.

History (Ionnrach Ex)

The public has had bad experiences in asking for service through Irish from public

companies in the past but despite all of this the Irish Speaking community has grown

since the foundation of the State because the public has an interest in preserving the

Irish Language in Ireland.

The Future

There is a demand for language services from public bodies when the public is

comfortable with that organisation’s role. This does not occur without a great effort

on a continuous basis initially to gradually take society on board. Therefore, the

image of the Irish Language must be connected to the organisation’s services. In order

to distribute the body’s products and services, a certain amount of the public must be

confident of the organisation’s role in Irish Society.

For the demand on service through Irish to expand and grow, the organisation must

have a positive policy for the youth, the speakers of today, the public in general and

the users of tomorrow in order for them to be interested in the body’s future and in

services through Irish for the years to come. That situation will not change without the

public having a deep understanding on the body’s role since every organisation

pursues of users who have a specific interest in improving their language rights when

they seek quality service from the body.

If they have a bad experience from poor services, they will probably be reluctant to

seek service through Irish again from the organisation. Demand is achieved only on a

gradual basis. To have an effect on the public, it is of great value to publish the

scheme in all the media such as the English Language newspapers, TG4, RTÉ Raidió

na Gaeltacha, Lá and Foinse. It is worthwhile to distribute an information package

from house to house to create a deeper understanding of the public body in relation to

the body’s resources and statutory and constitutional role and the new requirements of

the public in general.

It is important to invite the public to use the amount of Irish they have when they

speak to each other about the organisations and how important it is in promoting and

reviving the Irish Language in society. Language planning, language policy and the

development of the Irish Language in the society must be co-ordinated on the basis

that the body has a statutory responsibility to regularly clarify the opportunity of use

to the public. It would be very worthwhile to establish a full-time Language

Development Service in the public body to fulfil the organisation’s objectives in the

short term.

It is truly time to immediately put legislative provisions in place, in terms of speaking

opportunities and information services, to eventually preserve and expand the Irish

Language in society. Practical thinking is needed to implement the most practical

objectives within a very short period of time so the Irish Speaking community

throughout the country will have a true choice of languages as well as assistance from

other statutory services. The public is seeking a new comprehensive service through

Irish from your body now. It is time to immediately implement new language

measures.

(Ionnrach Ex)