7 May 1998 Edition
Beware NIO doublespeak on language
A recently leaked briefing paper from chief NIO civil servant, Tony Canavan, to Stormont Minister, Tony Worthington, reveals that despite the Good Friday document anti-Irish language attitudes are still being peddled by the British bureaucracy.
In the paper Canavan dismisses, with obvious contempt, the sections which call for ``resolute action'' to ``facilitate and encourage'' the Irish language. Canavan states : ``What these worthy sentiments might mean in practice is a matter of interpretation and we could argue that our interpretation is as valid as anyone else's ``.
Canavan goes on to stress that Scots Gaelic should not be given special status either to ensure that the discrimination being practised by the British against the Irish language would not be so obvious. He also labels some Irish language enthusiasts as ``abrasive''. However, he has identified `moderates' within the Irish language community with whom education Minister Worthington may be able to do business. One of these is Aodan MacPóilín who fronts the British Government-funded Ultach Trust. Another `moderate' is Belfast City Councillor, Chris McGimpsey, who spent over 10 years voting to uphold the council's ban on the Irish language!
In the paper Canavan dismisses, with obvious contempt, the sections which call for ``resolute action'' to ``facilitate and encourage'' the Irish language. Canavan states : ``What these worthy sentiments might mean in practice is a matter of interpretation and we could argue that our interpretation is as valid as anyone else's ``.
Canavan goes on to stress that Scots Gaelic should not be given special status either to ensure that the discrimination being practised by the British against the Irish language would not be so obvious. He also labels some Irish language enthusiasts as ``abrasive''. However, he has identified `moderates' within the Irish language community with whom education Minister Worthington may be able to do business. One of these is Aodan MacPóilín who fronts the British Government-funded Ultach Trust. Another `moderate' is Belfast City Councillor, Chris McGimpsey, who spent over 10 years voting to uphold the council's ban on the Irish language!