Why can nobody speak Irish?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 31-07-2013 09:26PM

An Coilean wrote: »

The general point there would be Welsh speakers leaving Welsh speaking communities to seek work in other parts of the UK, thus reducing the proportion of Welsh speakers in Welsh speaking areas, the Gaeltacht has a similar problem with irish speakers moving away to Dublin.

They would be of the opinion that Welsh is essential to do the job in Wales, especially in traditionally Welsh speaking areas, much like most people would consider fluent English to be an acceptable job requirement in English speaking countrys.

The Idea here is that they want the government to stop viewing Welsh as a Second language like teaching French or Spanish and view it instead as a vital skill like English and Maths.

Again, you are viewing the learning of Welsh as a nice to have but not terribly importent, they view it much as I would expect you to view the learning of English, ie a vital life skill that every child should learn to a high standard and if they are not the the education system is failing them.

1 - Fair point, but you're going to hear more Irish spoken in Dublin than Welsh in England. And you're goin to have better opportunities to speak it. With the rigth frame of mind, the situation heer could actually be turne into an advantage if doen properly.

2 - It's not essential. If everyone speaks English, then it is not, by defintion, essential to have it.

3 - That is a little different here, because the irish government doesn't see Irish as a second langauge, fair enough. It is not, though, an essential skill. If it was, everyone worldwide would be learning it.

Tony EH · 01-08-2013 12:31AM

Aineoil wrote: »

I don't believe the language should be forced on any child...Having said that, children who find maths or English difficult, are not eager to engage in those subjects either.

The difference being, of course, that maths and English are absolutely essential to a person's functioning in society.

Irish doesn't even come within 0.0000000000001% of such.

[-0-] · 01-08-2013 12:33AM

It's just taught really badly. If they changed the way it was taught, it would be received a hell of a lot better. It's actually a really beautiful language.

The_Valeyard · 01-08-2013 12:34AM

Well Daniel O'Connell was blamed for it in another thread today.

Davidius · 01-08-2013 05:56AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxb6VAfBD8U

BognarRegis · 01-08-2013 07:28AM

An Coilean wrote: »

For Ireland however Irish is part of our national herritage so Irish is used ccross Ireland just like Basque is used in the Basque country or Welsh in Wales.

You're over-generalising the links between Irish and all parts of the country. Dublin has as much Irish-language heritage as Madrid has Basque. Dublin was founded by the vikings and became the centre of Anglo-Norman culture here. There's no more reason to compel Dubliners to speak Irish than the dinizens of Madrid to speak Basque. More to the point though is that when Basque speakers concentrated on getting people of Basque culture to speak Basque, they succeeded. The same concept might work for Irish speakers.

An Coilean wrote: »

the Gaeltacht has a similar problem with irish speakers moving away to Dublin.

Given that the Irish language movement is not averse to coercion to further its aims, would the solution here not be to compell those Irish speakers to remain in the Gaeltacht?

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 09:24AM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

1 - Fair point, but you're going to hear more Irish spoken in Dublin than Welsh in England. And you're goin to have better opportunities to speak it. With the rigth frame of mind, the situation heer could actually be turne into an advantage if doen properly.

True indeed, people moving to Dublin from the Gaeltacht has contributed alot to the Irish language community in Dublin, however the same problems are experianced in the Gaeltacht they left behind.

2 - It's not essential. If everyone speaks English, then it is not, by defintion, essential to have it.

Language is not solely a means of communication and they would see not having Welsh in Wales as being a disadvantage for children, and they would be right to an extent.

However the primary point is that they do not accept the line of thought that sees English as being any more essential than Welsh and they wont allow the Government oblige everyone to have or use English on the basis that it is essential and Welsh is not.

3 - That is a little different here, because the irish government doesn't see Irish as a second langauge, fair enough. It is not, though, an essential skill. If it was, everyone worldwide would be learning it.

Oh but they do, you hardily think the way Irish is taught in schools is how you would teach a first language? That red herring has been doing the rounds but the fact of the matter is that for Gaeltacht schools or Gaelscoils the existing Irish course is a joke and far from being fit for purpose.

As for outside the education system, despite what it says in the Constitution the state treets Irish as a second language in almost every case to the extent thet people have had to bring them all the way to the supreme court just to get the most basic of things.

