Celtic League General Secretary, Rhisiart Tal-e-bot, has written to all 16 Irish MEPs urging them to use every effort to ensure the status of Irish as an official language in the European Parliament is maintained (see below):
"Irish Gaelic in the European Parliament
I am writing in response to the recent news that a low proportion of Irish MEP's are using Irish Gaelic in the European Parliament and the cost for providing an Irish Gaelic translation service is subsequently massively inflated.
As you will be aware the European Parliament will conduct a review into the official languages that are being used at the European Parliament in four years time, which could result in a reduction or even a cessation of the Irish Gaelic translation service that is currently being provided, if it is shown that it is not widely used or needed. I am sure you will agree that it would indeed be a great shame if this occurred, in consideration of all the years of effort that has been put into the campaign to get Irish Gaelic recognised as an official working EU language and for a translation service to be made available.
As you know Irish Gaelic is the only Celtic language to be officially recognised in the European Parliament where a translation service is provided. If this service is subsequently reduced or stopped in the future, due to its high cost in relation to its users, it may have a knock on effect on the language campaigns from the other Celtic countries, where groups and individuals are currently trying to get their own respective languages more widely recognised at a European level, like Scottish Gaelic and Welsh.
We therefore urge you to make the most of the Irish translation services that are available in the European Parliament by using Irish Gaelic whenever possible. We are writing to all 16 Irish MEP's in an attempt to raise the profile and use of the Irish language in the European Parliament as part of a Celtic League campaign during the UN Year of International Languages 2008. At our AGM in September 2007 the following resolution was passed unanimously:
'This AGM:
In particular, seeks to raise the profile, position and use of the different Celtic languages in the Celtic countries and internationally, during the UN International Year of Languages 2008.'
If you are not an Irish Gaelic speaker then we would like to invite you to take up learning the language for the UN Year of International Languages 2008.
We would also appreciate knowing what your thoughts on on any of the points raised above.
Yours sincerely
Rhisiart Tal-e-bot"
Related article at:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
24/01/08
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