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Opinion Older people and Gaeilgeoirí are right to be indignant – this Cabinet doesn't care about them

The new Gaeltacht minister isn’t fluent in Irish and the de-prioritisation of older people’s issues has been rubber-stamped; whole sections of society are being disenfranchised.

THE INTERNET ERUPTED in a torrent of vitriol and righteous indignation last night as Gaeilgeoirí throughout the country realised that An Taoiseach’s nominee for the office of Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs, Joe McHugh, doesn’t speak Irish. As the minister who will be most in contact with Irish-language organisations and Gaeltacht residents, it’s usually been understood by successive administrations that the Minister should be able to communicate with Irish speakers in either of the official languages of the State. Joe McHugh’s appointment has been seen as a sign of disrespect by thousands.

Older people felt the same way when the current administration appointed Kathleen Lynch as junior minister in 2011. Deputy Lynch was given responsibility for Disability, Equality Mental Health, whereas her predecessors Áine Brady and Máire Hoctor had been given the task of representing older people. Advocacy groups were dismayed and campaigned for a minister for older people. Fine Gael and Labour moved quickly to add older people’s issues to Lynch’s portfolio, underlining their commitment to make Ireland “the best small country in the world in which to grow old”.

Grinding to a standstill

Minister Lynch and the Department of Health oversaw some positive moves for older people in Ireland. They had responsibility for organising the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations in 2012, which was followed in 2013 by the publication of the National Positive Ageing Strategy, Ireland’s framework for creating an age-friendly country for all her citizens.

Then things began to grind inexorably toward a standstill. The National Positive Ageing Strategy, while far-reaching and ambitious, still doesn’t have an implementation plan a staggering 16 months on; the Government’s commitment to making Ireland a better place for older people has been undermined by cuts to the Household Benefits Package and the weakening of the spending power of a State Pension, which is still sitting at 2008 levels despite increases in the cost of fuel, food, motor tax, health insurance and medicine.

Most keenly felt among the blows to older people was the removal of the telephone allowance, a payment that helped thousands of older people to have personal security alarms linked to their landlines. In 2014, uptake of these alarms, which are provided by community groups through a government grant, is down. Many older people cannot afford to keep a landline without the €10 per month they received in previous years.

Change in title

This de-prioritisation of older people’s issues has been seemingly rubber-stamped in the recent reshuffle by the removal of older people’s issues from Minister Lynch’s title. The Minister’s office released a statement last night saying that, despite the change in title to Minister of State at the Department of Health with Special Responsibility for Primary Care, Mental Health and Disability, she would still oversee older people’s issues in Ireland. The implication to many older people’s organisations was clear – it just wouldn’t be as important as before. Ageing is now a “primary care” or “social care” issue, rather than something that will hopefully affect all of us.

Ireland recently placed 12th in the world in HelpAge International’s Global Age Watch study. This little island ranked as the 12th best place in the world for older people. This was not down to government prioritising financial support for older people (we were 24th), health (14th) or employment and education opportunities for people over 50 (a disappointing 32nd). Ireland did so well because of our “enabling societies and environment”. We were ranked 3rd in informal, non-governmental community supports for older people. We essentially became a good place for older people in spite of our Government’s actions, not because of them.

Disenfranchised Irish speakers have at least one option for recourse, an Coimisinéir Teanga/The Language Commissioner, established after the Official Languages Act, 2004. Likewise, children’s issues can be dealt with by the Children’s Ombudsman. Older people have no such office to appeal to.

The sooner this Government, and those who support it, realise that ageing is something that affects all of us, the sooner we can truly become a country for all ages.

Peter Kavanagh is a Social Gerontologist and Political Commentator who works in Communications and Advocacy with Active Retirement Ireland, the country’s largest community-based organisation for older people.

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66 Comments
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    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:09 PM

    I take the author’s points, but I’m not so sure we need a commissioner equivalent or indeed Minister for the elderly. From what I can see, the elderly have come out better than most since the crash. Frankly, I’d hold no great store in Kathleen Lynch’s ability either.

