Republican News · Thursday 29 May 2003

Fáilte roimh an Bille Teanga ach céimeanna móra eile le dul

Chuir Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, urlabhraí Sinn Féin ar Chúrsaí Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta, fáilte roimh Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus an Bille ag teacht isteach sa Dáil den chéad uair. Ach dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh go raibh fadhbanna bunúsacha leis an mBille agus d'iarr sé ar an Rialtas glacadh le leasuithe. Dúirt sé:

"Failtíonn Sinn Féin roimh Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2002. Is céim tabhachtach é seo i dtreo cuspóir lárnach de chuid Sinn Féin i dtaca leis an teanga de, sé sin 'an Ghaeilge a chur ar ais i mbéal an phobail'.

"Tá céimeanna eile le dhul leis an chuspóir seo a bhaint amach agus beidh Sinn Féin ag brú ar aghaidh le plean cuimsitheach don teanga ach aithnímid gurb é seo an chéad uair do chearta teanga pobal na hÉireann a bheith aitheanta sa dóigh seo.

"Gabhann Sinn Féin moladh leis na daoine agus na heagraíochtaí a bhí ag feachtasaíocht thar na blianta chun an Bille seo a thabhairt i bhfeidhm. Tá laigí sa Bhille agus tacaíonn Sinn Féin leis na leasuithe ar an mBille atá molta ó Chonradh an Gaeilge, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge agus Fóram na Gaeltachta.

Beidh Sinn Féin ag cur leasuithe chun cinn le linn na díospóireachta i dTeach Laighean agus sa Choiste.

"Táimid ag súil go luath leis an lá go mbeidh bille dá leithéad ar fáil sna 6 Chontae agus cearta teanga á spreagadh is á feidhmniú go huile-Éireannach.

"Iarraimid ar an Taoiseach brú ar Rialtas na Breataine na cearta, a bheas sa bhille seo, a chur i bhfeidhm ó Thuaidh chomh maith."

In a statement, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams alo welcomed the introduction of the Bill. "This is an important step towards Sinn Féin's central objective on the language, which is to give Irish back to the people," he said.

"There is still some way to go to attain our objective and Sinn Féin will be pressing ahead to develop a comprehensive strategy on language planning. It is nonetheless an important step that Irish language rights have at long last and for the first time been enshrined in legislation.

"Sinn Féin congratulates the people and organisations who have been campaigning over the years to have this Bille Teanga implemented.

"We will be proposing amendments to strengthen the Bill and also supporting amendments from Conradh na Gaeilge, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and Foram na Gaeltachta.

"Similar legislation is required for the Six Counties. It is essential that Irish language rights are given protection on an all-Ireland basis. Legislation similar to the Bille Teanga is therefore required for the Six Counties. We will continue to push for this.

"In the meantime, we call on the Taoiseach to press the British government to allow the citizens of the North to avail of the rights contained in this Bill."