Madam, - I accept, as stated by Aoghus Ó hAlmhain (May 17th), that one purpose of the Official Languages Act is to allow for the provision of services through Irish for those who wish it.
And I accept that, although those who wish it are a small minority, they are nonetheless entitled to Irish-language services. And I think the Act pretty well ensures the protection of those minority language rights.
But now apply the same criterion to the rights of the English-speaking majority. Why should the Government demand that every pupil in the country study Irish up to the Leaving Certificate, regardless of the choice that might be made by those young citizens and their parents? Or what can be the justification of excluding English-speaking students from the colleges of the National University unless they pass an examination in Irish?
I think that these two impositions on English-speaking citizens should go; and furthermore, that the moral authority of those committed to the Irish-language would be greatly enhanced if they were seen to champion for others the same rights in choice of language as they have won for themselves. - Yours, etc,
DONAL FLYNN,
Breffni Terrace,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.