Droim láimhe is diúltú glan don Ghaeilge

Diúltaíodh san Ardchúirt i mBéal Feirste Dé Céadaoine don iarracht a bhí ar bun ag Gaeilgeoirí chun scor d’Acht Riar na Córa ón bhliain 1737 a choscann úsáid na Gaeilge sna cúirteanna ó thuaidh.

Riailigh an Breitheamh Girvan gurb é an Béarla teanga oibre na cúirte, an teanga atá ar eolas ag gach duine agus go gcuirfeadh sé as do ghnó na cúirte dá mbeadh an Ghaeilge in úsáid ann.

Thug se droim láimhe d’iarracht a bhí ar bun ag an Ghaeilgeoir, Caoimhín Mac Giolla Cathain, ar as Gaeltacht Bhóthar Seoighe dó, chun iarratas a dhéanamh i nGaeilge ar cheadúnas d’ócáid shóisialta a bhí le bheith sa Chultúrlann.

Seo tuairisc i mBéarla ar chuid dár dúradh sa chúirt, 

Lord Justice Girvan, sitting with Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan and Lord Justice Coghlin, said the act had not been shown to be incompatible with any of Mr Catháin’s Convention rights.

Although he acknowledged the requirements did treat English speakers differently from non-English speakers, the judge held this was “manifestly necessary and proportionate in a democratic society”.

He said: “In a jurisdiction where English is the language of the overwhelming majority of the population the requirement that court documents initiating proceedings be in English as the working language of the court is a practical necessity in the interests of fairness.”

Lord Justice Girvan stressed that non-English speaking witnesses in proceedings must be entitled to give evidence in their own language through a translator – otherwise their right to access to the courts would be “illusory”.

However, he emphasised the present position that English is the working language of not just the courts but nearly the entire population.

“Even if Article 6 and 14 (of the European Convention on Human Rights) were engaged in this case no breach of the appellant’s Convention rights has in fact occurred,” he said.

“The appellant has not demonstrated any Convention incompatibility in the 1737 Act.”

Lord Justice Girvan added: “At common law English is the working language of the court and this will remain so unless and until the matter is changed by statute. Any change in law would itself have to be compatible with the Convention rights of litigants.”

Dúirt PF POBAL, Janet Muller go bhfuil sí ‘feargach agus meallta’ faoin chinneadh maidir le hachomharc ar an acht, acht 273 bliain d’aois a chuireann cosc ar úsáid na Gaeilge sna cúirteanna ó thuaidh.

“I mí Aibreáin, d’fhoilsigh Coiste na Saineolaithe ar Chairt na hEorpa do Theangacha Réigiúnacha nó Mionlaigh a thuairim  faoi chur i gcrích na Cairte i leith na Gaeilge le trí bliana anus agus cháin sé go géar Acht 1737.

“Dar leo, is dlí leatromach é, a théann salach ar spiorad agus aidhmeanna na Cairte agus a dhéanann dochar don Ghaeilge.

“Ní thiocfadh leis an teachtaireacht bheith níos soiléire – caithfear an tAcht seo a aisghairm. Faoi lathair, tá codarsnacht idir an dlí áitiúil agus an dlí idirnáisiúnta agus caithfear é a réiteach.

“Tá Acht Gaeilge agus polasaí dearfach i leith na teanga anois de dhíth go géar.”