'Daft' plan to cut Gaeilge for immigrant gardaí

GAELTACHT Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv has written to Justice Minister Michael McDowell about his plans to drop the Irish language requirement for immigrant recruits to An Garda Síochána.

Irish language association Conradh na Gaelige yesterday strongly criticised Mr McDowell's "negative" attitude to the language and said his plan contradicted the official status of Irish as equal to English.

But the Equality Authority came out in favour of Mr McDowell's proposals and said his leadership should act as an example in other areas, including teaching, where Irish is required in primary schools.

A spokeswoman for Mr Ó Cuiv confirmed he had raised the issue with his Cabinet colleague.

"Minister Ó Cuiv is seeking clarification from Minister Michael McDowell on the matter," she said.

Mr McDowell announced on Thursday that he was discussing with Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy ways of removing the Irish language requirement for immigrant communities in a bid to boost recruitment of ethnic minorities.

Conradh na Gaelige described Mr McDowell's plan as a "step backwards".

Its acting chief executive Aoife Ní Scolaí said: "We have two official languages in this country and they are supposed to be official equal languages; therefore this rule should stay."

She said the plan was "daft", given progress was being made in other areas.

"Basically every citizen, whether they live in the Gaeltacht or not, is entitled to conduct their business through Irish. You don't have this problem in other countries, this negative look at languages. It's a shame".

"While everyone understands we badly need more gardaí and we would welcome people from the whole community, including people from different cultures, we don't see why the Irish language would be removed from this," MsNí Scolaí added.

She said no Irish language organisation had been consulted by the minister.

Ms Ní Scolaí said it was particularly disappointing given that Mr McDowell's great grandfather, Eoin McNeill, was a founder member of Conrad na Gaeilge".

Equality Authority chief executive Niall Crowley warmly welcomed the minister's plans.

"I think it's a very positive development, taking steps to broaden ethnic diversity within such a key service.

"It's positive in terms of improving linkages with ethnic communities, enhancing the relevance of the service to the needs of those communities and also providing role models for those communities."

He said the minister was taking a "valuable leadership" position and setting a good example in relation to other areas, including the Department of Education.

Dermot O'Donnell, president of the Garda Representative Association, said there needed to be a balance between the requirement to provide the service bilingually and enabling people from ethnic minorities to join the police force.

John Carr, general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, called on the Department of Education to examine the current Irish language requirements for primary teachers.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said there was no intention to consider the matter.