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Pobal have been focusing on the question of an Irish Language Act for the North since 2003. We have managed to garner unprecedented support in terms of advice on a legislative model that would include the Irish Language’s unique position in the North, as well as best international practice. These experts included Robert Dunbar (Aberdeen University), Wilson McLeod (Edinburgh University), Colin Williams (University of Wales) and Fernand de Varennes (Murdock University, Austrialia). The Irish Language Act – Issue 2 Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín, launched POBAL’s updated proposals for an Irish Language Act for the north at an event at the Stormont Hotel on Tuesday 26th June. Janet Muller, POBAL’s CEO said, ‘ We are pleased that the Minister was able to be with us to launch the second issue of the document,Acht na Gaeilge/The Irish Language Act. We hope that the proposals will inform and assist the work her Department is carrying out to prepare for Irish language legislation in fulfilment of the British government commitment at St Andrews.’ Carál Ní Chuilín said: ‘DCAL is committed to bringing forward legislative proposals for Acht na Gaeilge. Work by officials is ongoing. Full legislation will require the agreement of the Executive and Assembly. I hope that all supporters of the Irish language will work together to convince the Assembly of the merits of supporting Acht na Gaeilge.’ Janet Muller said, ‘At the event, we also discussed the updated proposals with a panel of speakers including the Irish Language Commissioner from the south, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, who talked about the importance of language legislation in the south and his own work there and internationally; Daniel Holder, the Deputy Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice who gave a Human Rights perspective; Micheal Ó Duibh, the CEO of Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (the representative body for Irish Medium Education) and Professor Dónal Ó Baoill (QUB)’. Carál Ní Chuilín also co-sponsored POBAL’s major international conference on language legislation in Stormont’s Long Gallery in 2011 which endorsed the principles behind the legislative proposals we first launched in 2006. At the conference it was agreed to update the document to reflect international developments in the 6 years since the St Andrews Agreement, and the progress in new technologies and in education. POBAL has carried out a further community consultation on the proposals which have been drafted with the support and guidance of some of the foremost authorities on language law and planning internationally, including Professor Robert Dunbar of the University of Aberdeen, Professor Colin Williams of the University of Cardiff, Dr Fernand de Varennes of the Murdoch University, Australia and Dr Wilson McLeod of the University of Edinburgh. Janet Muller said, ‘Former NI Ombudsman, Maurice Hayes has also updated his Introduction to the document. We are delighted that all the experts who supported us in the original document are continuing to advise and inform us in our work. It means that the document, The Irish Language Act – Issue 2 brings together the views of both the community and the experts and we are delighted to be launching it .’ New to the document this time round are strengthened sections on Irish Medium education and on the teaching of Irish in English Medium schools, as well as proposals regarding integrated online vocabulary tools, online media provision and proposals seeking to redress perceived disparities in the way the Irish language is treated in the media here compared with provision for Gaelic in Scotland and Welsh in Wales. In addition, in chapters written by leading international experts, the duty of the UK government and devolved institutions to respond fairly to the developmental needs of the Irish language in the north are discussed and positive actions within the UK, in Ireland and elsewhere in the last 6 years are highlighted. Download a copy of ‘The Irish Language Act – Issue 2’ > Click here The Irish Language Act – Issue 1 After an International conference in November 2004, POBAL published draft legislative proposals and carried out a full consultation process that lasted from April to October 2005. Public meetings were held in Belfast, Derry, Strabane, Omagh, Newry and Fermanagh. Meetings also focused on the Irish medium sector in the North. We organised consultation meetings with Irish Language groups north and south, with human rights groups, with unions and with northern political parties. We worked out agreed proposals during this process that were published in February 2006. Our document Acht na Gaeilge TÉ / The Irish Language Act NI was launched by Maurice Hayes, senator, ex-ombudsman and ex-senior civil servant for the North. Setting up the Irish Language co-ordinating group enabled us to focus our collaborations on a single, clear and agreed model in pursuit of an Irish Language Act. Pobal were able to greatly raise the profile of the Irish Language and put the question of an Irish Language Act on political agendas both north and south. In October 2006, 8 months after we published our document on an Irish Language Act for the North, the Irish and British Governments announced the St Andrews Agreement as a result of political talks to restart a devolved Assembly (the Assembly had been put on hold since 2002). In the Agreement the British Government gave the following agreement: “The Government will introduce an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish Language.” In December 2006 the department of Culture, Arts and Leisure published a consultation document that described 4 legislative models, with POBAL’s proposals included. POBAL began to inform and advise Irish Language groups and the general community about the Irish Language Act and encouraged them to send their views and answers to DCAL. Thousands came out onto the streets to support us and to protect their language rights. When the process ended, DCAL admitted that they had received 5000 names in various petitions supporting POBAL’s proposals, as well as 668 written submissions. According to the Department these responses show that there is great interest among the community in this question and that POBAL’s proposals have great support: ‘This reflects a significant level of interest in the issues raised in the paper. Of those who responded, the overwhelming majority (93%) favoured the adoption of Irish language legislation; while a small minority of respondents strongly disagreed with the proposal. Those in favour preferred a rights-based approach. Those against (7%) cited cost issues and the perception that legislation would be politically divisive.’ The Department decided not to introduce this legislation before the setting up of the new Assembly. They announced a second consultation process, saying that the assembly would be responsible for Irish language issues from then on. The biggest Unionist party, the DUP under the leadership of Ian Paisley, made known that they were against legislation and that they would not introduce it. Since the restoration of the second Assembly the Irish language and legislation promised by the British Government have come under sustained attack. POBAL has remained steadfast in