DCU’s Dr Peadar Ó Flatharta and Fiontar appointed Government advisors on 20 year strategic plan for the Irish language
Wednesday 12 March 2008

Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín, Senior Lecturer, and Dr Peadar Ó Flatharta, Director of Fiontar

FIONTAR, Dublin City University’s school where teaching and research are conducted through Irish in a range of disciplines including business, communications and information technology, has been appointed to advise the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs as they prepare a 20 year strategic plan for the Irish language.

The Minister, Éamon Ó Cuív announced the appointment in the Dáil last week. Dr Peadar Ó Flatharta, Director of Fiontar, will be in charge of the project and a working group is being formed of highly skilled people with wide experience in language planning on a national and international level. Dr Ó Flatharta is a former director of Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, former Vice President of The European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages and a member of Coimisiún na Gaeltachta 2000- 2002. He has a vast experience in language matters in Ireland and on the continent. He is joined on the working group by Dr Caoilfhionn Nic Pháidín, Senior Lecturer who is engaged in research in Fiontar, also a member of Coimisiún na Gaeltachta 2000- 2002, and a member of Foras na Gaeilge. Other members of the working group are:

Professor Francois Grin: Professor of Economics in the University of Geneva, a language expert on the connection between languages and economics, education and economics and policy appraisal; Professor Colin Williams, Research Professor in the University of Cardiff with expert knowledge in the field of spatial planning, geography and politics, an expert on languages and Celtic languages in particular, and Professor Joseph Lo Bianco, Professor of Education and Literature in Melbourne University who is recognised as a global expert on language planning.

The work will commence immediately and it is hoped that it will be completed by the end of the year.

A subcommittee of the Government chaired by Tanaiste Brian Cowen will agree a national plan for the Irish language. Other members of the committee are Ministers Éamon Ó Cuív, (Minister for Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs); Mary Hanafin (Minister for Education and Science); John Gormley, (Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government); Mary Coughlan, (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food); Micheál Martin, (Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment); Noel Dempsey, (Minister for Transport).