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Urgent Discussions On Irish-Speakers’ Human Rights Underway At Conradh na Gaeilge Information Day

As the Government in the south continues to make decisions with far-reaching consequences for the Irish-speaking and Gaeltacht community, the information day organised by Conradh na Gaeilge for TDs and Senators in Buswells Hotel, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, from 8.00am – 6.00pm today, Wednesday, 11 June 2014, is urgently needed.

Cóilín Ó Cearbhaill, President of Conradh na Gaeilge says:

“It is obvious from recent canvassing for the local elections that the public urgently need more opportunities to air their concerns with public representatives, and Conradh na Gaeilge’s information day is one such opportunity to help the country’s political representatives engage with Irish speakers on issues, policies and decisions that directly impact their community.”

Conradh na Gaeilge is inviting members of the Dáil and Seanad to come and discuss crucial language legislation, the status of Irish in Europe, and the funding of Irish-language and Gaeltacht bodies with representatives from both the advocacy organisations and from the different local constituencies.

This is the consecutive fifth year that Conradh na Gaeilge has organised such an event to inform and consult with politicians in the south, and Senators and TDs will have the chance to engage directly with representatives from their own constituencies on current issues affecting the Irish-language and Gaeltacht community anytime throughout the day between 8.00am – 6.00pm today (11 June 2014).

Julian de Spáinn, General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge says:

“We expect up to one hundred politicians to attend the event in Buswells Hotel today; Conradh na Gaeilge’s information day gives members of the Irish-language community an essential opportunity to engage directly with their local politicians, addressing and correcting misinformation, and fostering both better relations and cooperation between them and the local community working on the ground in their constituency on Irish-language and Gaeltacht affairs.

“We are stressing the importance of protecting the human rights of Irish speakers at the information day today, and we especially want to highlight the provisions that are necessary for ensuring that services are provided in Irish to the Gaeltacht community, but which have been omitted from the language legislation currently being reviewed by the Government.”

There will be particular emphasis on the amendments needed for the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2014; on treating the Irish language with fairness and equality in the budget; and on ending the derogation on the status of Irish as an official language of the European Union at this year’s consultation in Buswells Hotel, and members of the Oireachtas can contact Síne Nic an Ailí at +353 (0)87 6546673 if they would like to arrange a meeting with representatives from their own constituency to discuss Irish-language and Gaeltacht issues at any time during the day. END

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Julian de Spáinn,
General Secretary, Conradh na Gaeilge
+353 (0)86 8142757 / +353 (0)1 4757401
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Síne Nic an Ailí
Development Executive, Conradh na Gaeilge
+353 (0)1 4757401 / +353 (0)87 6546673
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NEWS RELEASE
Date: 11 June 2014
For immediate release

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community working to promote the language. There are over 180 branches of Conradh na Gaeilge and since its foundation in 1893, members of the Conradh have been actively promoting Irish in every aspect of life in Ireland and especially its use in their own areas. Conraitheoirí are at the forefront of campaigns to secure and strengthen the rights of the Irish language community. It is also possible to register as an individual member of the Conradh. Conradh na Gaeilge runs Irish-language courses in Dublin, Galway, Mayo, Tipperary, Newry and other locations across Ireland. www.cnag.ie/courses

 

 

Conradh na Gaeilge

6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2.
Phone: +353 (0) 1 475 7401, Fax: +353 (0) 1 475 7844, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.