FG complacent on Irish language policy

SEVERAL weeks ago I emailed the entire Fine Gael frontbench to ask if they thought the party had failed the Irish language.

I listed a couple of policy ideas on the language, including the need for an all-island young persons’ radio station in the language — a 2FM as gaeilge — and the need for statutory naming committees at council level for new residential developments.

I don’t propose (and didn’t in the email) that it should be compulsory for councils to name residential developments in Irish — unless they vote to do so like Galway City Council and Shannon Town Council. I merely wanted to see Irish names being encouraged.