As for your 'If it was, everyone worldwide would be learning it' comment. Surely you can see why this does not add up, Finnish is an essential skill in Finland but not here or anywhere outside of Finland, they would see Welsh in the same light in Wales.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 01-08-2013 09:50AM

An Coilean wrote: »

Language is not solely a means of communication and they would see not having Welsh in Wales as being a disadvantage for children, and they would be right to an extent.

However the primary point is that they do not accept the line of thought that sees English as being any more essential than Welsh and they wont allow the Government oblige everyone to have or use English on the basis that it is essential and Welsh is not.

From an employment point of view, it's a means of communication. Not having it being seen as a "disadvantage to children" is discriminatory - no way you're going to get around that.

They can butter this up any way the like, but at the end of the day, if everyone speaks a common language than any other language is not essential. You might like to conduct your business in Welsh/Irish, but it is not essential for you to do so.

Oh but they do, you hardily think the way Irish is taught in schools is how you would teach a first language? That red herring has been doing the rounds but the fact of the matter is that for Gaeltacht schools or Gaelscoils the existing Irish course is a joke and far from being fit for purpose.

As for outside the education system, despite what it says in the Constitution the state treets Irish as a second language in almost every case to the extent thet people have had to bring them all the way to the supreme court just to get the most basic of things.

As for your 'If it was, everyone worldwide would be learning it' comment. Surely you can see why this does not add up, Finnish is an essential skill in Finland but not here or anywhere outside of Finland, they would see Welsh in the same light in Wales.

The way Irish is taught in schools is a moot point, as I ;ve said before, because it's not the dept of Education's job to promote the Irish language. I take your point about the govenremt's attitude towards it beyond that, but is that simply not repsonding to the natinoal barometer of the people?

The last comment is my point entirely. You refered to it as "a life skill" - a means of communication is a life skill, and is taught in schools around the world. Welsh/Irish is not a life skill and is not. Empahasis on the word "life" becuase you didn't say "national".

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 10:13AM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

From an employment point of view, it's a means of communication. Not having it being seen as a "disadvantage to children" is discriminatory - no way you're going to get around that.

Setting requirements for a job is not discrimination, giving someone a job because they have a skill that the other applicant does not have is not discrimination.

The simple fact of the matter is that there are jobs that require Welsh.
In the public sphere there is an imperative on the government to provide services in both languages, in the private sector in any bilingual country it is an imperative to have staff that can speak both languages. This puts those who have only one of those languages at a disadvantage to those with both. Thats not discrimination, denying children the opportunity to learn both languages would be.

They can butter this up any way the like, but at the end of the day, if everyone speaks a common language than any other language is not essential. You might like to conduct your business in Welsh/Irish, but it is not essential for you to do so.

Nor is it essential that you conduct your business in English, you can use either language, English is only essential for those that only speak English, and services should be provided in English for them, but that does not mean that services should only be provided in English.

The way Irish is taught in schools is a moot point, as I ;ve said before, because it's not the dept of Education's job to promote the Irish language. I take your point about the govenremt's attitude towards it beyond that, but is that simply not repsonding to the natinoal barometer of the people?

You said that the Government does not treat Irish like a seccond language, how it is treated in schools is relevant to that.

The last comment is my point entirely. You refered to it as "a life skill" - a means of communication is a life skill, and is taught in schools around the world. Welsh/Irish is not a life skill and is not. Empahasis on the word "life" becuase you didn't say "national".

English is not an essential life skill in Spain, Spanish is. In Bilingual countries, both languages are essential skills as with only one, the person is at a disadvantage to those with both.

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 10:17AM

BognarRegis wrote: »

You're over-generalising the links between Irish and all parts of the country. Dublin has as much Irish-language heritage as Madrid has Basque. Dublin was founded by the vikings and became the centre of Anglo-Norman culture here. There's no more reason to compel Dubliners to speak Irish than the dinizens of Madrid to speak Basque. More to the point though is that when Basque speakers concentrated on getting people of Basque culture to speak Basque, they succeeded. The same concept might work for Irish speakers.

Sorry to burst your bubble but the Basque language was never commonly used in Madrid, nor the surrounding area, the same is not true of Dublin and i'm not talking about a thousand years ago either.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 01-08-2013 10:28AM

An Coilean wrote: »

Setting requirements for a job is not discrimination, giving someone a job because they have a skill that the other applicant does not have is not discrimination.

