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European Elections 2014


Toghcháin Eorpacha 2014Conradh na Gaeilge called on candidates in the local and European elections to choose a future for the Irish language and to show their support by taking action to promote Irish if elected.

The local and European elections were held in the north Thursday, 22 May 2014, and in the south on Friday, 23 May 2014. Conradh na Gaeilge asked all voters to question each candidate’s commitment to the Irish language and to record every candidate’s answers with Conradh na Gaeilge by filling out an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/toghchain2014.

The information sheet for candidates can be found here. Below are written answers received by Conradh na Gaeilge from European election candidates to the following questions before the elections:

Question 1:
(a) If you are elected as a Member of the European Parliament, are you willing to speak Irish regularly and as common practice in Parliament? or
(b) If you are not comfortable with your own standard of Irish, will you improve upon your level of Irish by taking classes or a self-taught online course so as to ensure that you will have sufficient Irish to appropriately represent, the Irish speaking community especially, in the European Parliament?

Question 2
Are you willing to announce in public as part of your electoral campaign that you wish to have the derogation concerning the status of the Irish language in the European Union ended at the end of the year 2016? In order for that to happen, the Irish Government would need to inform the Council of the European Union, without delay, that it intends to propose the ending of the derogation at a formal meeting to be held in 2015.

DUBLIN

Brian Hayes, Fine Gael:

“Many thanks for contacting me in relation to the Irish Language. I am certainly committed to making an effort to speak Irish in the European Parliament if elected. I would be more than happy to improve my Irish by taking classes.

In relation to the second part of your email, currently the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is engaged in discussions with various stakeholders, including the EU institutions, in order to formulate specific proposals on the optimal approach to the ending of the derogation. It is hoped to bring the matter forward for consideration by Government in the coming months. The Government remains committed to its strategy of ensuring that a sufficient number of qualified personnel are available to meet the needs arising from the recognition of Irish as an official and working language of the EU. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht continues to provide substantial funding for a range of specialised third level courses and for the development of Irish language terminology for the EU terminology database, InterActive Terminology for Europe (IATE).

As a country I believe we can do more to bring the Irish language to the fore on a European Stage and promote the use of the language at home.

Le meas,Freagraí na nIarrthóirí | Toghcháin Eorpacha 2014 | Conradh na Gaeilge
Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State."

Mary Fitzpatrick, Fianna Fáil:

“Dear Peadar, Mary has asked me to get back to you on this. If elected, Mary will improve her Irish language skills and will support the translation of all official EU documents into Irish and with it the creation of additional jobs for translators.

Kind regards, Brian.”

Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin:

“Ceist 1(b) Tá. Ceist 2 Tá”

Emer Costello, Labour:

“Thank you for your email. I am committed to speaking Irish regularly in the European Parliament.

Yours sincerely, Emer.”

Eamon Ryan, Green Party:

“Cuireadh in iúl dom go raibh tú ag iarraidh eolais a fháil faoi sheasamh an Chomhaontais Ghlais ar chás na Gaeilge san Aontas Eorpach. Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl duit gur ghlac an páirtí le polasaí nua Gaeilge go foirmiúil Dé Sathairn seo caite agus go luaitear sa pholasaí sin go bhfuil an páirtí ar son deireadh a chur leis an maolú ar stádas na Gaeilge san Aontas Eorpach agus stádas iomlán oifigiúil a bhronnadh ar an teanga san Aontas.

Tá an polasaí nua seo ar fáil go dátheangach i rannán polasaithe shuíomh gréasáin náisiúnta an pháirtí ag an nasc seo: http://greenparty.ie/policies Seo thíos téacs na míre faoin nGaeilge san Eoraip i gCuid 9 den pholasaí.

An Ghaeilge san Aontas Eorpach
Tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas le stádas feabhsaithe na Gaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil oibre de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh, agus saothróidh sé chun go gcuirfear an stádas sin i bhfeidhm go hiomlán agus go gcuirfear deireadh leis an maolú atá ar an stádas sin faoi láthair. 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 sé le deiseanna fostaíochta d’Éireannaigh atá ag lorg oibre sna hinstitiúidí Eorpacha. Fáiltíonn an Comhaontas Glas roimh na deiseanna nua sin.

Le dea-mhéin,
Seán Ó Buachalla, Cathaoirleach Grúpa Polasaí na Gaeilge sa Chomhaontas Glas.”

