfach, iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar TG4 a cuid dá hacmhainní breise a úsáid chun fotheidil i nGaeilge a chur ar fáil mar rogha ar oiread clár agus is féidir agus polasaí Gaeilge a aontú agus a chur i bhfeidhm, faoi mar a dhéanann S4C sa Bhreatain Bheag.

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar BBC Tuaisceart Éireann a chinntiú go gcuirfear le líon na gclár teilifíse Gaeilge.

4.  
   2. Seirbhísí Eile:

• Aithníonn an Comhaontas Glas tábhacht RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta do phobal na Gaeilge, in Éirinn agus thar lear. Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas go mbeidh bonn airgeadais RnaG treoirnasctha.

• Tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas le polasaí craolacháin a chinnteoidh go gcraolfar méid réasúnta Gaeilge ar gach craoltóir poiblí agus príobháideach sa Phoblacht agus go gcuirfear leis an méid Gaeilge a chraolann BBC Tuaisceart Éireann chomh maith le seirbhísí eile. Is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go n-athbhunófar an tAonad Gaeilge laistigh de Choimisiún Craolacháin na hÉireann a dhéanfadh athbhreithniú ar líon, ar chineál agus ar chaighdeán na gclár Gaeilge ar na stáisiúin raidió agus teilifíse ar fad ionas soláthar leordhóthaineach a chinntiú (sa Phoblacht amháin).

5. An Ghaeilge sa Phobal – An Ghaeltacht

• De dhaonra iomlán na Gaeltachta (91,862), tá 64,265 duine nó 70 faoin gcéad, ina gcainteoirí Gaeilge. Ní úsáideann ach 22,515 duine, nó 24.5 faoin gcéad de dhaonra na Gaeltachta, an Ghaeilge go laethúil lasmuigh den chóras oideachais. Tá an Ghaeilge fós ina teanga phobail in áiteanna: iarthuaisceart Dhún na nGall (timpeall Ghaoth Dobhair); Conamara Theas (ón Spidéal go Carna); Corca Dhuibhne (siar ón Daingean) agus Oileáin Árann. Meastar go bhfuil tuairim is 20,000 cainteoir Gaeilge ina gcónaí sna ceantair sin ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge in uachtar mar theanga an phobail sna réimsí sóisialta ar fad, beagnach, agus idir 5,000 agus 10,000 cainteoirí Gaeilge ina gcónaí i gceantair ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge in úsáid ag sciar suntasach den phobal agus i gcuid de na réimsí sóisialta.

• Tá baol láidir ann go bhfaighidh an Ghaeilge bás mar theanga phobail na Gaeltachta a chuirtear ar aghaidh ó ghlúin go glúin, ar an mbealach céanna a bhfuil athrú aeráide arna spreagadh ag astaíochtaí CO2 ag bagairt ar an timpeallacht fhisiciúil ina mairimid. Tá plean éigeandála tárrthála don Ghaeltacht riachtanach chun chun i gcoinne chreimeadh leanúnach na Gaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta ina bhfuil sí fós in úsáid. Dearbhaíonn an Comhaontas Glas arís gur argóint ‘ghlas’ í seo agus nach féidir cosaint na Gaeilge agus an chultúir Ghaelaigh a scarúint ó chosaint na timpeallachta.

• Fáiltíonn an Comhaontas Glas roimh na moltaí iomadúla a rinneadh sa Staideár Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus iarrann go gcuirfear i bhfeidhm iad. Iarrann an páirtí ar an rialtas aird ar leith a thabhairt ar na moltaí maidir le Seirbhísí Tacaíochta Teaghlaigh agus Seirbhísí don Óige, i bhfianaise thábhacht na hóige i gcaomhnú teanga.

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar an rialtas feidhm a thabhairt do na leasuithe reachtúla a mholann siad ionas go gcruthófar trí chatagóir Gaeltachta feasta: A, B agus C, de réir úsáid laethúil na Gaeilge sna ceantair éagsúla. Is ceart go ndíreofaí aird ar leith ar na ceantair sin a bhfuil an Ghaeilge fós in úsáid go rialta ag an gcuid is mó den phobal. Níor cheart go mbeadh stádas Gaeltachta ag ceantar nach sásaíonn critéir theangeolaíochta áirithe: go mbeadh an Ghaeilge in úsáid mar theanga chumarsáide laistigh den phobal i dteaghlaigh, i scoileanna, i ngréasáin shóisialta agus in insitiúidí pobail eile. 

• Tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas leis an éileamh go mbunófar Bord Oideachais don Ghaeltacht a bheadh freagrach as gach leibhéal oideachais ón réamhscolaíocht go dtí an iarbhunscolaíocht. Moltar go dtabharfaí na cumhachtaí céanna dó agus atá ag Coiste Gairmoideachais i dtaca le fostú múinteoirí, oiliúint inseirbhíse agus i riaradh agus bainistíocht scoileanna. Moltar go gcuirfear cúram an Oideachais Ghaeltachta agus lán-Ghaeilge ar Aire Stáit de chuid na Roinne Oideachais agus Eolaíochta (féach 1 thuas).

• Ba cheart do scoileanna Gaeltachta a chinntiú go dtabharfaí breis tuisceana do dhaltaí Gaeltachta ar a gcanúint féin, chomh maith le heolas cuí ar an gCaighdeán Oifigiúil. Bheadh ról ag an mBord Oideachais don Ghaeltacht i bhfeidhmiú polasaí mar sin.

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar an rialtas a chinntiú go mbunófar gan a thuilleadh moille an Lárionad Náisiúnta don Oideachas Gaeltachta i mBaile Bhuirne i nGaeltacht Chorcaí, faoi mar atá geallta le fada (féach 3 thíos).

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas go mbunófar rannóg ar leith laistigh d’Údarás na Gaeltachta a bheadh freagrach as cúrsaí tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht agus a chinnteodh go gcosnófaí an Ghaeilge.

• Is mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go gcuirfear i gcrích gan mhoill an leasú reachtaíochta is gá chun go leathnófar cúraimí Údarás na Gaeltachta ón tionsclú amháin go cúraimí sóisialta, cultúrtha agus teanga. Tá an t-éileamh seo ag teacht le héileamh phobal na Gaeltachta le fada an lá.

• Moltar go mbunófar coláiste oiliúna do mhúinteoirí sa Ghaeltacht, a d’fhreastalódh ar chainteoirí líofa Gaeilge agus a reáchtáilfí trí mheán na Gaeilge. Dhéanfaí oiliúint ar bhunmhúinteoirí a rachadh ag obair i scoileanna Gaeltachta agus i nGaelscoileanna.

• Moltar go gcuirfear acmhainní ar fáil chun cultúr óige trí Ghaeilge a fhorbairt sa Ghaeltacht agus i gcoláistí tríú leibhéal.

6. An Ghaeilge sa Phobal – Lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht

• Aithníonn an Comhaontas Glas an obair cheannródaíoch atá déanta ag earnáil dheonach na Gaeilge maidir le forbairt na Gaeilge sa phobal lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht.

• Chun a chinntiú gur féidir freastal ar an líon is mó daoine ar spéis leo cur lena n-eolas ar an nGaeilge agus/nó seirbhísí a fháil i nGaeilge, molann an Comhaontas Glas go mbunófaí gréasán náisiúnta d’Ionaid Ghaeilge i ngach ceantar uirbeach in Éirinn a bhfuil líon suntasach cainteoirí Gaeilge ann, de réir an Daonáirimh (An Phoblacht agus Tuaisceart Éireann araon). Chuirfí réimse leathan seirbhísí Gaeilge ar fáil i ngach ceann de na hionaid seo: feighlíocht linbh; seirbhísí aistriúcháin; comhairle faoi úsáid na Gaeilge i gcúrsaí gnó; cúrsaí foghlama Gaeilge; clubanna obair bhaile srl. Tá an córas seo ar fáil sa Bhreatain Bheag cheana, Mentrau Iaith (‘Fiontair Teanga’) agus moladh a mhacasamhail d’Éirinn cheana.

• Fáiltíonn an Comhaontas Glas roimh an iarracht atá á déanamh ag an eagraíocht dheonach, Baile (http://www.bailegaelach.com/), pobal nua Gaeilgeoirí a chruthú i gCúige Laighean.