    Losing the e10 a month for a landline in an age of almost total mobile phone saturation doesn’t strike me as being particularly unfair. I’d be far more concerned with a loss of something like fuel allowance under the circumstances.

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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:15 PM

    Fair point, Niall. The only major issue with the €10 per month for landlines was that the alarms covered by the government grants were landline-only and the Government admitted that they did not see the damage that cut would do. The fuel allowance was a massive blow, especially given the huge increases in fuel costs.

    I will say one thing, because older people have been cut less doesn’t mean they’re better off. It’s a common argument, but it still doesn’t bear up to scrutiny. 11% of older people are in consistent poverty (second demographic only to unemployed families) and 30% of older people have less than 50% of the median disposable income. We’re the worst country in the OECD when it comes to supporting our older people. The reason they haven’t been hammered as much as the young unemployed or other groups is actually because they are already quite vulnerable.

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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:20 PM

    You can get a monthly phone package from eircom for €25 incl VAT. That’s probably at least €10 cheaper in real terms than it was ten years ago.

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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:23 PM

    You’re spot on. But the sad fact of it is, the most vulnerable in society can’t afford even that.

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    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:26 PM

    @Peter, interesting.

    Out of curiosity, as I have wondered myself from time to time. Do you know of any info available on how many pensioners are in receipt of 2 pensions (state and private or state and state etc).

    I know quite a few on multiple pensions, and I wonder if that 11% you quoted are single state pensioners primarily. Logic would dictate they are.

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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:31 PM

    Most retired couples on two state pensions should be comfortable enough. They receive about 2k a month tax free. It’s the single ones that are struggling mainly.

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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:35 PM

    Niall, you’re dead right. The pensioners in consistent poverty are usually living alone. 88% of ALL pensioners need the State Pension to remain above the ‘poverty line’. Some are, granted, far higher above it with additional pensions, but the wealthier a pensioner is, the more tax they pay. It seems that Government doesn’t want to increase the tax burden on the wealthiest, at any age.

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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:38 PM

    Retired couples can earn 36k before they are subject to income tax. They may have to pay some USC. That’s pretty generous really.

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    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:39 PM

    88%?

    Now that is a very surprisingly high figure.

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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:44 PM

    Well, in fairness, if you suddenly took €180-€230 per week off everyone’s income, poverty would be rife. To say 88% need the State Pension isn’t to say they’re just hovering above poverty. But without the State Pension, they would be impoverished.

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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    Jul 16th 2014, 9:36 PM

    Its simply a stage in auto genocide.

    The old and weak and sick have to go as they are deemed useless eaters.

    Its all here if people want to read it.

    http://www.whale.to/b/crow.html
    4. Dehumanization. Dehumanization overcomes the normal human revulsion against murder. One group denies the humanity of the other group. People to be destroyed are justified/equated as lesser forms of life. They are scapegoated as factors for lower quality of village life caused by political and economic corruption.
    The right-wing politicians, with right-wing “think-tanks” institutions and the media demonize the poor/minorities/independent women and spread patriarchal justification that these groups deserve “what” they get because they are dragging the rest of the villagers down.
    Douglas Fraser wrote, “I believe leaders of the business community, with few exceptions, have chosen to wage a one-sided class war today in our country –a war against working people, the unemployed, the poor, the minorities, the very young and the very old, and even many in the middle class of our society…” The local politician told me that in the interim, someone, namely women and children, had to be sacrificed. Yes, he said, politicians knew that some innocent people were going to die, but ‘welfare reform’ was a ‘red button’ political issue that ‘had to be addressed’ because the middle-class and the upper-classes did not want to pay taxes to support disadvantaged people. Therefore, some of the most powerless people had been targeted for elimination from society.”

