Skip to main content

Leasuithe molta ag Gormley don reachtaíocht i dtaobh athrú logainmneacha

29/04/08


D’fhógair an tAire Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta, agus Rialtais Áitiúil, John Gormley TD, inniu (29 Aibreán, 2008) go bhfuil sé i gceist aige roinnt leasuithe reachtúla a thabhairt isteach agus cuspóir acu an aighneas faoi ainm bhaile an Daingin a réiteach. Tá sé i gceist aige freisin níos mó aitheantas a thabhairt don Ghaeilge áit a chuirtear moltaí chun tosaigh chun logainm a athrú.

“Tharraing an díospóireacht faoi ainm bhaile An Daingin aird ar roinnt cheisteanna gur gá tabhairt futhú nuair atá moltaí curtha ar aghaidh chun logainm a athrú. Faoi láthair ní aithníonn an reachtaíocht rialtais áitiúil, a phléann le logainmneacha, go mbíonn leagan Gaeilge agus leagan Béarla ag logainmneacha in Éirinn,” a dúirt an tAire.

“Tá sé i gceist agam mar sin, an dlí rialtais áitiúil a leasú chun cinntiú go gcaithfidh gach moladh feasta chun logainm a athrú, leagan Gaeilge agus leagan Béarla a chur chun cinn, ach amháin sa chás nach mbíonn ach leagan Gaeilge á mholadh,” a dúirt sé.

“Níl aon athrú ar pholasaí an Rialtais maidir le aitheantas an Stáit do logainmneacha Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Ach más toil an phobail áitiúil é an t-ainm a athrú go leagan eile Gaeilge nó go leagan dhátheangach Gaeilge agus Béarla, tiocfaidh an leagan sin in ionad aon ainm a leagtar síos in Ordú Logainmneacha faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003.”

Arsa an tAire: “maidir le toil an phobail a áimsiú i dtaobh aon mholadh chun logainm a athrú, cinnteoidh mé go gcaithfidh aon phobalbhreith bheith faoi rún feasta.”

D’ainneoin na ceisteanna faoin phobalbhreith a reachtáladh sa Daingean, ba é dearcadh an Aire é, go raibh sé soiléir go raibh tromlach mór mhuintir an bhaile i bhfábhar aitheantas a thabhairt don ainm “Dingle” in ainm an bhaile. Ba é cuspóir na pobalbheithe ainm dhátheangach “Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis” a thabhairt isteach  - leagan nach mbainfeadh Béarlóirí ná Gaeilgeoirí feidhm as. Tá sé i gceist ag an Aire mar sin an deis a thapú, agus an reachtaíocht rialtais áitiúil a leasú aige, go dtabharfaí aitheantas do “Daingean Uí Chúis” mar ainm oifigiúil an bhaile i nGaeilge, agus “Dingle” mar ainm oifigiúil an bhaile as Béarla. Ní dhéanfar aon athrú ar fhorálacha na Rialacháin um Thrácht ar Bhóithre maidir le comharthaí bóithre sa Ghaeltacht .i. ní mór logainmneacha sa Ghaeltacht a thaispeáint i nGaeilge amháin.

Mar gheall ar na bearta sin thuas, níl an Rialtas ag géilleadh d’iarratas Chomhairle Chontae Chiarraí ó mí na Samhna 2006. Déanfar aon leasuithe ar an reachtaíocht, mar atá luaite thuas, mar chuid den athchóiriú ar rialtas áitiúil atá pléite sa Pháipéar Glas Daonlathas Áitiúil Níos Láidre, a d’fhoilsigh an tAire an tseachtain seo chaite.

“Tuigim mothúcháin an phobail Ghaeltachta i dtaobh “An Daingean “ a aithint mar phríomhbhaile Ghaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne, agus san am céanna, an cion atá ag pobal an bhaile ar “Dingle” mar ainm. Tá dóchas agam gur féidir leis na moltaí seo, a thugann aitheantas níos mó don Ghaeilge trí chéile agus athruithe logainmneacha a chur chun cinn, an cheist achrannach seo a réiteach, “ a chríochnaigh an tAire Gormley.

CRÍOCH
 
Gormley proposes amendments to legislation on changing Placenames

Dingle and Daingean Uí Chúis to be official names of An Daingean


The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, today (29 April 2008) announced that he proposes to introduce a number of legislative changes aimed at resolving the dispute concerning the name of An Daingean, while giving greater recognition to the Irish language where placename changes are proposed.

“The debate over the name of Dingle in Kerry has drawn attention to a number of issues which need to be addressed where placename changes are proposed. The local government code relating to placenames does not reflect the reality that placenames in Ireland generally have both an Irish and English version,” said the Minister.

“I therefore propose to amend local government law to ensure that all future proposals for placename changes must specify the proposed name in Irish and English, unless it is indicated that an Irish name only is to be adopted.”

“It remains Government policy that the names of places within the Gaeltacht should generally be recognised by the State in Irish. However, where a local community wishes to vote to change the name to an alternative Irish only name, or to an Irish and English version, that version will supersede any Placenames Order under the Official Languages Act 2003.”

“In that regard, I will also ensure in future that any plebiscites used to ascertain the views of the population living within the area subject to the change of placename must be held in secret.”

Notwithstanding any issue with the plebiscite held in Dingle, the Minister considered that it was clear that the overwhelming majority of the population of the town wished to see recognition given to “Dingle” in the name of the town. The plebiscite sought to introduce a bilingual name “Dingle Daingean Uí Chúis”, a version which, in reality, neither Irish or English speakers would use. The Minister therefore proposes that the opportunity would be taken in legislation to provide that Daingean Uí Chúis should be the official name of the town of An Daingean in the Irish language with Dingle being the official name of the town in the English language. The requirements of road traffic regulations regarding signage in the Gaeltacht will not be affected i.e. places within the Gaeltacht will continue to be shown in Irish only.

In view of the above measures, the Government is not acceding to the application from Kerry County Council made in November 2006. The legislation required to make these changes will be introduced as part of the general reforms of local government which are discussed in the Green Paper Stronger Local Democracy, published by the Minister last week.

“I appreciate the sensitivities in relation to the recognition of “An Daingean” as the capital of the Corca Dhuibhne Gaeltacht and “Dingle” as a name to which the townspeople are obviously attached. I hope that these proposals, which give greater recognition to the Irish language generally when placename changes are proposed, can bring a satisfactory conclusion to the issue,” stated Minister Gormley.


ENDS

Media queries:
Press and Information Office
Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct)
(01) 888 2000
E-Mail: press-office@environ.ie
Web site: www.environ.ie

Back