7. An Ghaeilge sa Phobal: Na hInimircigh

• Creideann an Comhaontas Glas gur cheart an Ghaeilge a bheith ar fáil do chách, beag beann ar chine, ar chúlra eitneach ná ar náisiúnacht. Ní mian leis an gComhaontas Glas go n-úsáidfí an Ghaeilge mar uirlis chiníoch i gcoinne na n-inimirceach agus dá bhrí sin, tá an páirtí ag iarraidh go gcuirfear an Ghaeilge chun cinn go dearfach i measc an phobail sin.

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar na heagraíochtaí Gaeilge Oifigeach a cheapadh chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn i measc na n-inimirceach.

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar an rialtas a chinntiú go gcuirfear ranganna Gaeilge ar fáil saor in aisce d’inimiricigh atá á n-iarraidh, ar aon dul leis na ranganna Béarla atá ar fáil faoi láthair.

• Tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas le leabhráin ilteangacha, i nGaeilge agus i dteangacha na n-inimirceach, chun go mbeidh teacht ag an bpobal inimirceach ar nathanna Gaeilge.  

• Iarrann an Comhaontas Glas ar an Roinn Dlí agus Cirt a chinntiú gur féidir le haon duine atá ag iarraidh cur isteach ar shaorántacht na hÉireann scrúdú cumais a dhéanamh i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla agus nach mbeidh aon stró sa bhreis ar an té a roghnódh an scrúdú Gaeilge.

8. An Ghaeilge agus Teicneolaíocht na Faisnéise

• Aithníonn an Comhaontas Glas ról lárnach theicneolaíocht na faisnéise i sealbhú na Gaeilge don ghlúin seo.
• Aithníonn an Comhaontas Glas go bhfuil an t-idirlíon ar chomhthábhacht leis an teilifís mar mheán agus gur uirlis an-tábhachtach é d’fhorbairt na Gaeilge amach anseo.
• Tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas leis an obair atá ar bun ag Foras na Gaeilge chun teicneolaíocht faisnéise na Gaeilge a fhorbairt.

9. An Ghaeilge san Aontas Eorpach

Tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas le stádas feabhsaithe na Gaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil oibre de chuid an Aontais Eorpach, agus saothróidh sé chun go gcuirfear an stádas sin i bhfeidhm go hiomlán. Cabhróidh sé le haon chlár oideachais nó oiliúna a bhfuil sé d’aidhm aige cur le soláthar aistritheoirí agus ateangairí oilte. Cuireann an stádas seo deiseanna breise maidir le tionscnaimh oideachasúla agus chultúrtha ar fáil don Ghaeilge san Eoraip, agus cuireann le deiseanna fostaíochta d’Éireannaigh atá ag lorg oibre sna hinstitiúidí Eorpach. Fáiltíonn an Comhaontas Glas roimh na deiseanna nua sin.

GREEN PARTY – IRISH LANGUAGE POLICY

Final version (March 2009)

1. INTRODUCTION: The Irish Language and the principles of the Green Party

The protection of Irish is in keeping with the founding principles of the Green Party. We believe that the conversation of resources is vital for a sustainable society. The Irish language is an important cultural resource for the people of Ireland, but it is a vulnerable and damaged resource which needs to be protected. As the caretakers of the Earth, we have the responsibility to pass on its resources, including its cultural and linguistic resources, in a fit and healthy state to future generations.

Linguists argue that of the 6,000-7,000 languages on Earth, ninety percent of them are in danger of becoming extinct within the next century. Fifty percent of the world’s languages are moribund, which means that they are no longer spoken naturally by children. Although there are about 200 indigenous languages in North America, most of them are in danger of extinction. This is a disaster of culture and identity which is occuring unknown to most of the public. It is thought that on average one language each fortnight becomes extinct. It is not known whether or not Irish will be among these casualties in the future. Although 1.65 million people in the Republic, or 40.8 percent of the population, claim to be speakers, and although 453,207 or 11.2 percent say they use Irish daily within the education system, only 72,000 people, or 1.78 percent, use Irish daily outside the education system. Irish is declining as the community language of the Gaeltacht and is often discussed by international scholars investigating language decline and death.  

Greens cannot ignore this assault on the Earth’s cultural resources. Since its foundation, the Green Party has paid particular attention to the importance of Irish as one of Ireland’s cultural resources. Based on the principles of ecology and of language policy, this policy paper aims to address this problem. The following is a detailed description of the measures proposed by the party to engage with the question of the Irish language.

