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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Oct 1943

Vol. 91 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Broadcasting of Irish Language.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is in a position to state the amount of broadcasting time devoted, in the past five years, to the furtherance of the Irish language; and whether, having regard to the power of radio propaganda, he will for the future devote an increased amount of programme time to the Irish language, with special reference to suitable talks in English on the subject, so as to bring home to the public the importance of the language revival and to combat activities of hostile sections of the people who decry the cultural and linguistic values of the tongue.

There are so many ways in which we have helped the "furtherance of the Irish language" in the past five years—talks, plays, dramatisations and features of all kinds in Irish, talks in Irish and English by leaders in the movement, relays of concerts from all parts ot the country, broadcasts of songs in Irish and patriotic songs in English, the heavy proportion of Irish in the daily schools programme, that it would be quite impossible to give a satisfactory estimate of what we do weekly for the language—and, of course, every week would vary. An important point, also, is that a precise statement of the time allotted to the furtherance of Irish would give no idea at all of what has been done for the language. It is not alone a question of the amount of time, but of what has heen done in the time. Most, if not all, of this information can be obtained from the director's annual reports of which copies are being sent to the Deputy.

Suitable talks in English on the subject have been frequently broadcast by leaders in the movement and time will always be made available on the radio for the purpose. If the Deputy has any concrete proposals to make for the furtherance of the language, the Director of Broadcasting will be very glad to discuss them with him at any time.

Many people believe that for those who have any Irish, and particularly for the young people who ought to have Irish, good, interesting broadcasts in Irish are the best propaganda— plays, dramatisations, radio digest, question time in Irish, reconstruction of the early days of the movement— and special attention is being given to this type of broadcast.

Does the Minister consider the broadcasting of the proceedings of Dáil Eireann good propaganda for the Irish language?

Not for the Labour Party.

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