Gardaí non-compliance with Irish speakers

dublin | crime and justice | press release Thursday June 15, 2006 16:53 by Pól Mac - USI

A number of Irish language activists in Dublin have been intimidate and even arrested for dealing with Gardaí in Irish when stopped, these events became as serious as arresting Irish language activists for asserting their constitutional right to give their name and address in Irish to the Gardaí. The Irish language is the first language of this state and the public must not be intimidated or mistreated for maintaining or asserting that view. The folllowing is a statement and press release from the USI on a number of complaints they have recieved from their members.

USI URGES END TO GARDA DISCRIMINATION AGAINST IRISH SPEAKERS

14 June 2006

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has demanded stricter enforcement of standards in the Garda, following reports that guards in some cases are flouting their constitutional obligation to deal in Irish with people who indicate this preference.

USI said the need for tougher regulation stems from the fact that members of the public who indicate a wish to deal with the Garda in Irish are placed at a disadvantage when guards, stations or Districts manifest an inability – or unwillingness – to respect this constitutional right.

USI Irish Language Officer Ciarán Mac Fhearghusa said: “The mutual respect that exists between citizens and the Garda is a feature of our society of which we all can be proud, but that respect has been threatened when, in several documented cases, gardai have flouted the Constitution and discriminated against Irish language speakers by not respecting their wish to be dealt with in the first official language.

“USI believes the time has come for stricter enforcement of standards in the Garda, to ensure that the wish of Irish language speakers to be dealt with in Irish not English is honoured. In compliance with the letter and the spirit of the Constitution, Irish versions of all comments and legal documents must be supplied to Irish speakers willingly and promptly.

“Bilingual policing has long been the practice in Helsinki and Brussels – there is no reason why it cannot also be the norm in Dublin, Cork and Galway.

“Like every other representative of the State, gardai and Garda supervisors have a legal duty to observe the status of Irish as the first official language. This obligation must be regulated and compliance guaranteed.”

End.