2. Irish and the State

As the Green Party is an all-Ireland party, it is necessary to consider the official language policies of two states. Due to historical reasons, there is a significant difference between the Irish language policy pursued by the Irish state and the British state to date and, despite recent political developments in Northern Ireland, it is likely that the differences will remain for some time. Historically, the southern state extended official support for the promotion of Irish (although there was a gap between the official view and action) but the northern state was hostile until very recently.

•a)       National and local strategy for Irish:

• The Green Party welcomes the government’s commitment to developing a 20 Year National Strategy for Irish based on international best practice in language planning and policy. The Party has contributed to the development of this Strategy. 

• In order to ensure that future national and local strategies for Irish will be renewed regularly, the Green Party requests that the process be given a statutory basis in the future (as is the case in Scotland and Wales) and that the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs be given the task of preparing and of implementing national, Gaeltacht and local (outside Gaeltacht) strategies in the future.

• A major report on the state and status of Irish in the Gaeltacht, Staideár Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, was published in November 2007 (see 5 below). The Green Party welcomes the publication of the study.

•b)       Language legislation:

• The Green Party calls for a comprehensive increase in the amount and standard of Irish language services offered by the state to people who wish to conduct their business in Irish. Therefore, the Green Party strongly supports the full implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003 in the Republic and the campaign for the Irish Language Act in Northern Ireland.

• The Green Party supports the Canadian approach to bilingual service provision, ‘active offer’. According to this approach, public bodies actively and continuously publicise their bilingual services, so that the minority language community will understand that they are available without difficulty. This approach is not used at present, and undermines the effectiveness of the Official Languages Act.

• In order to show strong political leadership regarding the legislation, the Green Party calls for the establishment of an Irish Language Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach in order to ensure that the Official Languages Act is implemented in every part of government in the Republic.

• Given the high number of errors in the Irish text on official signage (particularly road signage) throughout the country, the Green Party calls for additional powers to be given to the Language Commissioner in order to ensure that all public signage in Irish is spelled correctly.

• Irish language public services can be provided in two primary ways: (a) by the translation of official documents etc. and (b) by the recruitment of Irish speakers in public bodies. The Green Party acknowledges that (b) is the most efficient way, in terms of expense and of language, to provide Irish language services but that (a) will be necessary until enough bilingual public workers are employed. In order to ensure a high standard of Irish in any translated material, the Green Party requests that government departments do not use translators who do not have the official seal of Foras na Gaeilge.

•c)       The State and the Irish Language Sector

• In the light of research on the Irish language voluntary sector, the Green Party urges that the sector’s structure be reviewed comprehensively and that the relationship (both funding and responsibilities) between Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the various voluntary Irish language bodies around the country be examined.

• The Green Party calls upon Foras na Gaeilge to commission research on the use of Irish nationally, north and south, and on public attitudes to Irish, according to the statutory responsibilities of Foras na Gaeilge.

3. The Irish language in education

3.  
   1. The Irish language at school:

• The Green Party calls for a comprehensive review of the teaching and learning of Irish at primary and post-primary level both in the Republic and in Northern Ireland (see also Step 42 of the Education Policy). The cross-border body, Foras na Gaeilge (which has statutory responsibility for Irish language education) should commission this review, in co-operation with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in the Republic and the CCEA in Northern Ireland (NI Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment) together with other shareholders.

• Until the above review reveals that another path of action should be pursued, the Green Party supports Conradh na Gaeilge’s demands for the improvement of the teaching of Irish (Republic only), provided that the measures have the support of teachers and parents:

• All trainee primary school teachers to be taught through Irish in an all-Irish environment, learning through and about immersion education, for the equivalent of one academic year of their training course, divided over the total length of that course and including the vital first month.
• That one subject in addition to Irish be taught through Irish to every child at primary school. This would be piloted in schools which are not Gaelscoileanna and extended gradually throughout the country.
• That two Irish language syllabi be developed at post-primary level: ‘Irish Language’ and ‘Irish Language Literature’. In the examinations of the course ‘Irish Language’, the pupils’ spoken, written, understanding and writing skills would be examined, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language Learning. The course ‘Irish Language Literature’ would be made available in Gaeltacht schools and in Gaelscoileanna.

• Although the Green Party recognises the importance of oral skills, it urges that the education system in both parts of Ireland pay equal attention to the other language skills: reading, writing and understanding, particularly given concerns over poor levels of literacy in Irish.

