Sinn Féin - On Your Side

Bank of Mandatory English should reverse ATM decision - Peadar Tóibín TD


Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Irish language Peadar Tóibín TD has expressed his dismay at Bank of Ireland’s decision to remove the Irish language option from ATMs.

Teachta Tóibín said:

“The removal of the Irish language from Bank of Ireland ATMs is a backward step and a denigration of Irish language rights. The banking sector in Ireland has been extremely poor in facilitating Irish language speakers in the use of the Irish language. It is impossible to get statements, online banking or any customer service in Irish anywhere.  

“Bank of Ireland have been unique in making an effort to simply facilitate the Irish language with the provision of ATMs with an Irish option.

"This cost, little if anything, met the needs of thousands of customers and allowed the bank to show that it values a key element of our identity.

“However, in a very disappointing move its seems that the Bank is rowing back on this small but valued option. There is a serious lack of consideration regarding the Irish language and Irish language rights amongst the private sector which is unacceptable.

"It’ is well known that the provision of Irish in branding, marketing and customer service is good for business, with even those without the use of the language appreciating when Irish is valued by private sector business. By this move Bank of Ireland is devaluing the Irish language.

"Is this service going to be still available in Gaeltacht areas, or Gaeltacht service towns such as Galway? This is eroding the efforts of the community as well as the government to encourage the daily use of the Irish language both in the Gaeltacht and across the State.

"Banks have been beset by many catastrophic problems in the last decade. The citizens of this state have been forced to come to their rescue. The very least that they could do is include in their corporate responsibility the option of communicating with their customers in this cost free manner the national language of their choice.

"As Cathaoirleach of An Euro Gaelach I am calling on people to lodge their dissatisfaction with this decision and join a picket on their local branch on Friday the 1st of September between 1:30pm and 2:30pm."

ENDS//

Caithfidh Banc an Bhéarla Éigeantach cloí leis an nGaeilge mar theanga roghnach ar mheaisíní bainc – Peadar Tóibín TD

Léirigh urlabhraí Gaeilge Shinn Féin, Peadar Tóibín, a dhíomá ag cinneadh a ghlac Banc na hÉireann fáil réidh leis an nGaeilge mar theanga roghnach ar UBManna (meaisíní bainc).

Dúirt an Teachta Tóibín:

“Is céim siar agus léiriú dímheasa ar an nGaeilge an cinneadh fáil réidh lei ó na UBManna Banc na hÉireann. Tá an earnáil baincéireachta go dona maidir le héascaíocht a dhéanamh do Ghaeilgeoirí an teanga a úsáid. Tá sé do-dhéanta ráitis a fháil, baincéireacht ar líne a dhéanamh nó seirbhís custaiméara a fháil trí Ghaeilge in áit ar bith.

“Bhí Banc na hÉireann go sainiúil ag déanamh iarrachta tacú leis an nGaeilge agus í a chur ar fáil mar theanga roghnach sna UBManna. Bhí fíorbheagáin costais i gceist le seo, d’fhreastail sé ar riachtanais teanga na mílte duine agus thug sé deis don bhanc meas a léiriú ar chuid lárnach dár bhféiniúlacht.

“Faraor, tá an Banc ag cúlú siar ar an rogha theanga seo a chur ar fáil – cé gur rud beag a bhí ann, bhí sé luachmhar. Ní chuireann an earnáil phríobháideach an Ghaeilge nó cearta teanga san áireamh in aon chor agus ní inghlactha an scéal é.

"Nuair a chuirtear an Ghaeilge san áireamh i gcúrsaí brandála, margaíochta agus seirbhís custaiméara  ag an earnáil phríobháideach, téann sé seo i bhfeidhm ar an bpobal i gcoitinne. Leis an gcinneadh is déanaí atá déanta ag Banc na hÉireann, tá díluacháil ar an dteanga á dhéanamh acu.

“An mbeidh an tseirbhís seo ar fáil sna ceantair Gaeltachta nó na Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta cosúil leis an nGaillimh? Tá sé seo ag cur isteach ar na hiarrachtaí atá ar bun ag an bpobal agus an rialtas an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar theanga laethúil sna ceantair Gaeltachta agus ar fud an stáit.

“Is iomaí fadhb tubaisteach a bhí ag na bainc le deich mbliana anuas. Bhí ar shaoránaigh an Stáit seo teacht i dtarrtháil orthu. Is é is lú dóibh a dhéanamh ná rogha theanga a thabhairt dóibh ionas go mbeidh siad in ann cumarsáid a dhéanamh i cibé acu dár dteanga náisiúnta gur mhian leo.

“Mar Chathaoirleach ar An Euro Gaelach, táim ag tathant ar dhaoine a gcuid míshástachta a léiriú maidir leis an gcinneadh seo agus picéadú a dhéanamh ag a mbrainse áitiúil de Bhanc na hÉireann, Dé hAoine, an 1ú Mean Fómhair idir a 1:30pm agus 2:30pm."