Written evidence from Gearóid de
Grás
1. I believe that the provision of Irish
language programming is of paramount importance in the context
of the ever expanding Irish speaking population here. Irish speakers
are already being discriminated against by the refusal of successive
Ministers for "Culture" here to countenance an Irish
language Act. This is in the context of a new political dispensation
here that should allow for the de-politicisation of language issues.
Unfortunately, under the present regime, certain Unionist politicians
have taken every opportunity to deny Irish speakers parity of
esteem and indeed have done all in their power to try to ensure
the language's demise. The withdrawal of funding for the ILBF
last year was just one example of this bigoted mentality. It is
vital that the measures that were taken to circumvent this Unionist
veto are copper fastened in such a way that long-term continuous
funding is guaranteed. Production companies, like any other business,
cannot flourish in an environment of uncertainty and the Irish
language television sector has shown over the years how it can
attain the highest standards of production and acting standards.
Without the lifeline of adequate and guaranteed support, the progress
made over the years will be for nought and the growing numbers
of Irish speakers will be forced to make do with majority English
language programmes. This would be a travesty, particularly for
our younger TV viewers, and would run completely contrary to the
principles of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages
and indeed, the commitment made by the Westminster Government
in the Good Friday Agreement to fund Irish language television.
2. It is clear from any comparison made between
the funding provided for Irish language programmes and that for
Welsh or indeed the less widely spoken Gaidhlig in Scotland, that
Irish speakers have been kept at a distinct disadvantage as regards
support. This situation cannot be allowed to continue and a clear
long term policy of support for Irish language broadcasting support
along with Welsh and Gaidhlig broadcasting needs to be set out
and guaranteed funding. The development of Scotland's Gaidhlig
broadcasting sector over the last few years has been a wonderful
success story and yet speakers of her sister language on this
side of the Straits of Moyle are confounded at every opportunity
by bigoted narrow minded colonial dinosaurs who seem oblivious
to their obligations as citizens of Europe. Depriving young Irish
speakers of an adequate provision of TV programmes in their native
(or acquired) language cannot be justified under any human rights
charter and I would appeal to you to ensure that the discriminatory
trend that has existed for far too long in this part of the island
is reversed, thus allowing developing Irish language production
companies to achieve their potential and provide for an ever increasing
viewership.
30 April 2009
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