Business speaks a different language

THE idealist in me is happy that our national language has been granted enhanced status by the EU.

Here we are, a small nation of approximately four million people on the periphery of Europe, able to punch beyond our weight in the EU.

So it has been up to now. I am not sure about the future.

But the pragmatist in me is saying: what will the increased working status of the Irish language do for young Johnny who leaves school with a reading difficulty?

What will the new status do for the majority of our people who struggle daily in offices and factories?

It is business and commerce that dictate the quality of our lives.

If we fail to keep up, the dreaded global market is lurking in the overgrowth to gobble us up.

I think English is more and more the language of business.

We had better improve our skills in that language if we are to survive.

Jeremiah C O’Sullivan

2 Carolina Terrace

Montenotte

Cork