Scríobhann An Dr Shubhangi Karmakar BL faoin scrúdú Gaeilge a luadh an tseachtain seo maidir le saorántacht na hÉireann.
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Beidh rogha nua ag iarratasoiri ar shaoránacht na hÉireann idir scrúdú Gaeilge, scrúdú Béarla, nó scrúdú i dTeanga Chomharthaíochta na hÉireann, faoi moltaí nua chun an Bille um Náisiúntachta agus Saoránachta Éireann (Leasú) 2026 a chur i bhfeidhm.
Ag fiosrú ar ról an rialtais i bhforbairt na Gaeilge agus ar a dhearcadh i leith na hoibre sin: Tá beagnach dhá míosa caite ó bhí an Coimisinéir Teanga Séamas Ó Concheanainn os comhair Choiste Gaeilge an Oireachtais, chun an mhoill ar na dréachtcaighdeáin teangan nua (a bhí i gceist a chur I bhfeidhm roimh Dúirteadh 2024, ach níl siad foilsithe go foill), cúrsaí earcaíochta, agus cur i bhfeidhm an Phlean Náisiúnta um Sheirbhísí Poiblí Gaeilge 2024-2030 a phlé.
Dar leis an gCoimisinéir, agus é ag labhairt ag Comhdháil Idirnáisiúnta Chumann na gCoimisinéirí Teanga atá reachtaithe in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ar an 9 Meán Fómhair 2026, tá easpa "tacaíochtaí náisiúnta" ann chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, agus ba cheart go mbeadh "plean córasach" i bhfeidhm ag an rialtas chun na spriocanna uaillmhianacha a leag an rialtas féin síos maidir leis an nGaeilge a bhaint amach, beag beann ar an moill a bhaineann le foilsiú na gcaighdeán.
Ní rud nua é an teip ar rialtas na hÉireann príomhtheanga na tíre a chur chun cinn i gcomhthéacs na saoránachta. Bhí an-deacracht ag iarratasóir ar shaoránacht as an tSín, an tDr Fangzhe Qiu, atá ina ollamh cúnta leis an tSean-Ghaeilge in UCD, sa bhliain 2020 nuair a rinne sé iarracht an próiseas a chur i gcrích trí mheáin na Ghaeilge.
Sé mhí tar éis don Dr Qiu na foirmeacha cuí a líonadh i nGaeilge agus iad a sheoladh ar aghaidh, fuair sé scéal ón Roinn Dlí agus Cirt ag iarraidh air an t-iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne i mBéarla. Níor cuireadh Roinn Dlí agus Cirt na foirmeacha ar fáil go hiomlán ar líne sa phríomhtheanga oifigiúil, go dtí 26 Aibreán 2021, agus cuireadh moill ar a bhronnadh saoránachta ar an tOllamh Qiu.
Cúig bliana ina dhiadh sin, níl soiléireacht ann fós, faoi ról na mbeartas teanga sna hathruithe atá molta ar an reachtaíocht saoránachta. Dealraíonn sé go bhfuil easaontas idir airí rialtais maidir leis an gcaighdeán Gaeilge (má bhíonn a leithéid ann ar chor ar bith) a ndéanfar measúnú air sa scrúdú seo.
Dar leis an Taoiseach Micheál Martin, bheadh ar iarratasóirí nua ar shaoránacht a léiriú go bhfuil inniúlacht acu, "sa Bhéarla agus leibhéal an-bhunúsach den Ghaeilge" mar teanga tánaisteach.
Dúirt an tAire Dlí agus Cirt, Jim O'Callaghan, go léireoidh an scrúdú teanga cé acu nach bhfuil inniúlacht aige "sa Ghaeilge nó, de réir gach cosúlachta, sa Bhéarla".
Ag labhairt le RTÉ dó, dúirt ceannaire Shinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, go bhfuil siad "oscailte chun athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar bhealaí chun saoránacht na hÉireann a bhaint amach" agus cur chuige níos déine a ghlacadh i leith na himirce, ach níor mhol sí aon chaighdeán sonrach don scrúdú teanga, seachas a rá go bhfuil: "buneolas ar an nGaeilge, an Bhéarla, nó ISA(sic). Ceapaim go bhfuil na rudaí sin go léir réasúnta, ach ní sin an áit a mbeadh an tosaíocht curtha againn."
I ráiteas atá foilsithe thar ceann an Teachta Dála Peadar Toibín, tá se ag machnamh ar leasú a mholadh, a chuirfeadh scrúdú shimplí trí mheán na Gaeilge san áireamh, is cuma cén leibhéal líofachta a léirítear i gceachtar den dá theanga oifigiúla eile.
Cé go ndúirt sé gur "í an Ghaeilge ár phríomhtheanga agus cuid dár bhféiniúlacht", bheadh an caighdeán a mholfadh sé chun measúnú a dheanamh ar cumas sa Ghaeilge ag na hiarratasóirí, bunaithe ar an eolas íosta a bheadh ag duine ar saoire. Ní bheadh sé "dian", ós rud é nach ndéanfaí ach scrúdú beag ó bhéal.
Ag cur síos ar an gcaighdeán gnáthchaint labhartha a mbeifí ag súil leis ó shaoránaigh nua, dúirt sé: "Ní bheadh i gceist leis ach eolas bunúsach, mar shampla, a bheith in ann 'Fáilte', 'Slán', nó 'Go raibh maith agat' a rá, a bheith in ann comhaireamh go deich, agus ainm na háite ina gcónaíonn tú agus ainmneacha na bpríomhchathracha a lua."
