MEPs challenged to maintain Irish status

AS a member of Fine Gael I was surprised to read that three Fine Gael MEPs have never spoken in Irish in the EU parliament in 2007 and that one has only spoken one sentence there (Irish Examiner, January 21).

I put in many hours in a voluntary capacity and worked in part-time paid employment in an Irish language organisation for the campaign to make Irish an official EU language.

Needless to say, I believed passionately in making Irish an official language of the EU.

I still believe that its current status in the EU is important.

However, if our elected MEPs don’t start speaking in Irish, then it should no longer be a working language.

Ní sheasann sac folamh — an empty sack won’t stand.

The Government’s rhetoric on the language is useless and it is not investing in marketing the language at home.

How do they expect it to be marketed in the EU and worldwide if it is not marketed in Ireland?

Darren Mac an Phríora

Corrán Chaisleán Cnucha

Caisleán Cnucha

Baile Átha Cliath 15