It's up in Belfast. It's down in Dublin. What's up, and what's down? The use of the Irish language, that's what.

In his annual report Irish Language Commissioner, Sean O Cuirreain, gave figures showing that only 1 per cent of the proceedings in the Dáil and Seanad are conducted in Irish, even though many members can use the native language.

"If the language continues to be marginalised and sidelined like this in the most important institutions in the life of the country, it is difficult to imagine that it will not have grave implications for the future viability of the language," says Mr. O Cuirreain.

As a result of a complaint made to his office when parliamentary reporters were being sought for the Houses of the Oireachtas, he conducted a study which documented how little Irish was spoken in debates.

"Competence in English" was considered essential for appointment as a parliamentary reporter according to the official advertisement, but no mention was made of a requirement for competency in Irish.

"The Debates Office confirmed that a sufficient number of staff with competency in Irish was already available", said Mr. O Cuirreain. "In view of the fact that there were so few debates in Irish to be reported it would be hard to dispute this argument in the light of these figures."

Meanwhile there is a steady growth in the number of all-Irish schools attracting pupils in Belfast and throughout the Six Counties.

Almost 3,000 children are being taught through the Irish medium in 32 primary schools and three post-primary schools, and this number is expected to grow.

"Irish medium education came from very humble beginnings in a small school in a single mobile with tens of children on the Shaw's Road in Belfast in the 1970s. That school now has a new school which opened a few years ago with almost 400 children at it," says Sean O'Coinn, director of Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta, the Council for Irish-medium education.

Twelve new Irish schools have been approved in the past five years. The biggest of the three Irish medium secondary schools, Meanscoil Feiriste in Belfast, is planning to expand from 440 to 600 pupils.

Shortages of qualified teachers and full funding for text books are cited as obstacles to further progress.

Politicians in Dublin should hang their heads in shame.

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