Conradh na Gaeilge commend TG4 for their efforts to organise the first ever Irish-language debate between leaders of political parties before a general election. The debate in Irish between Eamon Gilmore, Enda Kenny and Micheál Martin - leader of the Labour Party, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil respectively - is planned for live broadcast on TG4 at 10.00am on Wednesday, 16 February 2011.
Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says: "This, the first live debate in Irish between political leaders of the country, would demonstrate to the world how far Irish-language media have progressed in recent years. Conradh na Gaeilge applaud TG4 for what they have achieved at this critical time, for both Irish politics and for the Irish language alike."
Conradh na Gaeilge are currently campaigning to ensure that the education policy of every political party in Ireland affirms that Irish will be taught to every school student as a core Leaving Cert subject after the general election, and are also looking for support for the establishment of new Gaelscoileanna, Irish-medium primary schools.
The Irish-language community and the support of all the political parties for the newly-published 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language are also vitally important, and Conradh na Gaeilge hope that the party leaders will seize the opportunity to discuss the Strategy and their parties' education policies openly and in detail on the day of the debate.
Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge says: "The Irish-language community deserve a thorough debate in Irish on the most important issues for the future of this country before casting their vote in the 2011 General Election, and Conradh na Gaeilge looks forward to the debate that is due on Irish-language and Gaeltacht issues, on the education system, and on the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language as well as economic, social, environmental and other issues.
"Conradh na Gaeilge commends TG4 for attempting to realise another historic milestone in the evolution of the language and supports their efforts to organise this debate in Irish between political leaders in time for the general election."
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa
President, Conradh na Gaeilge
066 7124169 / 087 2901154
Julian de Spáinn
General Secretary, Conradh na Gaeilge
01 4757401 / 086 8142757
