[lg policy] Ireland: Udaras-backed firm withdraws ban on Irish; 'English only' rule withdrawn by Spiddal company

[Harold Schiffman]

Udaras-backed firm withdraws ban on Irish

December 10, 2009 - 1:00pm
'English only' rule withdrawn by Spiddal company

A CONNEMARA company yesterday withdrew a ban on the use of Irish in
its factory – following strong reaction to a dictat from management
that only English be spoken during working hours. Cambus Medical, is
an Irish-owned company, located in An Spidéal, and is grant aided by
Údarás naGaeltachta to manufacture and supply advanced micro-component
solutions to manufacturers of minimally invasive surgical devices
worldwide. It employs 25 people to whom it had issued a Language
Policy outlining the importance of “direct and open communication. . .
to develop trust and mutual respect”.

According to Barry Comerford, the Managing Director of the company,
this will ensure “a positive, productive atmosphere” within the
workplace, where five languages are spoken – Irish, English, Polish,
Latvian and Spanish. He stressed in the document, which was circulated
to each employee, that the company was an English and Irish speaking
company and indeed promoted Irish through using it in “external
conversations” and with visitors. However, he continued, the company
rule was that English would be the only working language used as it
was a common language in a factory that also employs a number of
Eastern Europeans.

“At no time during the normal course of the working day, are employees
permitted to speak in any other language other than English. Anyone
found in breach of the policy will be subject to disciplinary action
in accordance with their disciplinary policy, up to and including
dismissal.”  The policy, however, did not extend to break-times.
Yesterday, the company withdrew the language policy saying that it
would be working closely with Údaras on working out a new policy that
will address the challenges faced by a multilingual company, which
opened two years ago with seven employees. It recently announced it
was creating 60 new jobs in the next three years.

A company spokesperson had explained that in an effort to create an
inclusive workplace, it had been decided that English, which was
spoken by all staff, would be the common language and that the memo
had not been an anti-Irish move. “We recognise that our company is
operating in a Gaeltacht region and as a company, we fully agree with
Údarás na
Gaeltachta aims and objectives in respect to the Irish language. We
will be working with Údarás na Gaeltachta to address the multi-lingual
work environment at our company’s facility in An Spidéal,” he added.

http://www.galwaynews.ie/10105-udaras-backed-firm-withdraws-ban-irish

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