Culture, An Ghaeilge, Arts and Tourism Motions

Culture, An Ghaeilge, Arts and Tourism

24. This Ard Fheis welcomes the work of Grúpa Comhordaithe Gaeilge in producing a comprehensive policy document on the Irish language and supports the recommendations contained within it.

Ard Chomhairle

West Belfast Comhairle Ceantair

Passed

25. This Ard Fheis recognises the importance of the promotion of Irish in the party, in the institutions abroad, and in our communities throughout the island. This Ard Fheis therefore affirms:

 - That we are in favour of the full implementation of the 20 years Irish language strategy, and the provision of the resources to allow that.

 - That we recognise the role of state bodies in the promotion of the Irish language, including Údaras na Gaeltachta, The Department of Arts, Leisure and Gaeltacht affairs, DCAL, and Foras na Gaeilge, and note that it is crucial that they are appropriately resourced. We criticise the cuts to the Údarás funding in recent years, and also the Irish Government proposals to end local elections to the Údarás
 
- That it is incumbent upon us to make every effort to promote Irish within the party, and to ensure its use in the day to day business of the party.

 - That we recognise the important role which the Irish language education sector plays, and that we understand its important role in the promotion of the language. We support the full immersion policy for Gaelscoileanna, and recognise the hard work done by former Education Minister Caitríona Ruane in promoting Irish language education.

 - That we recognise the all Ireland nature of the language, and the need for co-operation between the Assembly and the Oireachtas in its promotion.

 - That we intend to pursue the creation of an Irish language act as a priority, and the provision  of resources necessary for its full implementation.

 - That we wish the new Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Caral Ní Chuilin every success in her work in engaging with the language.

Ard Chomhairle

Ógra Cúige Connacht

Passed

Culture, An Ghaeilge, Arts and Tourism

24. This Ard Fheis welcomes the work of Grúpa Comhordaithe Gaeilge in producing a comprehensive policy document on the Irish language and supports the recommendations contained within it.

Ard Chomhairle

West Belfast Comhairle Ceantair

25. This Ard Fheis recognises the importance of the promotion of Irish in the party, in the institutions abroad, and in our communities throughout the island. This Ard Fheis therefore affirms:

 - That we are in favour of the full implementation of the 20 years Irish language strategy, and the provision of the resources to allow that.

 - That we recognise the role of state bodies in the promotion of the Irish language, including Údaras na Gaeltachta, The Department of Arts, Leisure and Gaeltacht affairs, DCAL, and Foras na Gaeilge, and note that it is crucial that they are appropriately resourced. We criticise the cuts to the Údarás funding in recent years, and also the Irish Government proposals to end local elections to the Údarás
 
- That it is incumbent upon us to make every effort to promote Irish within the party, and to ensure its use in the day to day business of the party.

 - That we recognise the important role which the Irish language education sector plays, and that we understand its important role in the promotion of the language. We support the full immersion policy for Gaelscoileanna, and recognise the hard work done by former Education Minister Caitríona Ruane in promoting Irish language education.

 - That we recognise the all Ireland nature of the language, and the need for co-operation between the Assembly and the Oireachtas in its promotion.

 - That we intend to pursue the creation of an Irish language act as a priority, and the provision  of resources necessary for its full implementation.

 - That we wish the new Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Caral Ní Chuilin every success in her work in engaging with the language.

Ard Chomhairle

Ógra Cúige Connacht

Passed

26. This Ard Fheis calls on the Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure in the Executive to bring forward an Irish language strategy based on the need for resolute action to promote the language as envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement,  and supports the rights of the Irish language speaking community.

Ard Chomhairle

Passed

27. This Ard Fheis reaffirms its commitment to stand against the cuts for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht in the last budget. We also commit ourselves to pushing the Irish Government to implement the twenty year strategy.

