Taoiseach criticised over claim that Irish language numbers are increasing

One of the country's leading Irish language groups has criticised the Taoiseach's claim that the number of Irish speakers in the Gaelteacht is increasing.

Enda Kenny's remarks feature in a Documentary on One radio show broadcast earlier this afternoon titled "Fine Gaeilgoir".

The documentary follows TD Joe McHugh from his appointment as Minister for the Gaeltacht - despite his inability to speak Irish.

In the programme, Mr Kenny speaks about the appointment of McHugh, and about the problems facing the Gaeltacht regions.

"The figures would show that it [the Irish language] is actually increasing - by a small percentage, but increasing. Population is going up as well, of course," he told the programme.

"There are increasing numbers in Gaeltacht areas who have travelled back who might be married to somebody from a different country or might have never spoken Irish. It doesn't worry me … [even if there is] pressure is on the language, you can't have 'exclusive reservations' [for Irish speakers] here. It's a free country. "

However, a spokesperson from Conradh na Gaeilge said the Taoiseach is severely mistaken.

"It is clear that the Taoiseach is mistaken if he thinks that the number of Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht is growing, even minimally - the bulk of research and linguistic studies contradict such a statement," said Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill, president of Conradh na Gaeilge.

"There is no question but that a reduction in the number of Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht has taken place; there is a large body of research from various sources that support this, but more importantly, the Gaeltacht community itself recognises the problems that are putting pressure on Irish as the everyday language of use in the community."

During the documentary, the Taoiseach also defended the appointment of McHugh to the position as Minister for Gaelteacht.

He said without McHugh, Co Donegal would not have had a representative in Government – but he also felt it was important to prove the Irish language could be learned.

"If you asked Joe McHugh a year ago a couple of simple questions in Irish, he couldn't answer you. Now he can," he said, objecting to the idea that a Minister should come from the Gaeltacht region.

"There are more Irish speakers in Dublin than in many Gaeltacht areas and I've often heard them speak and I speak to them myself.

"So it's not a case of people saying this is something inferior here – in fact, they should be more than proud of the fact that somebody who lost his Irish has actually relearned it."

Mr Kenny said the fact his Minister has learned the language from almost nothing is "a source of celebration and a demonstration that anybody can do this".

— Listen to the documentary in full on Documentary on One.