Ní mór do Choimisinéir na nGardaí an easpa seirbhíse Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht a cheartú
Garda Commissioner must address failure to serve Irish speakers in Gaeltacht – Pa Daly TD

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Inniu (12 Bealtaine), tiocfaidh Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána, Drew Harris, os comhair Comhchoiste Oireachtais na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobail Labhartha na Gaeilge chun freagra a thabhairt ar thuarascáil ón gCoimisinéir Teanga a deir go bhfuil sárú déanta ag an nGarda Síochána ar dhualgais teanga san Acht Garda Síochána 2005.

Is é Pa Daly TD, urlabhraí Comhionannais agus Athchóirithe Dlí de chuid Shinn Féin, a d’iarr ar an gCoiste cuireadh a thabhairt don Choimisinéir Harris teacht os a chomhair roimh Nollaig.

Dúirt an Teachta Dála ar son Chiarraí:

“Táim ag súil go mór leis an deis an Coimisinéir Harris a cheistniú ar na lochtanna tromchúiseacha seo nuair a thagann sé os comhar an Choiste.

“Léiríonn sé cé chomh tubaisteach is atá cás na Gaeilge i measc na Gardaí sa Ghaeltacht go raibh ar an gCoimisinéir Teanga tuarascáil a chur faoi bhráid Thithe an Oireachtais tar éis don Gharda Síochána neamhaird a dhéanamh ar a chuid moltaí le deich mbliana anuas. Is fíor-annamh a bhíonn air tuarascáil a chur faoinár mbráid mar seo faoi cé chomh dona is atá rudaí i gcomhlacht poiblí ar leith.

“Fós, níl Gaeilge ag beagnach beirt as gach triúir Gardaí i stáisiúin Gaeltachta. Níl sé sin sásúil.
Beidh mé ag súil le gealltanas ón gCoimisinéir Harris go gcuirfidh sé moltaí an Choimisinéara Teanga i bhfeidhm go luath, agus spriocdháta daingean faoina mbeidh gach Garda lonnaithe i stáisiúin a dhéanann freastal ar cheantar Gaeltachta inniúl sa Ghaeilge, mar a bhí i gceist san Acht.

“Ba chóir go mbeadh leibhéal bunúsach ar a laghad ag gach Garda sa stát sa teanga náisiúnta agus ardchaighdeán acu siúd go léir a dhéanann freastal ar mhuintir na Gaeltachta, ionas gur féidir leo gach seirbhís a chur ar fail don phobal mar is cóir.”

CRÍOCH

Garda Commissioner must address failure to serve Irish speakers in Gaeltacht – Pa Daly TD

Today (12 May), Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will come before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Irish-Speaking Community to answer for An Garda Síochána’s language obligations under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as outlined in a report by the Language Commissioner.

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Equality and Law Reform Pa Daly TD requested the Committee to extend an invitation to Commissioner Harris before Christmas.

The Kerry TD said:

“I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to question Commissioner Harris on the serious shortcomings identified, when he comes before the Committee this afternoon.

“It demonstrates the gravity of the situation of Irish among Gardaí in the Gaeltacht that the Language Commissioner has had to resort to lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas after An Garda Síochána ignored his recommendations for ten years.

“It is very rare that he is forced to resort to laying a report before us on the failings of a specific public body.

“Still today, almost two-thirds of Gardaí in Gaeltacht stations do not speak Irish. That is not good enough.

“I will be hoping to receive a promise from Commissioner Harris that he will implement the Language Commissioner’s recommendations soon, and concrete deadlines for when every Garda located in stations serving Gaeltacht regions will be competent in Irish, as was the intention of the Act.

“Every Garda in the state should have a basic level in the national language, at very least, and all Gardaí stationed who serve Gaeltacht areas should have a sufficiently high standard to be able to deliver every service to the public.”