Litir inniu san Irish Times

Madam, – Frank Feighan TD was recently appointed Fine Gael’s spokesperson for Gaeltacht affairs. This appointment raises one substantial issue. How does Fine Gael expect Frank Feighan to perform his duty as Gaeltacht spokesperson when he has very limited Irish?

He can’t communicate effectively with the thousands of children in the Gaelscoileanna. He can’t communicate effectively with any of the children who are currently learning Irish in the Gaeltacht. He can’t keep abreast of Gaeltacht affairs or comment on Gaeltacht affairs in Irish. He can’t articulate Fine Gael’s policy on the airwaves of Raidió na Gaeltachta, TG4 or RTÉ. How can he understand or promote Gaelic traditional arts or Irish-language literature?

There are plenty of excellent Irish-speakers in Fine Gael, e.g. Michael Noonan, Fergus O’Dowd, Dinny McGinley. When will Fine Gael appoint a Gaeltacht spokesperson who can communicate effectively in Irish? – Yours, etc,

PÁDRAIC BREATHNACH,LIAM CARSON, MICHAEL CRONIN, LOUIS DE PAOR,THEO DORGAN, DAN DWYER,RÓISÍN ELSAFTY, ALEX HIJMANS, ANNA HEUSSAFF,BIDDY JENKINSON, ANGUS LAMBKIN, AIFRIC MAC AODHA,PROINSIAS MAC A’ BHAIRD,IARLA MAC AODHA BHUÍ,EOGHAN MAC CORMAIC,TADHG MAC DHONNAGÁIN,DOIMNIC MAC GIOLLA BHRÍDE, SEOSAMH MAC MUIRÍ, ROBERT MCMILLEN,CLÁIR NÍ AONGHUSA, MUIREANN NÍ BHEAGLAOICH, ÓDÍ NÍ CHÉILLEACHAIR,CAITRÍONA NÍ CHLEIRCHÍN,DEIRDRE NÍ CHONGHAILE,MÁIRE NÍ CHUALÁIN, ÉILÍS NÍ DHUIBHNE, RÓISÍN NIC DHONNCHA, GRÁINNE NÍ GHILÍN,BLÁTHNAID NÍ GHRÉACHÁIN,TRACEY NÍ MHAONAIGH,CIARA NIC MHATHÚNA, GRÁINNE NÍ MHUIRÍ, LESA NÍ MHUNGHAILE, SÍLE NÍ SCANNLÁIN, BRENDA NÍ SHÚILLEABHÁIN, BRIAN Ó BROIN,AODH Ó CANAINN, MAIDHC Ó CATHAIL, ANTOINE Ó COILEÁIN, ÉANNA Ó CRÓINÍN, TADHG Ó DÚSHLÁINE, ÉAMON Ó HAOGÁIN, DONNCHA Ó HÉALLAITHE, SEÁN Ó FLAITHEARTA, MICHAEL BHARRY Ó FLATHARTA, TADHG Ó GEALBHÁIN, LILLIS Ó LAOIRE, CONCUBHAR Ó LIATHÁIN, PÁDRAIG Ó LIATHÁIN, MÍCHEÁL JOHNNY Ó MEACHAIR, MUIRIS Ó MEARA, GEARÓID Ó MÓRDHA, PEADAR Ó MUIRCHEARTAIGH, COLMÁN Ó RAGHALLAIGH, DARACH Ó SCOLAÍ, PEADAR Ó RIADA, MÍCHEÁL Ó RUAIRC, FEARGUS Ó SNODAIGH, GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK, ALAN TITLEY, GEARÓIDÍN UÍ LAIGHLÉIS, TREASA UÍ LORCÁIN, CLARE WALSH, JEANNINE WOODS.