asked the Minister for Justice the number of Gardaí who were precluded under the Garda promotion regulations from attending promotion interviews by reason of their failure to pass the prescribed examination in oral Irish; and if, in view of the recent easement in regard to Irish in the intermediate and leaving certificate examinations, he will consider amending the Garda promotion regulations to enable unsuccessful candidates to compete at future promotion interviews.
Written Answers. - Garda Promotion Regulations.
183.
It has not been possible in the time available to carry out an exhaustive examination of the relevant Garda records but the Commissioner informs me that, as far as can be readily ascertained, only one Garda is precluded from attending an interview for promotion by reason of failing the oral Irish test.
I do not think that the question of a knowledge of the Irish language for promotion purposes in the Garda Síochána should be separated from the broader issue of the Irish language requirement in the public service generally on which the Minister for Finance made a statement in the House on the 20th June last.