• Based on international research on language acquisition, the Green Party strongly supports Irish language immersion education at every level of education in Ireland, north and south, including early immersion education. The party requests that additional research be carried out into immersion education in  Ireland, as requested by Gaelscoileanna, Foras na Gaeilge and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (council for Irish-medium and Gaeltacht education).

3.  
   2. Teacher training

• The Green Party calls for a plan for Irish language in-service courses for primary and post-primary teachers. Included in this plan would be Irish language renewal courses and methodology for Irish in Gaelscoileanna, Gaeltacht and other schools.

•c.        Other educational services

• The Green Party calls on the government to ensure that the National Centre for Irish Language Education is established as soon as possible in Baile Bhuirne in the Cork Gaeltacht, as promised for several years (see 5 below).

• The Green Party calls for the provision of Irish language services for children with learning difficulties and that their particular linguistic requirements be catered for, particularly in the Gaeltacht (see 5 below).

• Homework clubs for Irish speaking teenagers or for teenagers learning Irish should be established in Irish Language Centres in urban areas throughout the country (see 6 below).

• The Green Party requests that a national system of scholarships be established to allow young people to attend Irish language summer colleges.

• The Green Party recognises that a large number of adults in Ireland wish to renew their Irish. Based on the model of the translators’ seal (see 1 above), the Green Party calls on Foras na Gaeilge, in co-operation with stakeholders such as the Languages Centre in NUI Maynooth, to accredit a national adult education system for Irish in order to ensure the provision of top quality Irish language courses for adults throughout the country.

• The Green Party calls on the Department of Finance to introduce tax incentives for adults who learn Irish in the adult education system or who wish to spend time in the Gaeltacht for this purpose.

4. Media

4.  
   1. Television:

• The Green Party supports the increase in the grant for TG4 and calls on government to ensure that it is index-linked.

• The Green Party calls on TG4 to broadcast more programmes aimed at learners of Irish.

• The Green Party recognises that TG4’s budget is inadequate to provide a full Irish language television service and therefore, that it must broadcast programmes in English too. However, in order to protect the station’s Irish language thos, the Green Party calls on TG4 to use its additional resources to provide Irish language subtitles as a choice on as many of its programmes as possible, as is the policy of S4C in Wales.

• The Green Party calls on BBC Northern Ireland to increase its provision of Irish language television programmes.

4.  
   2. Other services:

• The Green Party recognises the importance of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta to the Irish language community in Ireland and abroad. It calls on government to ensure that RnaG’s financial base is index-linked.

• The Green Party supports a broadcasting policy which ensures that every public and private broadcaster in the Republic broadcasts a reasonable amount of Irish, and that BBC Northern Ireland will increase its Irish language broadcasts. The Green Party calls for the re-establishment of the Irish Language Unit within the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland in order to review the amount, type and standard of Irish language radio and television programmes.

5. Irish in the Community: Gaeltacht

• Of the total Gaeltacht population 91,862), 64,265 people or 70 percent are Irish speakers. Only 22,515 people, or 24.5 percent, use Irish daily outside the education system. Irish is still a community language in places and the following are the strong Gaeltacht areas: northwest Donegal (around Gaoth Dobhair); South Conamara (from An Spidéal to Carna); West Kerry (west of An Daingean) and the Aran Islands. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 people live in areas in which Irish is the dominant community language in nearly all social domains within the community. There are between 5,000 and 10,000 Irish speakers in areas where the language is used by a significant proportion of the population in a limited number of social domains.

• The extinction of Irish as a living community language, passed on from generation to generation, is staring us in the face in the same way as the threat of severe climate change from CO2 emissions is threatening the physical environment in which we live. An emergency action plan for the Gaeltacht must be drawn up and implemented, in order to combat the further erosion of Irish in the Gaeltacht areas in which it is still used. The Green Party reiterates that this is a ‘green’ argument and that the protection of the Irish language and culture cannot be separated from environmental protection.

• The Green Party welcomes the many recommendations of the major study Staideár Cuimsitheach Teangeolaíoch ar Úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht agus and requests that they be implemented. The Party asks the government to pay particular attention to the recommendations regarding Family Support Centres and Youth Services, in light of the importance of young people for language maintenance.