Paul Murphy, Socialist Party:

“Q1 - Paul doesn't speak Irish fluently. He has made a speech in Irish which you can see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voDcDghrVUA. Paul has been trying to improve his Irish over the last few months for use in the parliament and to use in the media. He will continue to do this. He took part in the Lá Mór na Gaeilge march. The Socialist Party supported the campaign to have Irish recognised as an official language by the EU.

Q2. Paul opposes measures which continue the derogation of Irish. Here's a link to an article we published at the time. Paul was the only MEP to vote against it.

Thanks, Dave.”

Bríd Smith, People Before Profit:

“An cead ceist. Ba mhaith liom abair leo go bhfuil mé réidh agus athasach iarracht a dhéanamh chun cur blas níos fearr ar mo chuid Gaeilge agus go bhfuil mé faoi láthair ag dul go dtí ranganna an teanga gach Domhnach i Baile Formaid.

An ceist eile. Tugfaidh me lán tacaíocht ar maolú Stádas na Gaeilge a chur ar ceal ag deireadh 2016. Tuigim go bhfuil seo "aspirational" ag an am seo ach go caithfimid troid leis an rialtais in Eireann i gcomhair seo a chur i láthair.

Cllr Bríd Smith (Ní Gabhainn)”

Nessa Childers, Independent:

“As a sitting MEP, I have supported the Irish language throughout my term in the European Parliament, my voting records shows my support. I voted against ‘the extension of rule 147 to the 8th Parliamentary Term to limit the translation and interpretation of the Irish language in the European Parliament.

I have also translated election literature into Irish, in order to support the Irish speaking community in my constituency. Please find attached a piece of literature that I will be distributing as part of my campaign.

I am also willing to lend my support to the call to end the derogation concerning the status of the Irish language in the European Union ended at the end of 2016. I believe that all European institutions should be obliged to translate official documents into Irish.

If you have any other queries,please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely, Nessa Childers MEP.”

CENTRAL - NORTH EAST

Mairéad Mc Guinness, Fine Gael:

“Question 1. (b) If you are not comfortable with your own standard of Irish, will you improve upon your level of Irish by taking classes or a self-taught online course so as to ensure that you will have sufficient Irish to appropriately represent, the Irish speaking community especially, in the European Parliament? YES

Question 2. YES, I would support moves to end the derogation. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is currently consulting with relevant stakeholders regarding the derogation and a decision is required by the latest December 2015."
              
Pat the Cope Gallagher, Fianna Fáil:

“Ceist 1. Táim cinnte toillteanach Gaeilge a labhairt go rialta, mar atá déanta agam thar tréimhse na cúig bliana atá thart. Má éiríonn liom suíochán a bhaint amach athuair leanfaidh mé liom ag labhairt Gaeilge go rialta i bParlaimint na hEorpa

Ceist 2. Táim toillteanach tacú go poiblí le tograí i dtaca le deireadh a chur leis an maolú ar stádas na Gaeilge. D’fhéadfaí idir 183 agus 188 post lánaimseartha a chruthú d’Éireannaigh dá gcuirfí deireadh leis an maolú. Ní mór do Rialtas na hÉireann cinneadh a dhéanamh anois maidir le togra a chur síos i dtaca le deireadh a chur ar an maolú roimh an athbhreithniú oifigiúil sa bhliain 2015. Mar atá faoi láthair, tá éiginnteacht ann agus caillfear amach ar deiseanna fostaíochta mura nglactar cinneadh gan mhoill. Tá a dhóthain aistritheoirí, ateangairí, dlí-theangeolaithe agus cúntóirí ann anois chun go mbeifí in ann deireadh a chur leis an maolú ag deireadh na tréimhse seo.

Labhair mé féin amach cupla babhta i bParlalimint na hEorpa maidir leis an éagóir ata déanta ar an nGaeilge.

Chuaigh mé i mbun gnímh nuair nach raibh suíomh idirlín Pharlaimint na hEorpa ar fáil as Gaeilge. Ní heasca a bhí sin ar chor ar bith, go háirithe toisc an maorlathas agus riarachán a bhíonn i gceist agus cé go raibh leagan Gailge den suíomh idirlín curtha ar fáil ag na hinstitiúidí Eorpacha eile.   Labhair mé amach cupla uair i bParlaimint na hEorpa ar an gceist chéanna agus d'eagraigh mé toscaireacht chun bualadh le hUachtarán na Parlaiminte Martin Schulz, a gheall leagan Gaeilge den suíomh idirlín a chur ar fáil.

