asked the Minister for Finance if he will arrange that all Government forms of a routine and unchanging nature such as radio licences and old age pension books will henceforward be issued in Irish only.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Forms in Irish.
Pádraig Ó Cuinneáin
I do not propose to arrange for the issue in Irish only of all Government forms of a routine and unchanging nature. I should like to add that bilingual versions are issued of most of these forms. In other cases Irish versions are available.
Can the Minister state what possible logical objection there can be to following the line suggested by the Deputy's question?
I would hate, for instance, to have income-tax forms issued only in Irish to people who do not know Irish.
Will the Minister agree with me that the question does not refer to income-tax forms?
It does. The only change that is made in the income-tax demand form is the amount. The rest is all the same.
With that exception——
There are plenty of others—postal orders and other forms.
Radio licences.
The question talks of forms of a routine and unchanging nature. Radio licences are issued bilingually.
Why not issue them in Irish only?
There are many people who would not understand what they were getting.
There is neither logic nor sense in not doing it.
I know Irish people who would not know what they were getting if they were issued in English only.