• The Green Party calls on the government to implement the legislative amendments required to create three Gaeltacht categories: A, B and C, according to the level of daily Irish speakers in each area. Those areas in which Irish is used regularly by most of the community should be prioritised. No area which does not satistfy certain linguistic criteria should be given Gaeltacht status: it should be a requirement that Irish is used as a common language of communication within the community: in households, schools, social networks and other community institutions.

• The Green Party supports the demand that an Education Board for the Gaeltacht be established with responsibility for all levels of education from pre-school to post-primary. The Board would be granted the same statutory functions and powers as a Vocational Educational Committee, with regard to hiring of teachers, in-service training and the organisation and management of schools. It is recommended that responsibility for Gaeltacht and all-Irish education be given to a Minister of State in the Department of Education.

• Gaeltacht schools should ensure that Gaeltacht students are given a deeper understanding of their own dialect, as well as appropriate knowledge of the standard language (Caighdeán Oifigiúil). The Education Board for the Gaeltacht would have a role in that regard.

• The Green Party calls on the government to advance the establishment of the National Centre for Gaeltacht Education in Baile Bhuirne in the Cork Gaeltacht, as has been promised for several years (see 3 above).

• The Green Party recommends that a special division of Údarás na Gaeltachta be established whose function would be the management of housing issues in the Gaeltacht in order to protect Irish.

• The Green Party calls for the speedy introduction of a legislative amendment so that the functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta area broadened from industrialisation to social, cultural and linguistic matters. This demand is in keeping with the wishes of the Gaeltacht community for many years.

• The Green Party calls for the establishment of a teacher training college in the Gaeltacht, for fluent Irish speakers, which would be run through the medium of Irish and would in the main train primary teachers to teach in Gaeltacht schools are well as Gaelscoileanna.

• The Green Party calls for resources to be made available to encourage the development of youth culture through the medium of Irish in Gaeltacht areas and in third level colleges throughout the country.

6. Irish in the Community: outside Gaeltacht

• The Green Party recognises the pioneering work of the Irish language voluntary sector on the promotion of Irish outside the Gaeltacht.

• In order to ensure that those people who wish to increase their knowledge of Irish, or those who require services in Irish may better be served, the Green Party recommends the establishment of a national network of Irish Language Centres in every urban centre in Ireland which contains a substantial number of Irish speakers (according to the Census – both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). A wide range of Irish language services would be provided in each Centre: babysitting; translation; advice on use of Irish in business; Irish language classes; homework clubs; advice on raising children in Irish etc.  Such a similar already exists in Wales.

• The Green Party welcomes the efforts of the voluntary organisation, Baile, to establish a new community of Irish speakers in Leinster.

7. Irish and Immigrants

• The Green Party believes that the Irish language should be available to everyone, regardless of race, ethnic background or nationality. The Green Party does not want Irish to be used as a racist tool against immigrants and therefore the party calls for the positive promotion of Irish among those communities.

• The Green Party calls on the Irish language organisations to appoint an Officer with responsbility for promoting Irish among the immigrant communities.

• The Green Party calls on the government to provide Irish language classes, free of charge, to all immigrants who request them, as is the case with English language classes at present.

• The Green Party supports the production of multilingual booklets, in Irish and in immigrant languages, so that immigrant communities can access basic Irish language phrases.

• The Green Party asks the Department of Justice to ensure that anyone wishing to apply for Irish citizenship can do a proficiency examination in either Irish or English and that those choosing the Irish examination will be fully facilitated in their choice.

8. Irish and Information Technology

• The Green Party recognises the central role of information technology in Irish language learning among the current generation.
• The Green Party recognises that the Internet is as important a medium as television for language learning and that it is a very important tool for the future development of the Irish language.
• The Green Party supports the work of Foras na Gaeilge in the development of information technology for the Irish language.

9. Irish in the European Union

The Green Party supports the enhanced status  of Irish as an official working language of the European Union, and will work to ensure that the status is implemented in full. It will support any educational or training initiatives aimed at increasing the supply of trained translators and interpreters. The Party welcomes the fact that official status has increased funding opportunities for educational and cultural projects in Irish at European level, and has enhanced job opportunities for Irish citizens seeking work in EU institutions.

 Information about the Gaeltacht policy is currently being prepared.  It will be posted here shortly.