Ag labhairt ag cruinniú de chuid Fhianna Fáil i Tulach Mhór, Contae Uíbh Fhailí, ar an 7 Meán Fómhair 2026, dúirt an Toiseach Micheal Martin go bhfuil na hathruithe reachtaíochta atá beartaithe, lena méadaítear an tréimhse chónaithe cháilitheach ó chúig bliana go hocht mbliana, "ag teacht le" réimis i dtíortha Eorpacha eile a bhfuil córais inimirce níos déine acu.
Mar sin féin, cruthaíonn na hathruithe molta ar na hamlínte agus ar na riachtanais teanga éiginnteacht agus imní don formhór na hiarratasóirí shaoránachta, bíodh siad atá ag obair ag cur earraí ar sheilfeanna nó ag sheachadh bia, nó ag soláthar seirbhísí gairmiúla mar dhochtúirí.
Ag labhairt le RTÉ dó, dúirt John Lannon, príomhfheidhmeannach na heagraíochta Doras a thugann tacaíocht d’inimircigh, gur cheart don rialtas a chinntiú go mbeadh "rochtain leordhóthanach ar ranganna teanga" ann dóibh siúd atá ag déanamh iarratais ar shaoránacht.
Applicants for Irish citizenship will face a new choice: between an Irish language test, an English language test, or an Irish Sign Language test, under new proposals for the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026.
Examining the government's role in the development of the Irish language and its attitude so far:
It has been almost two months since Language Commissioner Séamas Ó Concheanainn appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language to discuss the delay regarding new language standards (which were intended to be implemented by the end of2024 but are not yet yet published), recruitment issues, and the implementation of the National Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2024–2030.
According to the Commissioner, speaking at the Conference of the International Association of Language Commissioners held at the University of Galway on 9 September 2026, there is a lack of "national supports" for promoting the Irish language, and the government should have a "systematic plan" in place to achieve the ambitious goals it set itself for promoting the Irish language, regardless of the delay in publishing the language standards.
The failure of the Irish government to promote the country's primary language in the context of citizenship is nothing new. Dr Fangzhe Qiu, a citizenship applicant from China and then an Assistant Professor of Early Irish at UCD, encountered significant difficulties in 2020 when he attempted to complete the process through Irish.
Six months after Dr Qiu had filled out the relevant forms in Irish and submitted them, he received a notification from the Department of Justice asking him to re-submit his application online in English. The Department of Justice did not make the requisite forms fully available online in the primary official language until 26 April 2021, and the granting of citizenship to Professor Qiu was delayed as a result.
Five years later, there is still no clarity regarding the role of language policies in the proposed changes to citizenship legislation. It appears there is disagreement among government ministers concerning the standard of Irish (if indeed there is one) that may be assessed in this examination.
According to Taoiseach Micheál Martin, new citizenship applicants would have to demonstrate proficiency in English and a "very basic level of Irish" as a secondary language.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan stated that the language test would reveal whether an applicant lacks proficiency "in Irish or most probably English."
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the party are, "open to reviewing pathways to citizenship" and adopting a stricter approach to immigration, but she did not propose a specific standard for the language test, other than mentioning "things like a working knowledge of Gaeilge or English or ISA(sic). I think all of those things are reasonable, but that’s not really where we would have put or have put the priority."
In a statement published on behalf of TD Peadar Toibín, he is considering proposing an amendment that would include a simple examination through the medium of Irish, regardless of the level of fluency demonstrated in either of the other two official languages.
Although he stated that "Irish is our first language and a part of our identity," the standard he would propose for assessing applicants' Irish proficiency would be based on the minimal knowledge a holidaymaker might possess. It would not be "onerous," as it would consist only of a brief oral test. Describing the standard of spoken conversation expected of new citizens, he said: "This would only be a rudimentary knowledge, such as how to say Fáilte, Slán or Go Raibh Maith Agat, be able to count to 10 and say the name of the place where you live and the major cities."
Speaking at a Fianna Fáil meeting in Tullamore, County Offaly, on 7 September 2026, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the proposed legislative changes, which also increase the qualifying residency period from five to eight years, are "in line with" regimes in other European countries that have stricter immigration systems.
However, the proposed changes to timelines and language requirements are creating uncertainty and anxiety for the majority of citizenship applicants, whether they are stocking shelves, delivering food, or providing professional services as doctors.
Speaking to RTÉ, John Lannon, chief executive of the immigrant support organization Doras, said that the government should ensure there is "adequate access to language classes" for those applying for citizenship.
Is abhcóide agus dochtúir síciatraí iad an Dr Shubhangi Karmakar BL.
Is taighdeoir cliniciúil bisiúil iad, i réimsí a chuimsíonn forbairt cúram sláinte do ghrúpaí faoi mhíbhuntáiste (ar nós daoine gan dídean agus daoine faoi mhíchumas in Éirinn) chomh maith le cur i bhfeidhm na hIntleachta Saorga sa réimsí leighis.
Is oide leighis agus oide dlí iad, in ollscoileanna iomadúla in Éirinn.
Thosaigh siad leis an Gaeilge le linn a gcuid oiliúna leighis ar Árainn Mhór, agus anois tá siad cáilithe chun an dlí a chleachtadh go dátheangach in Éirinn.
