(English version below)
Tacaíonn Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn go hiomlán leis an agóid a tharla ag Stáisiún Grand Central i mBéal Feirste Déardaoin mar gheall ar easpa comharthaíochta Gaeilge ag an mol nua iompair, agus cearta teanga na Gaeilge á sárú go soiléir.
Tá sé an-díomách go bhfuil Translink, oibreoir iompair phoiblí Thuaisceart Éireann, tar éis Stáisiún Grand Central Bhéal Feirste a oscailt gan aon sholáthar do chomharthaíocht dhátheangach, agus cuireann AMLÉ fáilte roimh an ngníomh ó An Dream Dearg chun a éileamh go gcomhlíonfar ár gcearta teanga bunúsacha.
Tá An Dream Dearg ag iarraidh dul i mbun cainte le Translink ar an gceist seo ó 2022 chun a chinntiú nach dtarlódh sé seo.
Dúirt Leas-Uachtarán don Ghaeilge AMLÉ, Bláithín Nic a t-Sithigh: “Tá sé an-díomách go bhfuil an mol iompair is mó ar an oileán oscailte gan aon chomharthaíocht Gaeilge. Tá Translink tar éis neamhaird iomlán a dhéanamh ar aon fhreagracht atá orthu maidir le cearta teanga a chomhlíonadh.
“Dar le An Dream Dearg, tá Translink tar éis leithscéal i ndiaidh leithscéil a aimsiú gan an chomharthaíocht seo a sholáthar cé gur dúradh leo dul ar aghaidh leis an tionscadal ag an Aire agus cé gur ritheadh rún i gComhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste chun comharthaíocht dhátheangach a sholáthar.”
Tacaíonn AMLÉ leis na glaonna ó An Dream Dearg, na daltaí scoile, agus grúpaí áitiúla eile chun an chomharthaíocht seo a shuiteáil ag Translink láithreach.
Níl cearta teanga na Gaeilge faoi chaibidil, agus níl sé de cheart ag eagraíochtaí aonair agus comhlachtaí atá faoi úinéireacht phoiblí neamhaird a dhéanamh orthu de réir mar is toil leo.
USI supports important Irish language rights protest at Belfast Grand Central Station
The Union of Students in Ireland fully supports the protest that took place at the Belfast Grand Central Station on Thursday over the lack Irish signage at the new transport hub in a blatant disregard of Irish language rights.
The move by Northern Ireland’s public transport operator, Translink, to open Belfast Grand Central Station without any provision for dual-language signage is extremely disappointing and USI welcomes the action by An Dream Dearg to demand our basic language rights be upheld.
An Dream Dearg have been seeking to engage with Translink on this issue since 2022 to ensure this did not happen.
USI Leas Uachtarán don Ghaeilge, Bláithín Nic a t-Sithigh said: “It is very disappointing to see the biggest transport hub on the island open without any provision for Irish language signage. Translink have just completely disregarded any responsibility they have for upholding our language rights.
“According to An Dream Dearg, Translink have found excuse after excuse to not provide this signage despite being told by the Minister to go ahead and a motion being passed at Belfast City Council for dual-language signage to be provided.”
USI joins the calls by An Dream Dearg, the school students and other local groups for this signage to be installed by Translink immediately.
Irish language rights are not up for debate, and it is not up to individual organisations and publicly owned companies to ignore them at will.