A chara, – I would like to support the group in their letter (July 3rd) deploring the closure of Foinse, our only newspaper as Gaeilge.
Even in these hard times it is vitally important that we keep our culture and identity alive and the media has a very special role in this regard. RTÉ is playing its part in the many programmes as Gaeilge in both radio and TV, but it is also essential for the survival of the language that we have a print media. The Irish Times is making its contribution with the regular articles as Gaeilge in the paper.
I would remind the Government of Article 8 of our Constitution: gurbh í an Ghaeilge príomh-theanga oifigiúl an Staít. In my opinion it follows that citizens have the right to read newspapers in the first “official language” and that the Government has the duty to ensure that they have the opportunity to do so. – Is mise,
FRANCES SPILLANE,
Sallins Road,
Naas,
Co Kildare.