DONEGAL North East T.D.,
Joe McHugh was the wrong choice for the job of
Minister for the Gaeltacht, according to a new
national poll.
The poll reveals that a majority of people think
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was wrong to appoint Deputy
McHugh to the position without his having fluency in
the language.
The Millward Brown survey was undertaken on behalf
of new Irish language online news service
Tuairisc.ie.
The majority of respondents also believe the State
isn't doing enough to promote Irish.
This was felt most strongly by people over 55 living
in Munster, Connacht and Ulster.
Of those polled, 61 per cent disagreed with the
Taoiseach's appointment of someone who is not fluent
in Irish to the Gaeltacht portfolio.
Only 20 per cent of participants felt Mr Kenny was
not mistaken in appointing the Donegal North East
deputy. Support for the Taoiseach's decision was
strongest in Dublin.
The Tuairisc.ie/Millward Brown survey interviewed
1,004 adults in person at home at 66 sampling points
throughout the country between September 23 and
October 3. Deputy McHugh attended the Donegal
Gaeltacht this summer to brush up on his Irish. He
also said he would like people around the country to
join him in improving their language fluency. |