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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Jul 16th 2014, 9:37 PM

    Not quite, they pay the USC. The state pension is taxable. Married pensioners can recieve a total of €32,000 pa tax free

    4
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    Mute Paul Geraghty
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    Jul 16th 2014, 9:38 PM

    That’s a pittance if you are still paying a mortgage or rent and before long state pension will be 70 or over

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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 16th 2014, 10:02 PM

    The state pension is not taxable as long as the total income is less than 18k for an individual, 36k for a retired couple.

    http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/tax/income_tax_credits_and_reliefs/older_peoples_tax_credits_and_reliefs.html

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    Mute George Hogan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:42 PM

    Irish language users are treated as second class citizens in Ireland. I have actually been told to speak English in a Dublin pub by another patron who took exception to my speaking Irish with a mate. When I reported it to the barman, the barman wasn’t concerned and suggested that I moved to another part of the bar! So much for parity of esteem!

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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:46 PM

    Were you old enough to drink?

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    Mute UnapologetiCapitalis
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:47 PM

    Lol, you reported it to the barman. What exactly do you expect the barman to do? His job is to serve drunken fools their booze and stay out of the endless conflicts that arise in that alcohol fueled atmosphere.

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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:49 PM

    Yes let’s base our legislation and government on unverifiable and dubious anecdotes.

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    Mute George Hogan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:56 PM

    How would you feel if someone told you to stop speaking English?

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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:57 PM

    Depends if I was in an English speaking country.

    43
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    Mute Donal Costello
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:59 PM

    That wouldnt happen because this is an English speaking country.

    Not agreeing with the bartenders attitude but lets be realistic here. Irish is a minority language and unless the curriculum changes it always will be

    59
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    Mute George Hogan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:02 PM

    Irish is the first language of this State and the law is executed from its Irish language interpretation; English is the second official language.

    59
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    Mute Ciarraioch
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:05 PM

    Mr. Fantastic – The Blueshirt Troll of Super Trolls !!!

    46
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    Mute UnapologetiCapitalis
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:07 PM

    That may be so George but it is just to try and hold on to a sense of tradition in this increasingly globalised world. In reality, English is the first language of the vast majority of Irish people, and I for one am glad I speak English as my first language. I would hate to not be able to understand movies and tv shows. However, the fella who told you to speak english was an ass because you have a right to speak whatever language you want.

    68
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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:08 PM

    Ah Kerry, the journal’s most prolific troll spotter, how have you been?

    17
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    Mute Pickart Solny
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:09 PM

    Why are you writing this in English?

    30
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    Mute Betsy Malone
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    Jul 16th 2014, 10:23 PM

    George, hardly the bar mans problem.

    10
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    Mute George Hogan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 11:11 PM

    Betsy, I’m not an overly sensitive type, but that guy’s action amounted to linguistic prejudice and intolerance. At what point should a barman continue to serve people who act in such objectionable manner?

    8
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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:40 PM

    I’ve never seen a group of people with a bigger victim complex than those who have this compulsive need to push an irrelevant and dead language onto everyone else yet who cry foul when people call them on their fascism. If you want to speak Irish and call yourself by some ridiculous impossible to pronounce equivalent of your real name then go ahead. Don’t expect other people to care and don’t expect the rest of the country to waste years of their life learning obscure irish poems while being deprived of getting a real education.

    77
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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:44 PM

    Have you actually read the article? Or did you see that it refers to the Irish language and suffer an immediate urge to vent your dislike of Irish?

    Read the article and see where I “expect the rest of the country to waste years of their life learning obscure irish poems while being deprived of getting a real education.”

    It’s about something else entirely, I was just drawing a comparison. But why actually read an article, when you can just comment?

    83
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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:46 PM

    This is an article involving irish speakers bitching about their rights. I thought it appropriate to point out they don’t care for anyone else’s.

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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:52 PM

    So, no you didn’t read the article?

    69
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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:56 PM

    Unfortunately I did. And the hypocrisy of irish speakers was apparent. Hence my comment. Not too difficult to understand.

    41
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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:01 PM

    It just seems like you didn’t get past the introduction. Maybe the first paragraph at a stretch. The entire argument is about the topic of older people being sidelined, despite it being an important social issue that affects everyone. The entire argument. Every premise. All of it.