Cuireann an cinneadh sin deireadh leis an éagóir a bhí á déanamh ar an nGaeilge.

Tá leagan Gaeilge de shuíomh idirlín na Parlaiminte do na toghcháin Eorpacha ar fáil anois agus beidh suíomh iomlán Pharlaimint na hEorpa ar fáil as Gaeilge go luath.”

Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fáil:

Answers given via telephone

Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin:

“In reply to your questionnaire I can confirm that in reply to question 1 (a) I will make every speak Irish regularly and 1 (b) will take classes to improve my level of Irish (and have already done so since my selection as Sinn Féin candidate in the Midlands North West) to enable me to properly representing the large Irish speaking community across this constituency).

I can also confirm that I am willing to announce in public as part of  my electoral campaign that I want to see the derogation concerning the status of the Irish language in the European Union ended at the end of the year 2016.”

Lorraine Higgins, Labour:

“Thank you for your email and apologies for the delay in responding. I am part of Lorriane's campaign team for the elections and it has been quite an intense few weeks give the distance to be covered in the midlands north west constituency.

Lorraine has spoken on this issue only last week at a hustings event in NUI Galway. She is not a native Irish speaker herself but is very passionate about the importance of the language and our politicians using it where possible. She would be very keen to improve her own Irish if elected to the parliament and would be very supportive of taking classes to improve her level.

She has also indicated she would be happy to see the derogation concerning the status of the Irish language ended in 2016.

Kind regards, Karen.”

Mark Dearey, Green Party:

"Below you will find the Green Party's position on the derogation which I am sure meets with your approval.

My own commitment to learning the language wont I am afraid.I dont have anything approaching a working grasp of the language despite passing at pass level all those years ago at school.

And I am afraid I am so over committed on so many fronts( I am self employed with 13 employees to look after as well as 4 children at 6 years and under) that it would be less than honest of me to pretend that if elected I will have the time to dedicate to the challenge . I don't feel good about that but its my reality.
Despite my own limitations I see the protection of minority languages as of apiece with the political agenda of sustainability that inspires me to stick with politics. In everything from our conceptual reasoning to our mental health I can only see good in an on going revival of the language and am very happy that the party has adopted the following.

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 and that the derogation of that full status which is currently in place be lifted. 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.

Increased bilingualism within the party is currently being introduced and a charter for the Irish language is due to be published shortly.

Míle buíochas, Mark.”

Marian Harkin, Independent:

“Yes I will commit to taking a course in the Irish Language to improve my spoken Irish. Question 2. Yes I am now officially announcing it publicly that I support the ending of the derogation concerning the status of the Irish language in the EU at the end of 2016.”

Ronan Mullen, Independent:

“Ceist 1. Déanann sé iarracht i gcónaí ag Ghaeilge a labhairt agus tá sé lán sásta í a labhairt mar ghnáthchleachtas sa Pharlaimint.
Ceist 2. Tá sé sásta fógraí a dhéanamh go poiblí agus tá sé in aghaidh an maolú. sin ar an Ghaeilge agus bíonn sé i gcónaí an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.

Luke Ming Flanagan, Independent:

“Question 1. Answer (b). Question 2. Answer Yes. Thanks and Regards. Luke 'Ming' Flanagan TD.”

Cordeila Nic Fhearraigh, Fís Nua:

“Ceist 1 (a). Ceist 2. Níl polasaí ar leith ag Fís Nua ar an cheist seo. Tá mé i bhfathach na ceiste go pearsanta fhad is nach cur amú airgid a bheas ann i. cé a bheas ag léamh na cáipéisí dlíthiúla seo? Ba mhaith liom ateangairí a fheiceáil san Dáil agus sna Comhairlí Contae sa tír seo áit go dtig le polaiteoirí a bhfuil cumas labhairt na Gaeilge acu í a úsáid le plé a dhéanamh ar cheist ar bith atá os a gcomhar.”

SOUTH

Deirdre Clune, Fine Gael:

“I would certainly be very happy to speak Irish in the European Parliament if elected.  My standard of Irish needs to be improved  and I would make every effort to ensure that I would have sufficient Irish to represent my Irish speaking community in the European Parliament.

