WHERE HAVE ALL THE FADAS GONE?
Outrage as transport agency says it can’t print some Irish names
THE National Transport Authority is under fire from Irish speakers for refusing to put fadas on people’s names – with well-known Gaeilgeoirs lining up to criticise the State body.
The NTA is blaming its printing machinery for the lack of fadas on Leap Cards, but this excuse has been blasted as ‘rubbish’.
Now celebrities, language activists and a Government minister say this is just the latest insult to the language.
Liam Ó Maonlaí, of the Hothouse Flowers, said ‘there is no real excuse for it’, and that it showed a ‘shame’ at the Irish language. And broadcaster Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh said it was ‘unacceptable’ that a State body would not use fadas.
Speaking from Germany where he is on tour, Mr Ó Maonlaí said ‘a lot of people in Ireland view this language as something to be ashamed of’, adding: ‘It’s a pity. Pretty much all printing
technology has the capacity to print fadas – there is no excuse.’
Documents released under Freedom of Information show Minister for Transport Shane Ross recently complained to the NTA, which is answerable to him, that the son of one of his constituents wanted his name spelt properly on his Leap Card.
Anne Graham, NTA chief executive, replied to Mr Ross in October to say it was not possible.
‘We regret that the Leap Card system cannot currently print characters such as fada signs or accents due to a technical limitation,’ she said in the letter, which was sent to Mr Ross at his ministerial office.
She said it was ‘something we would hope to address at a suitable opportunity in the future.’
While State agencies are obliged to provide services in Irish, there is no specific provision in legislation on the use of the fada in a person’s name. There can be an obligation as part of a language scheme if agreed between an agency and the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
While the NTA agreed such a scheme in 2016, it only committed to using the fada on its word processing systems.
Broadcaster Ms Ní Chofaigh said it was ‘rubbish’ to blame technology for not using the accents on the public transport cards. ‘I don’t accept that. In this day and age, you can do everything technically. I have three computers and they all take the fada,’ she said.
She said the problem is endemic among private-sector businesses, but that it was simply unacceptable from the public service.
‘I have had it said to me, “You’re one of them? Are you going to make me spell the fadas as well?”
‘There is no excuse – whether public or a private – if they want your business or you’re paying your taxes, that is your name.
‘If you respect that person, then you have to respect their name.’
‘It is really objectionable’
Former Morning Ireland anchor and well-known Gaeilgeoir Cathal Mac Coille said he ‘too often’ hears about fads being ignored.
‘It is really objectionable. There is always the explanations about computer systems and programmes and so on, but it is not good enough,’ he said. ‘Some of my best friends have fadas on their names and they shouldn’t have to change their names to suit the requirements of a computer programme run by a public service in Ireland.’
Seán Kyne, Minister of State for the Irish Language, said he was ‘surprised’ at the NTA and pointed out the obligation on all State organisations to provide services in both Irish and English.
‘This includes the National Transport Authority,’ he said.
‘The assertion that the inclusion of fadas on Irish names is not possible because of technical difficulties does not, in my view, make sense,’ added the minister, who uses the fada on ‘Seán’ on his website and all official documentation. Mr Kyne said he will be expecting the State agency to ‘rectify such “technical difficulties” as a priority’.
Irish Language Commissioner Rónán Ó Domhnaill said the fada in a person’s name is an ‘integral part of that name’. ‘My office has received a number of complaints in relation to this matter over the years,’ he said.
Mr Ó Domhnaill pointed out that a number of public bodies already facilitate the use of the fada in a person’s name, including on passports and the public services card.
The NTA, which has an annual budget of around half-a-billion euro, was asked several questions about its refusal to correctly spell Irish names on Leap Cards but has yet to respond. Comment – Page 12
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