Tá díospóireacht ina gcéad teanga tuillte ag pobail na Gaeltachta – Kyne / Gaeltacht communities deserve a debate in their first language – Kyne

Ní mór díospóireacht iomlán trí Ghaeilge a reáchtáil mar chuid d’fhothoghchán Ghaillimh Thiar, a dúirt Seanadóir de chuid Fhine Gael.

Dúirt an Seanadóir Seán Kyne, iarrthóir Fhine Gael don fhothoghchán atá le teacht agus Gaeilgeoir: “Tá rannpháirtíocht dhíreach ó iarrthóirí ina gcéad teanga tuillte ag pobail na Gaeltachta.

“Tá an ceantar Gaeltachta is mó sa tír againn i gConamara. Tá sé go hiomlán inchosanta ag TG4 agus RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta díospóireachtaí craolta a reáchtáil do vótálaithe Ghaillimh Thiar. Bímis dearfach faoi thodhchaí cheantair Ghaeltachta na Gaillimhe,” a dúirt sé.

Deir an Seanadóir Kyne go léiríonn an cás seo ceist níos leithne maidir le cothroime agus meas do vótálaithe a labhraíonn Gaeilge.

“Tá sé tuillte ag muintir Chonamara agus ag vótálaithe uile dháilcheantar Ghaillimh Thiar an deis a fháil éisteacht le hiarrthóirí ag díospóireacht faoi na ceisteanna atá os a gcomhair trí Ghaeilge, arb í teanga an lae inniu í i gcuid mhór tithe sa cheantar seo. Tá an toghchán trí seachtaine uainn.”

De réir Dhaonáireamh 2022, mhéadaigh daonra cheantair Ghaeltachta na Gaillimhe ó 49,524 (Daonáireamh 2016) go 54,183. Is féidir le níos mó ná 24,000 den 35,500 duine atá ina gcónaí i nGaeltacht an chontae Gaeilge a labhairt, agus tá cumas maith sa teanga ag beagnach 8,000 den 17,000 duine atá ina gcónaí i nGaeltacht na cathrach.

D’impigh an Seanadóir Kyne ar chraoltóirí dul ar aghaidh le díospóireacht trí Ghaeilge. Deir sé go dtabharfadh sé seo léargas do vótálaithe agus go léireofaí meas ar phobail na Gaeltachta chomh maith le treoirlínte maidir le cothroime na meán. Dúirt sé go raibh páirtithe eile i bhfabhar an mholta seo freisin.

“Thabharfadh díospóireacht i measc cainteoirí líofa Gaeilge faisnéis luachmhar go fóill agus thabharfadh sé onóir do ról na Gaeilge sa dáilcheantar. Tá sé riachtanach nach gceilfear rannpháirtíocht bhríoch ar na toghthóirí a labhraíonn Gaeilge le linn an fheachtais,” a dúirt sé.

D’athdhearbhaigh an Seanadóir Kyne go bhfuil sé tiomanta do thacú leis an teanga agus a chinntiú go dtarlóidh cúrsaí cainte sa Ghaeltacht go nádúrtha trí Ghaeilge.

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A full Irish-language debate needs to be held as part of the Galway West bye-election, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Seán Kyne, Fine Gael’s candidate in the upcoming bye-election and Gaeilgeoir said: “Gaeltacht communities deserve direct engagement from candidates in their first language.

“We have the biggest Gaeltacht area in the country in Connemara – it is completely justifiable for TG4 and RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta to host broadcast debates for the voters of Galway West. Let’s be positive about the future of Galway’s Gaeltacht areas,” he said.

Senator Kyne says the situation highlights a wider issue of fairness and respect to Irish-speaking voters.

“The people of Connemara and the wider Galway West constituency deserve the opportunity to hear candidates debate the issues facing them through Irish, which is the everyday language of so many households here. The election is three weeks away.”

According to the 2022 census, the population of the Galway Gaeltacht areas increased from 49,524 (census 2016) to 54,183. More than 24,000 of the 35,500 living in the county Gaeltacht area can speak Irish, while almost 8,000 of 17,000 living in the city Gaeltacht area are proficient.

Senator Kyne urged broadcasters to proceed with an Irish-language debate which Senator Kyne says would give an insight for voters while respecting Gaeltacht communities as well as media fairness guidelines. He said other parties were also in favour of this.

“A debate among Irish speakers would still offer valuable information and would honour the role of the Irish language in the constituency. It is essential the Irish-speaking electorate isn’t denied meaningful engagement during the campaign,” he said.

Senator Kyne reiterated he is committed to supporting the language and ensuring that discourse in the Gaeltacht can happen naturally through Irish.