The simple fact of the matter is that there are jobs that require Welsh.
In the public sphere there is an imperative on the government to provide services in both languages, in the private sector in any bilingual country it is an imperative to have staff that can speak both languages. This puts those who have only one of those languages at a disadvantage to those with both. Thats not discrimination, denying children the opportunity to learn both languages would be.

l that you conduct your business in English, you can use either language, English is only essential for those that only speak English, and services should be provided in English for them, but that does not mean that services should only be provided in English.

You said that the Government does not treat Irish like a seccond language, how it is treated in schools is relevant to that.

English is not an essential life skill in Spain, Spanish is. In Bilingual countries, both languages are essential skills as with only one, the person is at a disadvantage to those with both.

1 -Just because they are listed as such, doesn't mean they are required as such. Something might needed to get the job, but not do the job, it is still not an essential tool.

2 - It was more the department of Education';s stance on Irish I was commenting on specifcially, not the governmant as a whole, but as i asked earlier: is it not just reacting to the wills and desire of the populace?

3 - Straw man: I never said English was a life skill. I used the prhase "common langauge".

Carlos Orange · 01-08-2013 10:31AM

An Coilean wrote: »

wrecking the offices of politicians who fail to toe the line

I'm not sure more political violence is what Ireland needs.

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 10:46AM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

1 -Just because they are listed as such, doesn't mean they are required as such. Something might needed to get the job, but not do the job, it is still not an essential tool.

2 - It was more the department of Education';s stance on Irish I was commenting on specifcially, not the governmant as a whole, but as i asked earlier: is it not just reacting to the wills and desire of the populace?

3 - Straw man: I never said English was a life skill. I used the prhase "common langauge".

Yes, but it is when you are required to use the language in the course of doing the job, wouldnt you agree?
In which case those with only language are at a disadvantage to those with both, hence the call for all Welsh children to be given the opportunity to learn Welsh to a hight level of fluency.

I doubt it, I have never seen anything that would suggest that populace are in any way happy with how Irish is taught currently, if the Dept. was so eager to react to the will of the populace I imagine they would have done so by now.
Not to mention the desire for more Gaelscoileanna that the Dept. seems to be in no rush to satisfy.

Its not a straw man, I was not saying you made the point, I was making the point myself.

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 10:53AM

psinno wrote: »

I'm not sure more political violence is what Ireland needs.

More vandalism than violence, no one is hurt as part of that groups activities.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 01-08-2013 11:00AM

An Coilean wrote: »

Yes, but it is when you are required to use the language in the course of doing the job, wouldnt you agree?

I doubt it, I have never seen anything that would suggest that populace are in any way happy with how Irish is taught currently, if the Dept. was so eager to react to the will of the populace I imagine they would have done so by now.
Not to mention the desire for more Gaelscoileanna that the Dept. seems to be in no rush to satisfy.

Its not a straw man, I was not saying you made the point, I was making the point myself.

Can you give me one instance where Welsh/Irish would be essential to do a job? Not GET a job, DO a job.

Reagrding the government approach, if the populace wanted an Irish speaking population, why are they not going bak and learnign the langauge themselves? The tools are there, the promotions are in place, but what's lacking is the desire. Bearing in mind, again, we were discussing "gevernment" not "department".

The last one stems from your (or the Welsh group's) instigating that learning Irish/Welsh was "a vital life skill". A life skill is a skill you absoultely need in order to live. Irish is not Welsh is not. English is not in a lot of places. A common langauge is, and around here, it just happens to be English. We need English in Ireland. All of us. Lots of us, however, don't speak a second langauge. We live without it. We prosper. We thrive. Therefore, it's not an essential anything.

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 11:25AM

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

Can you give me one instance where Welsh/Irish would be essential to do a job? Not GET a job, DO a job.

Of course.
If a customer comes into a business, lets say a shop for arguments sake and they want to use Welsh and the staff can not provide a service in Welsh, then that business may loose customers to a competitor that does provide a service in Welsh, in such a case it is quite essential that the business has staff capable of dealing with customers in Welsh.

Reagrding the government approach, if the populace wanted an Irish speaking population, why are they not going bak and learnign the langauge themselves? The tools are there, the promotions are in place, but what's lacking is the desire. Bearing in mind, again, we were discussing "gevernment" not "department".