Ógra Cúige Connacht

Passed

28. This Ard Fheis recognises that it is more important than ever to support the arts in this time of economic difficulty. In particular it notes

-       The need for the Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure to engage with the lead arts and sporting organisations to ensure the development and adoption of strategies that facilitate and maximise the participation of all sections of society in arts and leisure activity including and, in particular, communities experiencing high levels of social deprivation.

-       The significant value of the arts as regards tourism. Millions of visitors travel to Ireland each year on the basis of our rich cultural heritage. We criticise the failure of the Irish government to take that much into account in their decisions in recent times, and criticise the deep and damaging cuts to the arts that have occurred.

-       That Irish literature, both in the English and Irish language, are world renowned, and that there is particular responsibility to conserve this heritage. Furthermore we acknowledge the need to support the writers of today who seek to extend that legacy.

-       We recognise the importance of all aspects of the arts, including visual arts, music, performance arts and cultural arts. We commend the National Campaign for the arts for their efforts in endeavouring to protect all forms of the arts from budget cuts, and we support their efforts.

-       That we recognise the importance of arts as regards personal development and their role in promoting human dignity, and appreciate its value far exceeds its financial value.

-       That we understand that the arts will have an important role if we are to emerge from our current economic state. There is huge potential in the arts to create employment throughout the country, and ask that the government provides the structures and funding for this to take place.

Ard Chomhairle

Passed

29. This Ard Fheis supports the promotion, usage and retention of townlands.

To further promote our townlands, which play a vital role in our history and culture, this Ard Fheis proposes the following:

1.     That immediate action be taken by both the Executive and the Irish Government to protect and increase usage of our townlands.

2.     That all government departments must use townlands where available.

3.     That all party office addresses should include the relevant townland within the official address.

4.     That all communication from the party should include a townland.

5.     That all party members should use their own townland when providing their address to others.

6.     That all party members should make every effort to use a townland when corresponding with others.

7.     That educating young people about the history of townlands be added to the curriculum.

Murphy/McManus Cumann
Derrylin/Kinawley, Co. Fermanagh

Passed

30. This Ard Fheis, recognising the importance of tourism to the Irish economy, including regional and rural economies, in terms of employment and job creation; acknowledging the valuable contribution made by the tourism industry to social and cultural vibrancy and noting that tourists are attracted to visit all parts of Ireland:

-  believes that there is a need to realise fully the potential of All-Ireland Tourism;

- calls for the creation of an All Ireland Tourism Body to deal with all aspects of tourism marketing, product development and support and incorporating all functions currently carried out by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the NITB;

- calls for the prioritisation of funding for cultural tourism initiatives;

- calls on the Irish Government to reinstate funding for Regional Airports in the form of the Airport Management Operation Expenditure Subvention (OPEX);

- supports the development of the road infrastructure to open up the West of Ireland to exploit fully the enormous potential for developing tourism in the west, and in particular the A5 carriageway from Aughnacloy to Derry;

- supports the rights of all workers in the tourism sector and opposes any attempt to worsen the pay and terms and conditions of those covered by EROs/REAs;

- supports the advancements and acceleration of the Western Rail corridor;

- calls on the Irish Government to expedite the rates re-evaluation review, in light of the burden which the hotel and hospitality sector faces in the current climate

Ard Chomhairle 

Passed

31. This Ard Fheis supports transforming Dundalk Port into a social and tourist amenity.

This Ard Fheis supports the development of Louth, Meath, Down and Armagh by tourist agencies, local authorities etc.  in the 6 and 26 counties as destinations for outdoor pursuits (walking, mountaineering etc.) , historical tours etc.

Louth Comhairle Ceantair

Passed

32. This Ard Fheis calls for additional resources to be made available in towns and cities to ensure that our streets are tidy and clean, making them attractive places to live and work in and for tourists to visit. The considerable efforts made for recent high profile visits of heads of states by local authorities should be the standard all year around.

Charlie McGlade Cumann, Drimnagh,
Dublin

Passed