    The only mention of Irish speakers is in contextualising the disgruntlement. That’s all. No arguments put forward, no opinions stated. One opening paragraph to set the scene, that’s all.

    60
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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:04 PM

    I read an article, disagreed with one part, didn’t see much of a problem with the others. I commented on the part I disagreed on and didn’t feel the need to comment on the others. Is this really that mind boggling?

    30
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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:08 PM

    Yeah. It’s absolutely mind-boggling. I mean, you have the obvious mental capacity to set up a shell account on Twitter so you can troll away anonymously, yet you honestly think there’s some reference above to some linguistic fascism. I suppose I have to accept that you really think I “have this compulsive need to push an irrelevant and dead language onto everyone”.

    Staggering, really. Have a lovely evening. Beir beannacht agus bua.

    65
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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:11 PM

    Yes Peter sometimes people disagree with you, strange world we live in isn’t it? Enjoy the rest of your day.

    29
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    Mute Powerabbey
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:19 PM

    Go read it again. You are slow on the uptake!

    33
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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:21 PM

    But Mr. Fantastic, I actually can’t see which of my points you’re disagreeing with. That’s what’s mind-boggling. Never mind. Best wishes. Slán leat.

    40
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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:22 PM

    No bother Peter, you’ll get it one day. Enjoy the rest of your day, again.

    19
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    Mute Treasa Réiltín
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:49 PM

    Mr fantastic,

    Who is pushing an irrelevant dead language onto people? Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht region and elsewhere should be allowed the at least decency of being able to conduct their affairs in the language of their choice, whether it be in a Gaeltacht post office or in a Dublin pub. You choose to speak english, a sizeable minority choose to speak irish. Whether you agree or not Irish has and always will always retain a place in irish history, society and culture. And you can choose to view that as negative or positive. But Nobody’s forcing you to speak Irish. And Irish speakers aren’t harming anyone.

    However Irish organizations in order to get funding and support will now be forced to speak in what is THEIR second language, because the minister allocated to them doesn’t speak Irish.

    Tbh considering there’s a wealth of professionals and ministers who caint as gaeilge, there’s no real reason why they couldn’t have done a better job.

    But Jesus, you’d swear na gaelgoiri cared what the rest of the country speaks in, or held grudges.
    They don’t give a toss.

    48
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    Mute Paul Geraghty
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:57 PM

    Well said Mr Fantastic :)

    18
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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 9:09 PM

    Actually I was a bit surprised by how weighted the article seemed to be towards the issue of representation and policy towards the elderly over the gaeltacht affairs issue. Were you concerned that the gaeilgeoiri would complain if they weren’t given token representation in this article? ;)

    17
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    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 9:12 PM

    I don’t think 77k using Irish daily (CSO) is a sizeable minority. It is the people that determine whether a language survives or not. There is no escaping the fact they have chosen overwhelmingly, not to use it .
    Yes, I’d have some sympathy for those that wish to engage with the state via Irish. I do. But that’s about as far as it extends from me.

    20
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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    Jul 16th 2014, 9:26 PM

    Loose a language, loose a culture.

    Dead Language = dead society.

    Have you learned nothing from his story?

    20
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    Mute Robyn de Brún
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    Jul 16th 2014, 10:47 PM

    Actually, Mr. Fantastic, due to the fact that this new minister cannot speak Irish, the only language being forced upon anyone is English. This is a Gaeltacht matter, where Irish is their first language.

    25
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    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 11:19 PM

    As I understand it, he can speak Irish, but is not fluent.

    9
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    Mute Pickart Solny
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:17 PM

    Fluency in Irish is a must for those representing the language.
    You should be a minimum of 85 to represent the aged.
    You should be disabled in order to represent the disabled.
    And you should mental in order to represent those with mental health issues.

    39
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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:23 PM

    You must be always moving to be transport minister.

    36
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    Mute Ron North
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:48 PM

    I’d love a shot at the foreign affairs job.

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    Mute Treasa Réiltín
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:51 PM

    Exactly.

    I’m glad you get it.