The Programme for Government commits to support the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. A derogation allows for translation of all the legal documents to be made available in Irish and I know that there continues to be a shortage of Irish language experts available to properly resource this work. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is engaged in discussions to formulate specific proposals on the ending of the derogation.

I think the decision to make Irish a working and official language is a very important one and I will maintain contact with Minister Jimmy Deenihan, TD and the Government in this regard.

Slán tamaill. Deirdre Clune”

Seán Kelly, Fine Gael:

“Ceist 1:

a) labhróidh An t-Úsal Ó Ceallaigh as gaeilge comh minic agus is féidir mar a dhein sé sa pharlaimint ón 2009

b) is Gaelgóir é An t-Úsal Ó Ceallagih agus tá sé go an-compordach ag laibhairt as Gaeilge sa pharlaimint, dá bhrí sin, níl air ranganna Gaeilge a ghlacadh

Ceist 2 Aointíonn sé go h-iomláin leis an ráiteas seo."

Liadh Ní Riada, Sinn Féin:

Answers given via telephone

Grace O’ Sullivan, Green Party:

“Cuireadh in iúl dom go raibh tú ag iarraidh eolais a fháil faoi sheasamh an Chomhaontais Ghlais ar chás na Gaeilge san Aontas Eorpach. Ba mhaith liom a chur in iúl duit gur ghlac an páirtí le polasaí nua Gaeilge go foirmiúil Dé Sathairn seo caite agus go luaitear sa pholasaí sin go bhfuil an páirtí ar son deireadh a chur leis an maolú ar stádas na Gaeilge san Aontas Eorpach agus stádas iomlán oifigiúil a bhronnadh ar an teanga san Aontas.

Tá an polasaí nua seo ar fáil go dátheangach i rannán polasaithe shuíomh gréasáin náisiúnta an pháirtí ag an nasc seo: http://greenparty.ie/policies Seo thíos téacs na míre faoin nGaeilge san Eoraip i gCuid 9 den pholasaí.

An Ghaeilge san Aontas Eorpach
Tacaíonn an Comhaontas Glas le stádas feabhsaithe na Gaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil oibre de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh, agus saothróidh sé chun go gcuirfear an stádas sin i bhfeidhm go hiomlán agus go gcuirfear deireadh leis an maolú atá ar an stádas sin faoi láthair. 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 sé le deiseanna fostaíochta d’Éireannaigh atá ag lorg oibre sna hinstitiúidí Eorpacha. Fáiltíonn an Comhaontas Glas roimh na deiseanna nua sin.

Le dea-mhéin,
Seán Ó Buachalla, Cathaoirleach Grúpa Polasaí na Gaeilge sa Chomhaontas Glas.”

Diarmaid O Flynn, Independent:

“Yes yes and yes to everything; a source of shame to me that I'm no longer fluent in my own language; did my Leaving Cert in 1970 and had good command then (my father was a native speaker, from Castletownroche in Cork but lived for 13 years in Spiddal, became totally immersed in Connemara and every aspect of life there).

Spoke barely a word of Irish again until about three years ago when a group started off a conversation circle in Charleville; died a death after a few months.

Elected or not (and I'm in to win), have every intention of becoming fluent again, even if I have to wait til retirement in four years.

Regards. Diarmuid O`Flynn”

NORTH

Anna Lo, Alliance:

“In regards question one, I am not a speaker of Irish, although I support people who wish to use the language to do so. As a result however, I will be unable to speak Irish regularly in the European Parliament. I would support the rights of those MEPs who are elected who wish to do so.
However, I would agree that there is a case for removing the derogation for the Irish language in the European Parliament. Whilst this is, strictly speaking, a matter for the Government of the Republic of Ireland, there are implications for Irish-speakers here in Northern Ireland. I would hope that the Irish Government and the European Union would be able to resolve this matter soon.

Best wishes, Anna Lo.”

Alex Attwood, SDLP:

"Ceist 1.(b) Tá roinnt Gaeilge agam agus bhéinn sásta  cúrsa féin-foghlaim ar líne a dhéanamh chun a chinntiú go mbeidh mo dhóthain Gaeilge agam chun an ionadaíocht chuí a dhéanamh, ach go háirithe do phobal na Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta, i bParlaimint na hEorpa

Ceist 2
Seo thíos sliocht ón forfhógra Pháirtí Daonlacthach Sóisialta an Lucht Oibre ar an Ghaeilge.

