Proinsias De Rossa
Ceist:8 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the reason this Government has not signed the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages.
Faoi mar a dúirt mé ar 4 Samhain 1993 mar fhreagra ar Cheist Dála Uimh. 49, tá an cheist seo á athbhreithniú faoi láthair.
An féidir leis an Aire a chur in iúl don Teach cad iad na fadhbanna atá ag baint le síniú an chonartha seo?
Nuair a bhí mé ag déanamh breithnithe ar an moladh seo go síneofaí an conradh seo, bhí an dá dhearcadh ann: ar lámh amháin bhí daoine ann a cheap go mba cheart gach rud a bheith in ord sar a shíneofaí é; bhí an tuairim eile ann go mba cheart dul ar aghaidh agus an conradh a shíniú agus in a dhiaidh sin, b'fhéidir go gcuirfí aon rud a bheadh ag teastáil in ord. Bhí ormsa na hargóintí éagsúla a athchoimriú agus m'aigne féin a dhéanamh suas. Tá sé ar intinn agam cinneadh a dhéanamh go luath i 1994.
An aontódh an tAire go bhfuil an conradh seo do na teangacha neamhfhorleathana níos tábhachtaí don tír seo ná beagnach do thír ar bith eile de bharr go bhfuil ár dteanga féin liostáilte mar cheann den na teangacha sin agus nach teanga í do phobal beag istigh sa tír ach gur teanga náisiúnta í. An bhfuil an tAire sásta ceannasaíocht a thabhairt san iarracht atá le déanamh chun an conradh seo a shíniú?
Tá sé tábhachtach go gcuirfinn in iúl don Teach nach bhfuil sé ar intinn agam aon straitéis leisciúil a chur ar aghaidh, agus sin an fáth go bhfuil mé ag déanamh athbhreithnithe. Mar a dúirt mé, tá súil agam go mbeidh mé ag déanamh cinnidh go luath i 1994.
Más féidir liom casadh ar an mBearla i leith na ceiste seo, may I ask the Minister if it is possible, within this charter which has not yet been signed, to make provision for minority languages in Ireland as well as for the Irish language, which is our first language? I am talking about modern European languages such as French and German, minority languages which are most essential if we are to progress economically in the years ahead. If provision can be made under this charter——
Ceisteanna le do thoil.
I am about to formulate a question. Will provision be made under this charter for languages that are widely spoken in other member states but are clearly minority languages here and need to be fostered?
The question relates to the signing of the charter — I am not writing the charter. The issue arises as to the definition of a minority, lesser used or regional language, and this is part of the difficulty I had to resolve. On the one hand I wanted to protect the constitutional position of the Irish language and also to look at the whole issue of the various departmental views. I want to be explicit on this matter. I will not allow the signing to be delayed for reasons of tardiness in receiving the views of any Department. The Deputy raises an important issue. All the evidence seems to suggest that people who speak two languages can more easily speak three or four languages. With the setting up of Teilifís na Gaeilge we will have important broadcasting infrastructure that will advance the Irish language in new circumstances and will also have the technical capacity to introduce the teaching of other languages.