A chara, - Senator Joe O'Toole is bilingual. Yet, by his remarks concerning primary teachers and the Irish language qualification at the Humbert Summer School (The Irish Times, August 23rd), he appears to object to the right of every child in this State to learn our two beautiful heritage languages, as primary teachers teach an integrated curriculum. If, on an individual level, Senator O'Toole wishes the integrated curriculum to be dismantled, he should openly say so.
In relation to the Irish language, why does he not lobby the relevant Government departments to provide free, comprehensive, modern courses in Irish to primary teachers who have a teaching qualification from another jurisdiction? His comments that "The Irish-language lobby has a schizophrenic policy on the language" and that "the Gaeilge groups. . .should be pulled into line" are of great concern to me as a parent, educator and trade unionist. Do such remarks exude parity of esteem and a spirit of partnership? - Is mise,
Maire Ni Laoire, Pinecroft, Duglas, Corcaigh.