A Chara, - Your Editorial of December 18th criticises the proposal to introduce a language test in either Irish or English for future citizens. Apparently you find it difficult to accept that the "capacity to communicate with their future fellow citizens" could be other than through English. Are we now to withdraw citizenship from those people who speak Irish only, or Irish as a first language? Surely since the advent of TG4 we all realise that Irish is now a language of the 21st century with a great future ahead of it.
Irish can stand alongside much more widely-spoken world languages, and is developing at a rapid pace and being used in all areas of modern living. It is also a fact that almost everyone in Ireland knows at least one fluent Irish speaker, or knows where they can find such a speaker.
I am quite certain that should "someone who speaks fluent Mandarin and Irish" apply for citizenship, their services would be eagerly sought by many academic institutions and translation agencies in this country. Our voluntary Irish-language group is currently working on a short Irish-Mandarin video of useful phrases, and already has Irish-Polish phrases, which can be viewed at www.ionad.org.
Go n-éirí go geal le lucht foghlamtha na Gaeilge, cuma cén ceárd den domhain as a dtagann siad. - Is mise,
SEÁN MAC SUIBHNE, Ionad Buail Isteach, f/ch 43 Sráid Essex Thoir, Baile Átha Cliath 2.
Madam, - Was it necessary to be so snide about Irish in your Editorial of December 18th? The Minister knows full well that it is highly unlikely for any migrant to this country to claim competence in Irish only. Bur Irish is constitutionally our national language and the Minister feels obliged to mention it.
If a significant number of the population wish to deprive Irish of its constitutional place, is it not a wonder that a movement to this end did not commence long ago? Perhaps the fear is that out of shame a majority would vote for its status to be secured. - Yours, etc,
DIARMUID BREATHNACH, Gairdíní Shuí Mhantáin, Bré, Co Chill Mhantáin.