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    Mute Siobhan Mackenzie
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    Jul 16th 2014, 11:34 PM

    Go for election then .. See how you go !!

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:48 PM

    Would people prefer to continue funding Irish to the tune of €6Billion every year or put that funding into jobs and helping the poorer people? Imagine full employment and no more austerity budgets.

    37
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    Mute George Hogan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:53 PM

    @mindful
    Your name is clearly a misnomer! €6bn? Where’s your reference for that figure?

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    Mute Paul Geraghty
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    Jul 16th 2014, 9:00 PM

    Is it really that much wasted on it?

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jul 17th 2014, 5:04 PM

    No, it’s not €6 billion. It’s less than €1 billion and that includes the wage bill for teachers (c. 65% of that €1 billion) who would still have to be employed and paid, Irish language or not. I’d ignore Mindfulirish if I were you. He’s a liar and a drama queen.

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    Mute Aoife Mc Hugh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:34 PM

    How many #’s do ye need?

    24
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    Mute Mr. Fantastic
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:49 PM

    Attention is all they’re really looking for. Sad really.

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    Mute Sinabhfuil
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:43 PM

    Older people vote. Irish-speakers vote – and know how to vote strategically. Two foolish groups to make enemies of.

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    Mute cosmological
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    Jul 16th 2014, 7:39 PM

    So his title would be a tautology?

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    Mute John Minihan
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    Jul 16th 2014, 10:34 PM

    Interesting perspective, I despair at the attitude adopted by Govt on these appointments, surely one of the nominees for appointment as Minister for State could speak Irish ? As for the elderly, why tweak a list of responsibilities and drop the elderly in a title already in place. The commitment in the programme for Govt re a National Dementia Strategy has still not been met and the 2013 target date has been missed, now they remove the term elderly from the Minister who has been and continues to be responsible You could also add Defence to the list of Ministerial Appointment cock ups. Three years ago they put Defence with Justice, eventually they saw the stupidity of that and removed it. Now they have decided the Minister for Agriculture and Marine has enough time on his hands after three years to add Defence ! That see no conflict with him being responsible for fishermen and the Naval Service. We hear many comments about the role of our Defence Forces overseas and their valuable contribution then we tag them on to a capable but busy Minister. So which part of Agriculture or Marine is going to be sacrificed to squeeze in Defence ?

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    Mute Bhiniáimin Beith
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    Jul 16th 2014, 8:57 PM

    Won’t be for long anyway sure Enda knows his party won’t win the next election anyway. It’ll be a Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin duo Labour will be non existent. This government started off well but ended up a joke.

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    Mute Siobhan Mackenzie
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    Jul 16th 2014, 11:28 PM

    This government does not care about its people .. Just want to please Europe. . and keep the rich rich . middle and lower paid ALWAYS carry the load .. Its almost unbearable .. Sort out the people who have kept this country going .

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    Mute Ian Mac Eochagáin
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    Jul 16th 2014, 10:36 PM

    I don think gaeilgeoir is a word most native Irish speakers would appreciate having applied to them. It was originally indented for the English-speaking enthusiasts and then came to mean English-speakers spending time learning Irish in the Gaeltacht. In any event, the author of this piece doesn’t seem to have realised that the aim of the Dublin government has always been to centralise power and anglicise the Gaeltacht under a smokescreen of ‘promoting Irish’ (which is rubbish – you can’t ‘promote’ a language).

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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    Jul 16th 2014, 10:56 PM

    Hi Ian. The author of this piece doesn’t agree with you on everything there, but I respect your points, which are well made.

    I am an Irish speaker and I am proud to call myself a Gaeilgeoir, but I apologise if the term offends anyone. That was not my intention. I used it based on my own experience and knowledge.

    I don’t believe there’s a Dublin conspiracy against Gaeltachtaí. While the current administration are acting in a manner that would suggest such a plan, I think it’s more likely a combination of ignorance and apathy.

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    Mute ididntneedtoknowthat
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    Jul 16th 2014, 9:11 PM

    It’s the same old same old — oh wait — it’s just the same same

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