CELTIC COUNTRIES - SECOND STAGE OF POLICE SURVEY

Rapport publié le 22/01/09 23:13 dans Cultures par Cathal Ó Luain pour Cathal Ó Luain

Badge of Garda Síochána na hÉireann (Irish Police)

The Celtic League is continuing its survey on attitudes to National languages and cultural commitment amongst police forces in the Celtic countries. During 2007-2008 the Celtic League General Secretary focused on police services in Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and Mann.

The findings of this first round of consultations was presented to the Celtic League AGM in Dublin in August 2008 - see:

(voir le site) - AGM 2008THE POLICE REPORT

In the next phase of this research the Celtic League will look at police services in Ireland and Brittany and the exercise has commenced with correspondence to Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy (see below):

«Commissioner Fachtna Murphy Garda Siochana na hEireann Republic of Ireland

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18/01/09

Dear Commissioner Fachtna Murphy

Garda Siochana na hEireann: Irish language and cultural commitment

The Celtic League is currently pursuing a campaign to examine how the police forces in the Celtic countries reflect the respective distinctive cultural heritage in each nation.

The Celtic League has now written to all the Chief Constables of Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man and Cornwall inviting them to offer their opinions and views on particular aspects of their forces' commitment to the distinctive Celtic language and culture that is to be found in whole or in part of the territory that their police force serves. We have so far received a very positive response to our survey and have been generally happy with the dialogue that we have been engaged in about the above topic with several police forces.

We believe this campaign is important, because the police form part of the community it serves and as such should reflect the cultural and linguistic heritage of that local and wider community.

Rather than initially write to each police division in the Republic of Ireland, we thought it best to write to you first to request information in answer to some general and specific questions, using a similar list to the one that we have sent other Chief Constables in the UK. However, in our letter to you we have focused mainly on language issues. We would therefore like to ask you to consider the following questions:

1) Why isn't your new website in Irish and do you have plans to translate the website into Irish in the future?

2) Why don't your officers no longer have to speak or show a commitment to learn Irish as a requirement to enter the force?

3) Are your officers able to attend free classes in the Irish language as part of their job, should they wish to do so and if not why? If they can attend free language classes, what are the requirements of the course and who manages it?

4) Do you have a specific Irish language policy for your force?

5) If I were to write a letter to Garda Siochana na hEireann in Irish, at any level and on any topic, would I receive a reply in that language?

6) What requirements has the force met according to the Irish Language Act and do you have a time scale for implementation?

7) How could, in your opinion, the Garda Siochana na hEireann show more of a commitment to Irish cultural and linguistic identity?

We have also copied this letter to the Irish Justice, Equality and Law Reform Minister, Dermot Ahern for his information.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League

CC Minister Dermot Ahern»