it’s pioneering work for an Irish language Act. In October 2008, two years after the St Andrews Agreement, POBAL and it’s co-ordinating group organized a parade from three areas of the city to Belfast City centre to demand an Irish language Act. Thousands attended this lively and colourful parade. Our work will continue! Download Irish Language Act – Issue 1 > Click here —————————————————————————————————————————- POBAL Booklet: Fifteen years from the Good Friday Agreement – are the promises made in respect of the Irish language being kept? Personal views from the Irish speaking community? According to many Irish speakers, the Good Friday Agreement had the potential to be a great step forward for the Irish language, but its commitments are not being met. These are the conclusions from a collection of personal views and a survey collated by POBAL, the umbrella organisation for the Irish speaking community. The new publication contains 15 chapters – one for every year since the Agreement was signed. It is a varied and interesting cross section of views from Irish speakers, ranging from veteran Séamus Mac Seáin through TV and film producer, Pilib Mac Cathmhaoil, academic Dónall Ó Baoill, reporters Eoghan Ó Neill and Robert McMillen to writer and full-time parent, Máire Zepf. POBAL also carried out a survey with 140 educationalists and teachers, which found very high levels of support for legislative, policy and strategic action on behalf of Irish and Irish Medium Education, and high levels of dissatisfaction with how the GFA promises are being met. POBAL 13-3rd Floor Blackstaff Mill 81 Springfield Road Belfast BT12 7AE Email: eolas@pobal.org POBAL is a company limited by guarantee. Charity Ref.
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Tá POBAL ag díriú ar cheist Acht na Gaeilge TÉ ó bhí 2003 ann. D’éirigh linn tacaíocht gan réamhshampla a mhealladh chugainn le comhairle a chur orainn maidir le samhail reachtaíochta a chuirfeadh san áireamh cuinsí ar leith na Gaeilge ó thuaidh chomh maith leis an chleactas is fearr idirnáisiúnta. Ar na saineolaithe seo, bhí Robert Dunbar (Ollscoil Obar Dheathainn), Wilson McLeod (Ollscoil Dhún Éideann), Colin Williams (Ollscoil Chaerdydd) agus Fernand de Varennes (Ollscoil Murdock, an Astráil). Acht na Gaeilge TÉ – Eisiúnt 2 Sheol an tAire Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta, Carál Ní Chuilín moltaí nuashonraithe POBAL d’Acht na Gaeilge ag ócáid ag an Óstán Stormont, Dé Máirt 26 Meitheam. Dúirt Janet Muller, PF POBAL, ‘Tá muid sásta go raibh an tAire linn le dara heisiúint na cáipéise Acht na Gaeilge TÉ a sheoladh, agus tá súil as againn go gcuideoidh sé léi agus lena Roinn agus iad ag obair i dtreo chur i gcríoch ghealltanas rialtas na Breataine ag Cill Rímhinn maidir le hAcht na Gaeilge don tuaisceart . Dúirt Carál Ni Chuilín, ‘Tá mo Roinn tiomanta de mholtaí d’Acht na Gaeilge a thabhairt chun tosaigh. Tá obair leanúnach ar siúl ag feidhmeannaigh. Le reachtaíocht iomlán a thabhairt isteach, beidh comhaontú de dhíth ón Fheidhmeannas agus ón Tionól. Tá súil agam go n-oibreoidh lucht tacaíochta na Gaeilge ar fad le chéile le fiúntas tacú le hAcht na Gaeilge a chur in a luí ar an Tionól.’ Dúirt Janet, ‘Ag an ócáid, bhí deis an na moltaí nuashonraithe a phlé le painéal de shaineolaithe, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, An Coimisinéir Teanga ó dheas, a labhair faoi obair agus ról s’aige sna 26 chontae agus faoi obair idirnáisiúnta atá ar bun; Daniel Holder, Leas-Stiúrthóir an Choiste ar Riar na Córa; Micheál Ó Duibh PF, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta agus an tOllamh Dónal Ó Baoill (O na B).’ Thug Carál Ní Chuilín chomh-urraíocht do mhór chomhdháil idirnáisiúnta POBAL ar reachtaíocht teanga sa Gailearaí Fada ag Stormont an bhliain seo caite. Ag an chomhdháil, tugadh tacaíocht láidir leanúnach do bhunphrionsabail an doiciméid POBAL a foilsíodh an chéaduair i 2006. Chomh maith, aontaíodh gur cheart an doiciméad a nuashonrú le forbairtí idirnáisiúnta le blianta beaga anuas ó Chomhaontú Chill Rímhinn a léiriú, mar aon le forbairt i dteicneolaíocht na meán agus san oideachas. Reáchtáil POBAL comhairliúchán poiblí eile ar na dréachtmholtaí nuashonraithe, a cuireadh le chéile le tacaíocht agus le comhairle ó roinnt do na saineolaithe is iomráitigh i bpleanáil teanga agus dlí go hidirnáisiúnta, an tOllamh Robert Dunbar (Ollscoil Obar Dheathann), an tOllamh Colin Williams (Ollscoil Caerdydd), an Dr Fernand de Varennes (Ollscoil Murdoch, an Astráil) agus an Dr Wilson McLeod (Ollscoil Dhún Éidínn). Dúirt Janet, ‘Rinne an t-iar-Ombudsman, Maurice Hayes a réamhrá don cháipéis a nuashonrú, chomh maith. Tá muid thar a bheith sásta go bhfuil tacaíocht gníomhach leanúnach na saineolaithe uilig a thug comhairle dúinn sé bhliain ó shín. Ciallaíonn sé seo go dtugtar le chéile sa doiciméad Acht na Gaeilge – Eisiúnt 2 dearcadh an phobail agus eolas na saineolaithe. Tá muid ag dúil go mór leis an cháipéis a athsheoladh.’ Ar na moltaí nua sa doiciméad tá rannóga níos láidre ar Oideachas lán-Ghaeilge agus ar theagasc na Gaeilge sa chóras Béarla, chomh maith le moltaí maidir le huirlisí nua foclóireachta, soláthar ar líne, agus moltaí le cothrom na Féinne a thabhairt do chraoltóireacht Gaeilge i gcomparáid le craoltóireacht na Breatnaise sa Bhreatain Bheag agus Ghaidhlig in Albain. Chomh maith, i gcaibidlí scríofa ag na saineolaithe féin, pléitear dualgais rialtais na Breataine agus an Tionóil le freagairt cuí i dtaca le riachtanais phobal na Gaeilge de, agus cuirtear béim ar fhorbairtí dearfacha sa Riocht Aontaithe, in Éirinn agus in áiteanna eile le 6 bhliain anuas. Íoslódáil ‘Acht na Gaeilge – Eisiúnt 2’ > Gliogáil anseo Acht na Gaeilge TÉ – Eisiúnt 1 I ndiaidh chomhdháil idirnáisiúnta i Mí na Samhna 2004, d’fhoilsigh POBAL dréachtmholtaí reachtaíochta agus reachtáil muid próiseas comhairliúcháin iomlán ar na moltaí a mhair ó Mhí Aibreáin go Mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2005. Bhí cruinnithe poiblí againn i mBéal Feirste, i nDoire, ar an Srath Bán, ar an Ómaigh, i nIúr Chinn Trá agus i bhFear Manach. Bhí cruinnithe chomh maith dírithe ar earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta ó thuaidh. D’eagraígh muid cruinnithe comhairliúcháin le heagraíochtaí Gaeilge thuaidh agus theas, le heagrais um chearta daonna, le ceardchumainn agus le páirtithe polaitiúla ó thuaidh. Rinne muid na moltaí comhaontaithe le linn an phróisis seo a foilsíodh i Mí Feabhra 2006. Sheol Maurice Hayes, Séanadóir, iar-ombudsman TÉ agus iar-státseirbhísí sinsearach TÉ an cáipéis, Acht na Gaeilge TÉ / The Irish Language Act NI. Agus Grúpa Comhordaithe ar Acht na Gaeilge bunaithe againn, d’éirigh linn comhoibriú a chothú agus samhail soiléir, comhaontaithe amháin a chur chun tosaigh maidir le hAcht na Gaeilge. D’ardaigh POBAL íomhá na Gaeilge go suntasach agus chuir muid ceist Acht na Gaeilge ar an chlár polaitíochta thuaidh agus theas. I Mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2006, ocht mhí i ndiaidh dúinn ár ndoiciméad Acht na Gaeilge TÉ a fhoilsiú, d’fhógair Rialtas na hÉireann agus Rialtas na Breataine Comhaontú Chill Rímhinn, mar thoradh ar chainteanna polaitiúla dírithe ar athbhunú Tionól chineachta TÉ ( bhí an Tionól ar fionraí ó bhí 2002 ann). Sa chomhaontú, tugann Rialtas na Breataine an gealltanas seo a leanas: “The Government will introduce an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and