Learning a language is quite an onerous task and given that there is little support for doing so it is hardily surprising that many people dont. In any case it is not about creating an Irish speaking population, its about recognising the rights of the existing Irish speaking community.

Fair enough, but in all cases, we can be said to have a caommon language. In this case, it's English. An extra langugae is not an essential item just because someone puts requirement on the job discription.

Take a place that is fully bilingual, like Bolzano/Bozen in Nothern Italy, Everyone there can Speak Italian, a minority community also speak German as their first language but also speak Italian (Its near the Swiss border) Just because the German speakers in the city can speak Italian does not mean that you can force them to do so. Not providing a service in German will result in that community not engadging with your business.
In terms of the state, there is an obligation to respect the language choice of the German speaking community and provide services in German even though they can also speak Italian.
The state has no business forcing peole to use Italian.

Tony EH · 01-08-2013 11:31AM

Perhaps the Irish language movement should try to emulate the Welsh language movement, ie mass protests, civil disobediance, vandalism of public and private property, destruction of monolingual signage, wrecking the offices of politicians who fail to toe the line, hunger strikes and breaking the law to attract media attention to ongoing campaigns.

fkn 'ell

:rolleyes:

caff · 01-08-2013 11:41AM

Unless the government departments can be convinced to perform day to day business in Irish it has no hope. As the biggest employer in the country and one people have many day to day dealings with they should be at the vanguard of any plan to sustain its use. Currently there is no appetite for this from then resulting in the inevitable death of the language.

shruikan2553 · 01-08-2013 12:02PM

An Coilean wrote: »

Of course.
If a customer comes into a business, lets say a shop for arguments sake and they want to use Welsh and the staff can not provide a service in Welsh, then that business may loose customers to a competitor that does provide a service in Welsh, in such a case it is quite essential that the business has staff capable of dealing with customers in Welsh.

I wouldnt see that as essential. If they are that petty then they may not be worth the extra effort. If they are complaining that they have to use one of the languages that they will probably complain over any tiny issue.

An Coilean wrote: »

Learning a language is quite an onerous task and given that there is little support for doing so it is hardily surprising that many people dont. In any case it is not about creating an Irish speaking population, its about recognising the rights of the existing Irish speaking community.

What exactly are these rights?

An Coilean wrote: »

Take a place that is fully bilingual, like Bolzano/Bozen in Nothern Italy, Everyone there can Speak Italian, a minority community also speak German as their first language but also speak Italian (Its near the Swiss border) Just because the German speakers in the city can speak Italian does not mean that you can force them to do so. Not providing a service in German will result in that community not engadging with your business.
In terms of the state, there is an obligation to respect the language choice of the German speaking community and provide services in German even though they can also speak Italian.
The state has no business forcing peole to use Italian.

If there is the demand and they can provide it then go for it.

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 12:15PM

shruikan2553 wrote: »

I wouldnt see that as essential. If they are that petty then they may not be worth the extra effort. If they are complaining that they have to use one of the languages that they will probably complain over any tiny issue.

I doubt you have ever opperated a business, no businessman in their right mind would through away customers because he thinks they may be 'petty'.

As long as they are spending their money in your shop they can be as petty as they like.

Tony EH · 01-08-2013 12:18PM

In business, you tailor for the majority. That's where the most revenue will come from.

You do not tailor your business for the odd gob****e, who wants to make an arse of him/herself.

shruikan2553 · 01-08-2013 12:28PM

An Coilean wrote: »

I doubt you have ever opperated a business, no businessman in their right mind would through away customers because he thinks they may be 'petty'.

As long as they are spending their money in your shop they can be as petty as they like.

So it would be worth it for a shop to hire someone who isnt as good at the job as someone else but has a language so that 1 or 2 people wont leave in disgust over the idea of them having to speak a language they probably know?

My family owns a business with a gaeltacht 30-60 mins away. All the staff only speak english so customers.....wait for it.....speak english to them! They dont rabble on in irish and then storm out when they realise we dont have a translator for them(its not exactly profitable). Funny enough that we dont get anyone doing that in any language.

But please, do continue to tell me how I dont know how to run a business compared to your multilingual company empire that can provide service in any language the customer wants instead of talking about the idea of irish being treated like other languages in other countries.

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 12:28PM

Tony EH wrote: »

In business, you tailor for the majority. That's where the most revenue will come from.

