Opinion

Not much meat on bones of SF’s proposed Acht na Gaeilge

So, the Irish language has brought an end to the ‘talks up on the hill.’ After 13 months of ‘talks’ behind doors Sinn Féin and the DUP have come to the dead-end most expected in the first place.

Up until 13 months ago, in the lifetime of Stormont, Irish was hardly ever mentioned, getting a cursory mention in the Programme for Government signed up to by Sinn Féin a few months before Stormont came tumbling down.

But, was, or is, Irish the crux of this stand-off on the part of Sinn Féin? Maybe. Maybe not. After the last election Sinn Féin took up the powerful post of finance. Since then, what has happened in terms of finance? Education cuts, health cuts, infrastructure cuts etc etc. Who really thinks that Máirtín Ó Muilleoir was going to implement such draconian cutbacks? No chance. So, the only certain way to keep the power without the pain and ensure that they wouldn’t have to implement the ‘Tory cuts’, disenfranchising themselves completely from their voters, was to put up this demand for a standalone Acht na Gaeilge in full knowledge the DUP would never ever buy it, thus ensuring that Stormont would not return. So, it may be that Sinn Féin simply gerrymandered the Irish language for their own purposes and left the swingeing cuts to education, health, infrastructure, industry etc to Westminster – let Westminster do their dirty work for them.

And this whole sorry mess and the stench of cynicism around these talks came just before Sinn Féin’s recent Ard Fheis in their drive to have Stormont up and running so that Gerry could ride off with his vision of all-Ireland power in his pocket. Unfortunately, the choreographer failed on this occasion. If a deal could have been brokered for Gerry’s adieu, could it not have been brokered a lot earlier? Timing?

In Sinn Féin’s talk of an Acht na Gaeilge, I haven’t seen much meat on the bones. What is involved in it? In terms of qualified personnel to service extra demands stipulated in any act may mean that it could never be serviced. Currently, the Irish-language education sector experiences serious difficulties getting staff particularly at pre-school level. What if interpreters are required in our courts – where will we get the personnel with that standard of Irish to service the demand? And could a plaintiff complain that, having secured the services of an interpreter, he/she can’t understand the dialect of the interpreter? 

Those seeking a standalone acht should let us all know what is involved and should respect the fact that their demand may never be serviced because of lack of properly qualified personnel. But, having made the demand for a standalone act they cannot back down.

MALACHY DUFFIN


Randalstown, Co Antrim

‘Unfinished business’ of civil rights still long way off

Like a dog with a bone Declan Kearney won’t let go of his insinuation that republicanism played a key role in the establishment of the Northern Ireland civil rights movement, even being helpful enough in his platform piece (February 21) to name-drop messrs Adams, McLaughlin and Molloy as having been  ‘veteran activists’ of the period. 

However, his labelling of critics not in tune with his line of thought, as being ‘egocentric’ and ‘politically sectarian’ displays a certain degree of surliness not normally seen in the staid Mr Kearney. (Bernadette McAliskey and Fionnuala O Connor, surely not Declan!)

Having cleared the air on that point he noted that the main thrust of his original piece was that the aims of the civil rights movement remain today as ‘ unfinished business’. Fair enough. He then listed, quite correctly, an array of grievances perpetuated by unionism against Catholic/nationalist/civil rights over the years which subsequently created a ‘tipping point’ leading to the closure of Stormont. What he failed to mention however was that Sinn Féin, (perhaps with some strategic advantage in mind), sat on their hands while these rights abuses were going on round them.

At the time of writing the contents of the sf/dup draft agreement have just been made public. Apart from a much diluted language act, that was thrown back in Sinn Féin’s face, the  fundamental marriage, legacy and other rights flagged up by Declan didn’t even make it onto the table. 

If this is how Declan and his party fight the corner of the marginalised and discriminated against I fear the ‘unfinished business’ of civil rights will remain so for a long time yet.

P KELLY


Belfast BT17

Men also hurt by abortion

I read with incredulity MLA Clare Bailey’s letter (February 14) on her favourite subjects –  the Catholic Church and abortion. I felt sorry for her when she said men will never find themselves in a crisis pregnancy. As I remember it takes two, a man and a woman, to start a pregnancy. Men are also hurt by abortion. Many regret and grieve the death of their unborn baby just as much as women do and they deserve the full support women get when they realise the reality of their actions. The statistics are there if anyone wants to check for themselves. One abortion, many victims.

She also quoted the taoiseach Mr Varadkar, when he spoke on abortion: “I believe this is a decision about whether we want to continue to stigmatise and criminalise our sisters, our co-workers, and our friends. Or whether we are prepared to make a collective act of leadership to show empathy and compassion.” But this is the same taoiseach and doctor who said to the Dáil in 2014: “I consider myself to be pro-life, in that I accept that the unborn child is a human life with rights.”


Which version of Mr Varadkar would Ms Bailey like us men to subscribe to?  

JOHN AUSTIN


Limavady, Co Derry

Legislative bucket list

For the urgent benefit of the public understanding, it would be helpful were Sinn Féin to publish the precise provisions of an Irish language bill they believed the DUP had agreed to enact. And also, the precise provisions that are on their legislative bucket list. 

That way, the electorate could grasp in detail the rationale for the current disturbing impasse. 

At present, voters and citizens are almost entirely in the dark and incapable of making an informed judgment, even though the impasse, which already impacts on them, could worsen and damage their civic life.

JOHN FOSTER


Portaferry, Co Down

Cultural tragedy

Opposition to the setting up of an Irish language act by the DUP, who are most ungracious in their barely concealed loathing of the language, was to be expected. Although disappointing, it is surprising that rejection of an Irish language act is apparently embraced by so many in the unionist community. What makes this opposition bewildering is the considerable influence the Protestant community in Ireland had on Irish culture in 19th and 20th century Ireland.

Dr Douglas Hyde, first president of Ireland, was one of the founders of the Gaelic League, painter Sarah Purser established An Túr Gloine, WB Yeats and Lady Gregory formed the Irish Literary Theatre in 1899 which became the Abbey Players in 1904. Both George Petrie and Edward Bunting are responsible for the wealth of ancient Irish music in our archives, J M Synge, George Russell (AE) and Kathleen Lynn, were major contributors to the shaping of modern Ireland.

When the Irish language was perceived as a nationalist icon, it became a divisive issue with many unionists. The Irish language was in fact held with pride, affection and admiration by many Protestants but following partition was neglected in the education system. With such a rich tapestry of Protestant influence on Irish society it is nothing short of a cultural tragedy to observe this bitter tribal cultural divide.

TOM COOPER


Irish National Congress, Dublin