Níl to Kildare council meetings as Gaeilge

Ways of improving the use of the Irish language at meetings of Kildare County Council are to be considered by the council’s protocol committee.

This follows an extensive and sometimes dual-language debate at the July meeting on a motion by cllr Shonagh Ní Raghallaigh asking for such an initiative, and suggesting that the December meeting be conducted solely as Gaeilge.

The report to the motion noted that Kildare County Council is committed to using and promoting the native language, and increasing its use at meetings ‘benefits its status’ as the first official Language of the state. However, the authority’s 2018-2021 Scéim Ghaeilge Irish Language Scheme does not commit the council to conducting meetings solely through the medium.

The report also noted that extremely complex and technical matters are often debated at meetings, and as a decision-making forum for the organisation, very high proficiency in Irish by all parties would be required, in the interests of accuracy.

Earlier, in a nod to cllr Ní Raghallaigh’s wishes, cathaoirleach Cllr Joe Neville had opened the afternoon’s proceedings in Irish, and also noted the Clár items through the medium through the meeting.

Speaking to her motion, the councillor said Irish is a “fundamental aspect of who we are” and conducting a full meeting as Gaeilge offers an opportunity to “honour our rich community”.

Cllr Ní Raghallaigh said the initiative would attract positive attention to Kildare, it would also be an example to other councils.

“I realise that it could pose challenges to some councillors, but that could be addressed through language support services and translators. It would not be just a symbolic gesture, but also a powerful statement to national pride.” Supporting the motion, cllr Naoise Ó Cearúil thanked his colleague for bringing the motion forward, but suggested that the end of the year meeting might be conducted bilingually instead of just through Irish.

Cllr Angela Feeney congratulated cllr Ní Raghallaigh for bringing the motion forward, saying that the use of Irish is latent within us and is there.

“It will come back to people,” she said, but she cautioned that no one should feel ‘pressurised’.

The principle of the motion was commended by cllr Suzanne Doyle but she said “practicality is of concern”. “I couldn’t support a meeting fully in Irish,” she said. “There would be no practical purpose in me sitting at a meeting that I couldn’t understand.” Cllr Ivan Keatley said he would be at a “serious disadvantage” in such a meeting. “It could be discriminatory to myself and a lot of councillors,” he added.

He wondered if there was a technology that could provide translated subtitles on the system in real time. Happy to support the motion was cllr Ann Breen, who said the council should be committed to ‘using and promoting’ the native language and official language of the state.

Also indicating her support for the motion’s principle, cllr Veralouise Behan said her cupla focail would not be enough for her to understand proceedings, but she would appreciate the chamber being a bilingual space “for all of us councillors”.

Cllr Aidan Farrelly made the suggestion of asking the protocol committee if there were elements of proceedings where Irish could be used regularly, “such as when we’re voting.” Cllr Noel Heavey agreed, saying “that would be the way to go, the other would be dodgy enough.” He also wondered if maybe Artificial Intelligence could be used to provide translations.

Offering his own thoughts, the cathaoirleach said that while it would be ‘good to do something’, carrying out a full meeting as Gaeilge would be very difficult to do. On the bilingual idea, “if we were to say everything twice, the meeting would be very long.” 

Chief executive Sonja Kavanagh told the meeting she fully supported the “thrust and objective” of the proposal, and if there was time the responses in reports could be done bilingually.

“But I wouldn’t have the ability to conduct follow up in the meeting.” Following the decision to bring the matter to the protocol committee, cllr Ó Raghallaigh said she was very satisfied that the council ‘are doing a lot’ and thanked all. “I just had to push things a little further.” During the discussion, tributes were paid to the work of the council’s Gaeilge Officer, recently appointed, who is increasing opportunities for the acquisition and use of Gaeilge ‘in a visible and effective way’, including the initiative of a Club Cúpla Focal.

The councillors were told that Irish language courses will be facilitated in the autumn, initially prioritising front-line staff in the areas of customer service and motor tax.

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