FG - A slightly constitutional anti Irish language party

[LiamORaiste]

Fresh on the recent foray by TD Brian Hayes into fascist book burning territory with his suggestion to remove Cathal O Searcaigh's poetry from the Leaving Certificate syllabus because of allegations in a movie which have not been tested in a court of law, Fine Gael has come up with a new anti Irish language wheeze.

The party, infamous for its Kafkaesque appointment of a non Irish speaking Gaeltacht spokesman, has now decided to invite applications for membership from Poles and Russians living in Ireland. To this end the party has, admirably, provided membership application forms in Polish and Russian. All the information is provided in today's edition of Irish language daily Lá Nua, www.nuacht.com. However, when asked to provide membership forms in Irish, a spokesperson said this wasn't necessary as everyone who understands Irish can also understand English. Why would they bother?

A little thing called the Constitution might provide an answer to that question.
After all in the Constitution which FG claims to uphold the Irish language is the First Official Language and English is also recognised. If FG is a constitutional party - and that is an 'if' - shouldn't it do the decent thing and provide membership forms as Gaeilge for those in Ireland who might think they could change the system from within. It's a bit like a native African trying to join the South African ruling party pre Apartheid I grant - but then again there are always idealists out there who might think they could have an effect.

It's a shame too because there are many in FG who value the language and who espouse its cause. It's a pity that FG is being ruled by a tiny reactionary cohort whose first action after every headline in the English language press is 'kneejerk'.

[hiding behind a poster]

That's an idiotic post. And by posting it in English you've actually gone some way to proving FG's original point.

[pauriceenjack]

Why not post it in Irish

Methinks it is time for a constitutional ammendment to be put to the people regarding the National Language

[Compound Fracture]

Yeah FG don’t have an Irish language membership form. Jail Enda Kenny for treason!!!!!!

What a complete load of bolloks

[LiamORaiste]

Is this the same guy that posted a zero contribution over on the Gaeilge site? What's your problem? The facts are correct. They may not read as pleasantly as you might like for a Fine Gaeler - but that's my interpretation. Can you possibly explain how this doesn't show FG to be an anti Irish language party? Or is your first response the kneejerk of describing every one who might have a contrary view to your own as 'idiotic'? No wonder FG wins the argument - not - with FF whose only virtue, it appears to me, is they're not FG....

[Compound Fracture]

A little thing called the Constitution might provide an answer to that question

Where in the Constitution does it say that organisations must provide membership forms and all other documentation in a bilingual format?

Do you have any case law which backs up this outlandish theory?

[just_society]

FFS An Taosieach Bertie Ahern can barely speak english.

At least Enda is a fluent Irish speaker, and FG are taking a somewhat mature attitude towards the sacred cow that is the Irish language. A proper debate is needed on this.

[Pauli]

Yet another bull************************ post about the Irish language which reinforces my view on it which is basically that the unfortunate language is "owned" by some of the stupidest and nastiest people in the country. These idiots claim it as their own which, of course, it is no such thing.

[HanleyS]

That's an idiotic post. And by posting it in English you've actually gone some way to proving FG's original point.

[meriwether]

That's an idiotic post. And by posting it in English you've actually gone some way to proving FG's original point.

Double LoL

I feel my constitutional rights ahev been violated by LiamORaiste not posting a translation of his post above in Irish, along with the English version.
I demand the right to read nonsense in a billingual format, as per the constitution, 6.18, the figment of Liam's imagination article.