Answer language and religion questions honestly on census form
This doesn’t stop many Irish people from dishonestly answering the census questions on the Irish language and religion.
In the last census, 42% of us claimed to speak Irish. Are you fluent enough to listen to An Nuacht or be able to read an Irish language newspaper? Knowing the difference between fir and mná to find the toilet does not make you an Irish speaker.
If you think you are an Irish speaker, why not ask for the Irish language version of the census form. You should find it easy to fill out, if you really do speak Irish.
In addition, most Irish people when faced with a religion question blankly tick Roman Catholic - 88% of us did so in the last census.
If you are a Catholic then you should have no problem in naming the sacraments. If you can’t, then you shouldn’t tick the Roman Catholic box. If you are not a Catholic nor a follower of any other religion and are not ready to tick the “No religion” box, how do you answer the religion question? There is no “Don’t know” option, so leave it blank - 80,000 people skipped this question last time.
Many of us are upset by politicians who lie at tribunals. Yet many of us lie on a census form about our religion and Irish-speaking abilities without any guilt or remorse.
Can I ask that on the next census day, we all answer the Irish and religion questions honestly. We are fooling and helping no one by being dishonest.
Jason FitzHarris
Rivervalley
Swords
Co Dublin
