Dear
thank you for your comments and query regarding supporting our own language,
below is the text of my press release of the February 8th regarding this issue.
I hope this outlines my views on this matter and I welcome your support for our language.
Yours sincerely
Barry Cowen
For immediate release
8 February 2011
Cowen expresses concern over Fine Gael’s plans for teaching Irish
Offaly Fianna Fáil candidate, Councillor Barry Cowen has expressed his concern about Fine Gael’s plans for the teaching of Irish saying it would lead to the extinction of the language.
"I was horrified to hear Enda Kenny say that he would abolish the teaching of the Irish language as a core subject for the Leaving Certificate. This would be hugely damaging to the language and lead to the extinction of the language.”
"I would be the first to admit that we need to continue to reform the way in which the language is taught, but the growth of Gaelscoileana all over the country and here in Offaly indicates the pride that people have in their language.”
"For our national language to flourish and grow we must give it every encouragement. Downgrading the language by making it optional at Leaving Certificate is a retrograde step.”
"All expert opinion points to the importance of a language being compulsory if it is to survive in the long term.”
"Fianna Fáil have a plan for the Irish language and our Twenty Year Strategy is a comprehensive and detailed roadmap for the development of the language. The Strategy has a range of new measures including how Irish is taught and hopes to increase the number of daily Irish speakers to 250,000 by 2030.”
"I am so disappointed that despite Fine Gael originally supported our Strategy but now their leader is withdrawing that support by pledging to abolish the teaching of Irish as a subject for the Leaving Cert,” concluded Councillor Cowen.
ENDS
(...) "I was horrified to hear Enda Kenny say that he would abolish the teaching of the Irish language as a core subject for the Leaving Certificate. (...)
