Ireland: lack of a proper language policy?

[Harold F. Schiffman]

>>From dailyireland.televisual.co.uk/

NELSON'S PILLAR: Start handing out the 40-foot bargepoles



Last weekends party conferences had one thing in common. They were all
agin the Shinners. No surprises there. The Progressive Democrats and Endas
crowd and the SDLP vied with each other to put down their mortal enemies
only to be put down themselves by Bertie, who stole the headlines by being
agin the Shinners!

He made it clear that he would not be in government with them. It reminded
this column of Ulster Unionist John Taylors assertion that he would not
touch the Shinners with a 40-foot bargepole. That was before the Ulster
Unionists and the Shinners went on to take up their places in the
power-sharing executive in the North. John was hardballing in his own
colourful way. Bertie was stealing headlines and robbing Enda of the
Shinners-below-the-bed electoral card.  Expect more about all of this
right up until the votes are counted, whenever that happens to be. By the
way, this column notes that the Shinners have zeroed in on one of the
other things the anti-Shinners have in common. They appear to believe that
the electorate will give the Shinners sufficient votes to put them in
government, whether the other parties like it or not. Or maybe because the
other parties don't like it.


Coalition of the confused

Berties main attack on the Shinners was in relation to the partys economic
policies. He claimed that the Shinners policies would damage the economy.
This distraction probably came as some relief to Comrade Pat and Enda.
They continue to present themselves as the government in waiting. Last
weekend, Enda ruled out any tax increases by Fine Gael if it wins. Labour,
for its part, has kept open the possibility of increasing capital gains
tax. Neither Pat nor Enda has made any credible effort to spell out how
these huge differences in policy will be bridged. When asked about the
differences in tax policies between these potential coalition partners,
Enda said it would be all right on the night. This explains exactly why he
is in opposition. Some people are blessed by their friends. Bertie is
blessed by his opposition.


Gan teanga

Expect a kickback within Fine Gael over Endas proposal to end the
requirement for Irish education for Leaving Certificate students. This
column believes he would be better to quietly drop this idea. However, if
he forces a full Dil debate as he has promised, it may at least bring some
focus on the lack of a proper language policy. That was hardly Endas
intention. This column doesn't know how considered his remarks were but
Fine Gael did support the campaign to have Irish recognised as a working
language in the European Union. The Gaeilgeoir who influenced this
position are unlikely to take their leaders proposition lying down.


A sticky end

As predicted here some weeks ago, the row between Comrade Pat and his
Sligo TD Declan Bree has turned out to be a very fine row indeed. This
column confidently expects Declan Bree to contest the next election as an
independent, unless Comrade Pat makes up to the disaffected Sligo TD. That
is very unlikely, given the acrimony between the two men.


Nursing crisis

There are now more than 1,100 nursing vacancies in hospitals and
health-care facilities across the state. These include 85 vacancies at St
James's Hospital in the capital at the end of June; 55 vacancies in Our
Ladys Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin; 47 at Beaumont; and 40 at the
Coombe Womens Hospital. The latest figures show that vacancy levels are
continuing to rise. Liam Doran, general secretary of the Irish Nurses
Organisation, has claimed the figures are proof of the failure of the
government's manpower policy. He has also said the latest figures do not
reflect the fact that no nurses qualified this autumn because of the way
nurses are trained.  Therefore, the position will be worse at the end of
the year, he said. Mr Doran also claims there is no shortage of nurses in
the state. There is a failure of the state to retain its nurses. It then
spends a fortune recruiting nurses from abroad.


Farming crisis

agriculture minister Mary Coughlan has launched a report on rural Ireland,
which predicts that only 10,000 full-time farmers will be left by the year
2025, compared to just over 40,000 now. The report warns of an
unacceptable regional balance in the economy. It is the old
west-of-the-Shannon, west-of-the-Bann syndrome. In the North, the
unionists get the blame for the imbalance. In the South after decades of
sovereign government, who is to blame? The report makes a number of
recommendations that this column fully supports and has argued for in the
past. These are common-sense matters and include the implementation of the
National Spatial Strategy, the introduction of infrastructure, and the
development of the agrifood industry as well as forestry and the marine.
Will the government implement these recommendations? Dont hold your
breath.


Gangland killings

A year ago, justice minister Michael McDowell said he was satisfied that a
murder in Blanchardstown was the last sting of the dying wasp. He was
reminded of this assertion in the House this week following another series
of gangland killings. Belfast is now a much less dangerous place than
Dublin. There is considerable apprehension in the capital. This was clear
from the Joe Duffy radio show, which this week interviewed people who had
witnessed or been caught up in previous killings. Mr McDowells
predecessor, John O'Donoghue, promised zero tolerance on crime some time
ago. This is another assertion that has come back to haunt Fianna Fil and
the PDs. The minister has a very high profile and a tendency to make
controversial statements about his political opponents.  On many
occasions, he appears to present himself as the governments spokesman on
the North. With a crime wave that would do 1930s Chicago proud, perhaps it
is time Bertie told Michael to concentrate on his responsibilities as
justice minister.



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