You do not tailor your business for the odd gob****e, who wants to make an arse of him/herself.

That kind of attiude would be quite detrimental to a business.
Mistreating a group of customers and seting them apart as 'gob****es' is not likely to endeer you to the rest of the customer base and would likely see the business loosing custom.

Ie, I'm not a vegiterian, but if I saw members of that group being treated badly or not being appropriatly catered for, I would be much less likely to use that business. Same with people with special needs or an ethnic minority, I'm not part of those groups, but if they were mistreated by a business I would most likely go to a different establishment, if they can mistreat them, they can mistreat me.

Tony EH · 01-08-2013 12:37PM

An Coilean wrote: »

That kind of attiude would be quite detrimental to a business.
Mistreating a group of customers and seting them apart as 'gob****es' is not likely to endeer you to the rest of the customer base and would likely see the business loosing custom.

Ie, I'm not a vegiterian, but if I saw members of that group being treated badly or not being appropriatly catered for, I would be much less likely to use that business. Same with people with special needs or an ethnic minority, I'm not part of those groups, but if they were mistreated by a business I would most likely go to a different establishment, if they can mistreat them, they can mistreat me.

Except, we're not not discussing vegetarians, we're talking about an EXTREME minority of people who, despite being able to converse in the common tounge, wish to be gob****es and talk in a language that an extreme few understand enough to hold a conversation on an adult level.

The very idea that a business would waste money and resources on people like that is idiotic.

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 12:41PM

shruikan2553 wrote: »

So it would be worth it for a shop to hire someone who isnt as good at the job as someone else but has a language so that 1 or 2 people wont leave in disgust over the idea of them having to speak a language they probably know?

We really need to get over this odd notion that it will always be the case that the person that only has English will somehow be better able to do the job than the person who can speak both Irish and English.
I don't believe that I ever suggested what you outline above.

The reality is that in bilingual countries, speakers of a language will do their business where they can use that language and that not providing a services in both language cuts a business off from the full market.

It is also true that using a minority language as part of a marketing strategy can be advantageous to a business as a means to differenciate them from their competitors to attract customers to the business.

Hireing someone who speakes both Irish and English is not any more expencive than hiring someone who only speaks English and odd as it may seem to you, Irish speakers are as capable of doing a job as English speakers.

1ZRed · 01-08-2013 12:42PM

Tony EH wrote: »

Except, we're not not discussing vegetarians, we're talking about an EXTREME minority of people who, despite being able to converse in the common tounge, wish to be gob****es and talk in a language that an extreme few understand enough to hold a conversation on an adult level.

The very idea that a business would waste money and resources on people like that is idiotic.

Why is there such a rod up your ass about a language? People who can speak it are free to do so, what does that have to with you to get so offended?

Jesus, some people will rant and rave over the most stupid things. Some people will just like to learn and speak it, what's wrong with that?

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 12:44PM

Tony EH wrote: »

Except, we're not not discussing vegetarians, we're talking about an EXTREME minority of people who, despite being able to converse in the common tounge, wish to be gob****es and talk in a language that an extreme few understand enough to hold a conversation on an adult level.

The very idea that a business would waste money and resources on people like that is idiotic.

You are quite simply talking out your hole. :rolleyes:

I could point out businesses that do this as part of their marketing strategy but I feel i would be wasting my breath.

shruikan2553 · 01-08-2013 01:32PM

An Coilean wrote: »

That kind of attiude would be quite detrimental to a business.
Mistreating a group of customers and seting them apart as 'gob****es' is not likely to endeer you to the rest of the customer base and would likely see the business loosing custom.

"mistreating"? I dont see how not being able to offer a service through another language is mistreating someone. If someone comes in and can only speak french then we would help as much as possible but we would hardly be mistreating them. Was I mistreated in Amsterdam when I bought something in a shop and she dared to use Dutch?

An Coilean wrote: »

Ie, I'm not a vegiterian, but if I saw members of that group being treated badly or not being appropriatly catered for, I would be much less likely to use that business. Same with people with special needs or an ethnic minority, I'm not part of those groups, but if they were mistreated by a business I would most likely go to a different establishment, if they can mistreat them, they can mistreat me.

A vegetarian is easy to provide for, a trained chef can make meals with meat or without meat. Most restaurants have at least 1 vegetarian option and non vegetarians may choose it. The other 2 can be mistreated but I dont see how you can mistreat ethnic minority that isnt racism, you dont need any skills to deal with an ethnic minority.