Ireland and work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish Language.” I Mí na Nollag 2006, d’fhoilisigh an Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta cáipéis chomhairliúcháin a rinne cur síos ar 4 shamhail reachtaíochta, moltaí POBAL san áireamh. Thug POBAL faoi eolas agus comhairle a roinnt le grúpaí Gaeilge agus leis an chomhphobal go ginearálta maidir le hAcht na Gaeilge agus spreag muid daoine le tuairimí agus freagraí a chur chuig an Roinn. Tháinig na mílte daoine amach ar na sráideanna le tacú linne agus le reachtaíocht chun an teanga a chosaint. Nuair a chríochnaigh an próiseas comhairliúcháin, d’admhaigh an Roinn go bhfuair sí 5000 ainm ag tacú le moltaí POBAL ar achainí éagsúla, chomh maith le 668 aighneachtaí scríofa. Dúirt an Roinn gur léirigh líon na bhfreagraí suim as cuimse an phobail sa cheist, agus tacaíocht iontach laidir do na moltaí POBAL: Astu siúd a chuir freagra isteach, bhí tromlach thar na bearta (93%) ar son reachtaíocht Ghaeilge a thabhairt isteach; agus bhí mionlach beag daoine nár aontaigh leis an mholadh ar chor ar bith. Luaigh na daoine a bhí ina éadan (7%) cúrsaí costais agus d’aithin siad go mbeadh reachtaíocht ina ábhar deighilte go polaitiúil. (DCAL 13th March 2007: 6) Chinn Rialtas na Breataine gan an reachtaíocht a thabhairt isteach roimh athbhunú an Tionóil. D’fhógair sé an dara próiseas comhairliúcháin agus dúirt sé go mbeadh an Tionól freagrach as seo amach do chúrsaí Gaeilge. Dúirt an pairtí aontachtach is mó, an Democratic Unionist Party faoi cheannasaí Ian Paisley, go raibh sé in éadan na reachtaíochta agus nach dtabharfadh sé isteach í. Ó athbhunaíodh Tionól TÉ, tá ionsaithe leanúnacha ar an Ghaeilge agus ar an reachtaíocht a gheall Rialtas na Breataine. Níor éirigh POBAL as obair leanúnach cheannródaíoch ar an cheist seo. I Mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2008, dhá bhliain i ndiaidh gur tugadh ghealltanas ag Cill Rímhinn, reáchtáil POBAL agus a Ghrúpa comhordaithe mórshiúlta ó thrí cheantar éagsúil go lár Bhéal Feirste le hAcht na Gaeilge a éileamh. Tháinig na mílte daoine amach arís d’ócáid bheo bhríomhar. Leanfaidh muid linn! Íoslódáil cóip d’Acht na Gaeilge – Eisiúnt 1 > Gliogáil anseo ——————————————————————————————————————— Foilseachán POBAL: 15 bliana ó ghealltanas Aoine an Chéasta – An bhfuil na gealltanais i leith na Gaeilge á gcomhlíonadh? Tuairimí pearsanta ó phobal na Gaeilge. Dar leis a lán ó phobal na Gaeilge, d’fhéadfadh gealltanais i leith na Gaeilge sa Chomhaontú a bheith mar chéim mhór chun tosaigh, ach níl siad á gcomhlíonadh. Is iad siúd torthaí ó bhailiúchán de thuairimí pearsanta agus ó shuirbhé a chruinnigh POBAL. San fhoilseachán nua, tá 15 chaibidil – caibidil amháin in aghaidh na bliana ó síníodh an Comhaontú, le tuairimí éagsúla, suimiúla ó réimse leathan de dhaoine, ó bhunaitheoir Ghaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe, Séamus Mac Seán, ó léiritheoir scannáin agus teilifíse, Pilib Mac Cathmhaoil, ón Ollamh Dónall Ó Baoill, ó thuairisceoirí Eoghan Ó Neill agus Robert McMillen go scríbhneoir agus tuismitheoir lán aimseartha, Máire Zepf. Chomh maith, rinne POBAL suirbhé le 140 oideachasóirí agus múinteoirí, agus fuarthas amach go bhfuil tacaíocht iontach ard ann do ghníomhartha ó thaobh reachtaíochta, polasaithe agus straitéise de, chomh maith le hard leibhéil mhíshásaimh leis an dóigh a bhfuil gealltanais na gComhaontaithe á gcur i crích. Gliogáil anseo le cóip den fhoilseachán a íoslódáil nó léamh POBAL 13-3ú urlár Muileann Abhainn Bheara 81 Bóthar Chluanaí Béal Feirste BT12 7AE R-phoist: eolas@pobal.org Tá POBAL ina chuideachta faoi theorainn ráthaíochta. Tag. carthanachta XT27908