Irish-language activists picket Fine Gael offices

SOME 200 Irish-language activists marched on the Fine Gael headquarters in Dublin to protest against Enda Kenny’s proposals to drop compulsory Irish for the Leaving Certificate.

When Mr Kenny and a front-bench delegation from the party went to meet the protesters to explain his support for the language, he was subjected to heckling and to chants of ‘Fine Béarla’ from the crowd. The protesters, mainly third-level students, also held a rally outside the Dáil.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern also entered into the debate yesterday, saying he was disappointed with the stance Mr Kenny had adopted.

“I believe that (FG’s) proposals to downgrade the language is a regressive step and one which will ultimately lead to a drop in the number of speakers of the Irish language.”

Mr Kenny raised the issue during Leaders Questions in the Dáil. The Fine Gael leader, a proficient Irish speaker, said he fully supported all efforts to revive and encourage the language but reiterated his view that the policy of compulsory Irish to the Leaving Certificate had failed.

He agreed with Mr Ahern that the growth of Gaelscoileanna and the success of TG4, as well as the recognition of Irish as a working EU language, were positive developments.

But they departed in their views when it came to compulsory Irish.

In a statement outlining the Government position, Mr Ahern said: “The Government rightly acknowledges that there are difficulties in the way that Irish is taught in schools, and Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, is working to resolve these difficulties.

“Instead of sidelining or downgrading the language in the education system, I believe that we should work to resolve the difficulties that exist so we can continue to promote the language,” he said.