20.2.04
Politics.ie - Opposition table Dail motion urging recognition of Irish as official EU language - The Irish Politics Website
Opposition table Dail motion urging recognition of Irish as official EU language
Friday, February 20
Labour, Fine Gael and the Green Party have agreed the text of a joint motion calling on the government to avail of the opportunity presented by Ireland's Presidency to inform the European Union of its wish to have the Irish language recognised as an official language of the European Union and its institutions. (The text of the motion is given below).
The motion will be debated during the Labour Party's Private Members Time on Tuesday and Wednesday next.
Commenting on the motion the Labour Party Leader, Pat Rabbitte said: "Ireland's Presidency of the EU provides an opportunity that may not be repeated to press the case for the recognition of Irish as an official language in the European Union. If the Dail passes this motion next week it would considerably strengthen the hand of the government in raising this issue with the EU."
"Tugann Uachtarántacht an Aontais Eorpaigh deis faoi leith don Rialtas, cás aitheantais an Ghaeilge a bhrú mar theanga oifigiul an Aontais. Má glacann an Dáil leis an Rún, an seachtain seo chugainn, neartófar lámh an Rialtais stádas an Ghaeilge a ardú san AE."
The Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny TD said:
"As Ireland may not have the Presidency of the EU again in its current format, the Government should avail of this unique opportunity to have Irish recognised as an official language.
"Cuireann is sé isteach go mór orm ar an gcéad lá do mhí Bealtaine le deich gcinn de tíortha nua ag teacht isteach san Aontas Eorpach, go mbeidh suas le 20 cinn de teangacha oifigiúil san Aontas agus ní bheidh an Gaeilge leo siúd."
The Leader of the Green Party, Trevor Sargent TD said: "Every country which signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957, and every country which signed a Treaty of Accession since then, except Ireland, has had their official national languages recognized as official languages of the EU. For example, Malta - which will join the EU in May - has had their national language accepted as an official EU language even though it has less national language speakers than Ireland has."
"The decision of the Irish Government, in 1972, to exclude Irish, significantly disadvantaged their own people. Though late, it is both possible and necessary to correct the mistake now, and to achieve recognition for Irish as an official working language".
"Tá gach tír a shínigh Conradh na Róimhe sa bhliain 1957, agus gach tír a shínigh Conradh Aontachais ó shin, ach amháin Éire, tar éis aitheantas a fháil dá dteangacha náisiúnta oifigiúla mar theangacha oifigiúla den Aontas Eorpach. Mar shampla, tá aitheantas faighte ag Malta ? a rachaidh isteach san Aontas, mí na Bealtaine ? dá dteanga náisiúnta mar theanga oifigiúil de chuid AE, cé gur lú líon cainteoirí na teanga náisiúnta ansin ná lion na gcainteoirí Gaeilge in Éirinn."
"Ba é an toradh a bhí ar chinneadh Rialtas na hÉireann sa bhliain 1972 an Ghaeilge a eisiamh ná a bpobal féin a fhágáil faoi mhíbhuntáiste mór. Cé go bhfuil sé déanach, is féidir agus is gá an dearmad sin a cheartú anois, agus aitheantas a bhaint amach don Ghaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil oibre."
Opposition table Dail motion urging recognition of Irish as official EU language
Friday, February 20
Labour, Fine Gael and the Green Party have agreed the text of a joint motion calling on the government to avail of the opportunity presented by Ireland's Presidency to inform the European Union of its wish to have the Irish language recognised as an official language of the European Union and its institutions. (The text of the motion is given below).
The motion will be debated during the Labour Party's Private Members Time on Tuesday and Wednesday next.
Commenting on the motion the Labour Party Leader, Pat Rabbitte said: "Ireland's Presidency of the EU provides an opportunity that may not be repeated to press the case for the recognition of Irish as an official language in the European Union. If the Dail passes this motion next week it would considerably strengthen the hand of the government in raising this issue with the EU."
"Tugann Uachtarántacht an Aontais Eorpaigh deis faoi leith don Rialtas, cás aitheantais an Ghaeilge a bhrú mar theanga oifigiul an Aontais. Má glacann an Dáil leis an Rún, an seachtain seo chugainn, neartófar lámh an Rialtais stádas an Ghaeilge a ardú san AE."
The Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny TD said:
"As Ireland may not have the Presidency of the EU again in its current format, the Government should avail of this unique opportunity to have Irish recognised as an official language.
"Cuireann is sé isteach go mór orm ar an gcéad lá do mhí Bealtaine le deich gcinn de tíortha nua ag teacht isteach san Aontas Eorpach, go mbeidh suas le 20 cinn de teangacha oifigiúil san Aontas agus ní bheidh an Gaeilge leo siúd."
The Leader of the Green Party, Trevor Sargent TD said: "Every country which signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957, and every country which signed a Treaty of Accession since then, except Ireland, has had their official national languages recognized as official languages of the EU. For example, Malta - which will join the EU in May - has had their national language accepted as an official EU language even though it has less national language speakers than Ireland has."
"The decision of the Irish Government, in 1972, to exclude Irish, significantly disadvantaged their own people. Though late, it is both possible and necessary to correct the mistake now, and to achieve recognition for Irish as an official working language".
"Tá gach tír a shínigh Conradh na Róimhe sa bhliain 1957, agus gach tír a shínigh Conradh Aontachais ó shin, ach amháin Éire, tar éis aitheantas a fháil dá dteangacha náisiúnta oifigiúla mar theangacha oifigiúla den Aontas Eorpach. Mar shampla, tá aitheantas faighte ag Malta ? a rachaidh isteach san Aontas, mí na Bealtaine ? dá dteanga náisiúnta mar theanga oifigiúil de chuid AE, cé gur lú líon cainteoirí na teanga náisiúnta ansin ná lion na gcainteoirí Gaeilge in Éirinn."
"Ba é an toradh a bhí ar chinneadh Rialtas na hÉireann sa bhliain 1972 an Ghaeilge a eisiamh ná a bpobal féin a fhágáil faoi mhíbhuntáiste mór. Cé go bhfuil sé déanach, is féidir agus is gá an dearmad sin a cheartú anois, agus aitheantas a bhaint amach don Ghaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil oibre."