Comhionannas  Teanga: Cuireann an SDLP fáilte roimh fhás  éagsúlacht theangacha i dTuaisceart Éireann. Cé go bhfuil úsáid  teangacha mionlaí ag dul i méid anseo, agus nach teangacha mionlaí  lasmuigh de Thuaisceart Éireann iad, cuirimid fáilte roimh an éagsúlacht ilchultúir is inchiallaithe iontu seo.
Táimid tiománta  do sholáthar tacaíochta  lucht labharthas na dteangacha mionlaí ar fad, ach go háirithe, stádas na Gaeilge, an meas ina léith agus a híomhá  i measc an phobail a bhísiú.

Leanfaidh an SDLP ag teannadh ar fhorfheidhmiú na ngealltanas i léith na Gaeilge, ach go háirithe an Chairt Eorpach um Teangacha Reigiúnda agus Mionlaí.

Leanfaimid lenár gcuid oibre ar Acht na Gaeilge i dTionól Thuaisceart Éireann a chomhlíonfaidh cearta phobal na Gaeilge.

Tugadh aitheantas don Ghaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh ar 1 Eanáir 2007. De thoradh an easpa saineolaithe teanga um an dtaca sin, cuireadh sraonadh i bhfeidhm ar an mhéid eolais a bhí a dhíth chun soláthar trí Ghaeilge.

Ar an dea-uair níl easpa saineolaithe anois ann agus is den tábhacht é ar chríoch an mhaolaithe i 2017 go nglacfar leis an Ghaeilge ar chomhchéim leis an 24 teanga oifigiúil eile de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh.

Rachaidh seo chun sochair fadthéarmach thionchair na hÉireann san Aontas Eorpach go  mbeidh méid áirithe daoine a thógfaidh na poist seo agus a bhogfaidh, i ndeireadh dála, isteach i bpoist a bhfuil freagracht ar limistéir polasaithe ag baint leo laistigh den Aontas Eorpach.

Cuirfidh an SDLP brú ar OFMDFM(OPA/OLPA) dileagla a bheith acu ar an Ghaeilge trí thuairisciú ar dhul chun cinn de réir bearta An Chairt Eorpach um Theangacha Regiúnda agus Mionlaí agus de réir a n-oibligeadaí tacú leis an Ultais.

Oibriú le Rialtas na hÉireann le cinnte a dhéanamh de go ndéanfar achainí oifigiúil ar an Aontas Eorpach gan athnuachan a dhéanamh ar an mhaolú ar an Ghaeilge.

Béim a chur ar acmhainn chruthaithe fostaíochta na seifte seo: go gcruthófar 180+ post idir an t-am seo agus 2017.

Brú a chur ar Rialtas na hÉireann agus ar Roinn an Chultúir sa Tuaisceart le feachtas fostaíochta a chur ar bun idir an t-am seo agus 2017 le cinnte a dhéanamh de go mbeidh foireann réidh i 2017 leis na poist a chruthófar a líonadh.

Go leanfar ag obriú go dlúth le cleachtoirí agus le hionadaithe pobal rachtaíocht a thabhairt chun cinn le forálacha a éascú agus le tacú ar fhorbairt agus ar úsáid na Gaeilge.

Déanamh cinnte de go mbeidh Stráitéis na Gaeilge foilsithe agus curtha i bhfeidhm sa Tuaisceart.

Acmhuinní cuí a bheith ag pobal na Gaeilge thuaidh and theas leis an teanga a fhréamhú agus a fhorbairt sna pobail áitiúla

Lántacaíocht a bheith ann do chóras gaeloideachais ón leibhéal réamhscolaíochta ar aghaidh.”
 
Martina Anderson, Sinn Féin:

“I am writing with regard to the Irish language survey on behalf of my MEP Martina Anderson. I understand that Martina has already signed up to the commitments in question 2 and I would also like to confirm that she can commit to the undertakings outlined in question 1 b.

Best Wishes. Assistant to Martina Anderson MEP.”

Conradh na Gaeilge

6 Sráid Fhearchair, Baile Átha Cliath 2, Éire.
Phone: +353 (0) 1 475 7401, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.