'Tabhachtach go mbeadh Gaeilge ag an Uachtarán, ó thaobh dlí de is mar gur é an Céad Saoránach'

Tá léargas tugtha ag saineolaí ar dhlí Bhunreachtúil ar an tábhacht go mbeadh Gaeilge ag Uachtarán na hÉireann.

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BA CHEART GO mbeadh Gaeilge ag Uachtarán na hÉireann de bharr gurb í príomh theanga na tíre de réir dlí agus gurb é – nó í – an ‘céad saoránach’, thug saineolaí ar dhlí bunreachtúil na tíre le fios in agallamh le The Journal.

Dar leis an Dochtúir Seán Ó Conaill, léachtóir sinsearach san ábhar i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh, cé nach luaitear an Ghaeilge mar cháilíocht riachtanach don Uachtaránacht sa Bhunreacht, dréachtaíodh an bun cháipéis dlíthiúil sin tráth go raibh conspóidí tar éis bheith ann ar an gceist seo.

Bhí Gaeilge ag Domhnal Ua Buachalla, an seanascal deireanach a bhí ag an Saor Stát sular cinneadh Uachtarán a bheith ann, agus rinne sé a mhór de seo. Thuig Éamon Devalera, an Taoiseach ag an am, go raibh tábhacht leis go mbeadh Gaeilge ag an Uachtarán ach, mar sin féin, ní raibh sin luaite mar cháilíocht ag an am.

Ach roghnaigh sé Dubhglás de hÍde, file agus scoláire Gaeilge aitheanta, bunaitheoir Chonradh na Gaeilge agus Protastúnach, chun a bheith ina chéad Uachtarán chun comhartha láidir a thabhairt ar an gcineál Uachtaráin a bheadh ann.

Dúirt Ó Conaill go raibh ról Bunreachtúil ag an Uachtarán a chiallaigh go raibh tábhacht leis, ó thaobh dlí, go mbeadh tuiscint aige nó aici ar an nGaeilge.

“Tá an Bunreacht le fáil i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla ach má tharlaíonn sé go bhfuil coimhlint idir an téacs i mBéarla agus an téacs i nGaeilge, bíonn tús áite ag an téacs i nGaeilge.

“Dá bhrí sin, agus an ról bunreachtúil atá ag an Uachtarán, tá sé iontach tábhachtach go dtuigfidh an tUachtarán cad atá sa téacs i nGaeilge chomh maith leis an téacs i mBéarla.

“Ní gá, b’fhéidir, go mbeadh cur amach acu ar an nGaeilge leis an tuiscint sin a fháil ach bheadh orthu bheith i ndán an cheist a chur ar dhuine a raibh Gaeilge acu cad a chiallaíonn seo agus an bhfuil difir idir seo agus an méid atá sa téacs as Béarla.

“Dá bhrí sin ceapaimid gur cheart Gaeilge áirithe a bheith ag an Uachtarán, tá sé tábhachtach ó thaobh an dlí agus ó thaobh an méid atá sa Bhunreacht.”

Thug Ó Conaill sampla de dhifríocht shuntasach idir théacs Bhéarla sa Bhunreacht agus an bunleagan as Gaeilge a bhain leis an aois ar cheart a bheith slánaithe ag an Uachtarán sula toghfaí é.

De réir an leagan Bhéarla, bheadh cead ag iarrthóir dul san iomaíocht dá mbeadh sé nó sí “in their 35th year”, rud a fhágadh go raibh deis ag duine 34 bliain d’aois.

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Ach sa leagan Gaeilge, deir sé gur cheart go raibh 35 bliain ‘slán’ ag an iarrthóir.

Maidir le ról an tUachtarán mar ‘chéad saoránach” bhí an méid seo le rá ag Ó Conaill.

“Is ionadaí é ar mhuintir na hÉireann agus tá sé ana dheacair a rá gur tír dhá theangach sinn mura bhfuil an teanga sin ag an gcéad saoránach atá sá Stát, ní dhéanann sin mórán céille.

“Níl ionadaíocht á dhéanamh ansin ar mhuintir na hÉireann, an bhfuil?”

Tá tacaíocht á fháil ag Beartas Gaeltachta The Journal ón Scéim Tuairiscithe ar Dhaonláthas Áitiúil

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