An Coilean wrote: »

We really need to get over this odd notion that it will always be the case that the person that only has English will somehow be better able to do the job than the person who can speak both Irish and English.
I don't believe that I ever suggested what you outline above.

True but look how many people speak irish fluently, should my family fire someone who worked with us for over 10 years so we can hire on someone who speaks irish?

An Coilean wrote: »

The reality is that in bilingual countries, speakers of a language will do their business where they can use that language and that not providing a services in both language cuts a business off from the full market.

It is also true that using a minority language as part of a marketing strategy can be advantageous to a business as a means to differenciate them from their competitors to attract customers to the business.

Hireing someone who speakes both Irish and English is not any more expencive than hiring someone who only speaks English and odd as it may seem to you, Irish speakers are as capable of doing a job as English speakers.

Speakers of Irish also speak English so they can do their business somewhere that they can use either language. Providing a service through Irish would have benefits but the business is there to make money, not to make sure that you get to use whatever language you decide to on the day. By requiring an Irish speaker you are limiting the choice of candidates. There may be some that are better than those who speak only english but it is stupid to limit the options for something that isnt necessary.

Tony EH · 01-08-2013 01:40PM

1ZRed wrote: »

Why is there such a rod up your ass about a language? People who can speak it are free to do so, what does that have to with you to get so offended?

Jesus, some people will rant and rave over the most stupid things. Some people will just like to learn and speak it, what's wrong with that?

There's not. I think anyone should be able to learn any language they wish. If someone wants to learn Irish, or Klingon that's perfectly fine to me. I have no interest in learn learning either. Neither do the vast, vast majority of people in Ireland.

But I do take umbrage at people forcing their opinions and, or language upon other people when they do not wish to speak that language in a country where a different language is the common tongue.

I am not saying there are any particular posters on here that are doing that, or in favor of doing such things, but sentiments like...

Perhaps the Irish language movement should try to emulate the Welsh language movement, ie mass protests, civil disobediance, vandalism of public and private property, destruction of monolingual signage, wrecking the offices of politicians who fail to toe the line, hunger strikes and breaking the law to attract media attention to ongoing campaigns.

...come pretty close. Don't you think?

An Coilean · 01-08-2013 01:49PM

shruikan2553 wrote: »

"mistreating"? I dont see how not being able to offer a service through another language is mistreating someone. If someone comes in and can only speak french then we would help as much as possible but we would hardly be mistreating them. Was I mistreated in Amsterdam when I bought something in a shop and she dared to use Dutch?

My remark was in responce to the other poster going on about gob****es. If I saw an Irish speaker attacked for looking for a service in Irish as was the case in that post, I would never darken the door of that establishment again.

A vegetarian is easy to provide for, a trained chef can make meals with meat or without meat. Most restaurants have at least 1 vegetarian option and non vegetarians may choose it. The other 2 can be mistreated but I dont see how you can mistreat ethnic minority that isnt racism, you dont need any skills to deal with an ethnic minority.

As is an Irish speaker. When hireing new staff, seek someone who can speak Irish as well as fulfilling the other necessary requirements. If you find such a person and they perform better or as well as other candidates who dont have that skill, great. If you dont, then you dont. They are no more expencive to employ but you get to offer a new dimension of service that can be used to differentiate your business from your competitors.

True but look how many people speak irish fluently, should my family fire someone who worked with us for over 10 years so we can hire on someone who speaks irish?

No, if however that person resigns and you have to seek a new member of staff anyway, keep it in mind that hiring an Irish speaker might not be a bad idea.

Speakers of Irish also speak English so they can do their business somewhere that they can use either language. Providing a service through Irish would have benefits but the business is there to make money, not to make sure that you get to use whatever language you decide to on the day. By requiring an Irish speaker you are limiting the choice of candidates. There may be some that are better than those who speak only english but it is stupid to limit the options for something that isnt necessary.

I never said limit the options to only those who can speak Irish, there is a difference in having Irish speakers on your staff to provide a service and only hireing Irish speakers.
Having Irish speakers on staff and using the language in other ways can be beneficial to the business, no one is saying that you have to hire an Irish speaker for the sole reason that they speak Irish even if they are unsuitable for the job.

Why can nobody speak Irish?

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