'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.