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Updated 9.40am
THE IRISH LANGUAGE Commissioner Seán Ó Cuirreáin has today formally stepped down from the role, after announcing his intention to do so late last year.
He told the an Oireachtas committee in December that he planned to resign from his role over government failures to promote the language and implement its use by public bodies.
The role of An Coimisinéir Teanga is to monitor compliance by public bodies with the provisions of the Official Languages Act.
RTÉ journalist Rónán Ó Domhnaill has been announced as his successor.
“However, in accordance with the Official Languages Act, ‘the appointment of a person to be An Coimisinéir Teanga shall be made by the President on the advice of the Government following the passing” of such a resolution’,” a spokesperson for the Office of the Language Commissioner said.
The appointment has not yet been made by the President and no date has been announced as yet for the appointment.
Ó Domhnaill has been a political correspondent on Nuacht RTÉ and TG4 for the last seven years and has also worked on other RTÉ current affairs shows.
President of Conradh na Gaeilge Donnchadh Ó hAodha said that Ó Cuirreáin’s resignation would be a “massive loss to the country”, but that his reasons for doing so are understandable.
“This brave step taken by him should be taken in context. No other ombudsman has resigned due to a lack of action by the Government in Ireland but he felt that he had no other choice because the Government are not willing to guarantee the Gaeltacht community State service through Irish, without condition or question.
Basically, the state system is pushing the use of English on the Gaeltacht community and are adding to the decline of the Gaeltacht. Also the Government is not ensuring enough civil servants in the South that can provide services to the public in Irish and in English.
Ahead of today’s move, as many as 5,000 people took part in a protest last week outside Leinster House calling for increased government support for the Irish language.
First published 6.57pm 23/02/14
Michaela, well said & well done in dealing with your problem, I’m sure that in time your anxiety will disappear all together. I hope people reading this will be inspired to take control of what ever issues that may have. Your very brave to talk about it
A bit like telling someone who has low self esteem that they should have confidence. If it only it was that easy.
Or like telling someone who doesn’t have enough money to “just make more money”. Or telling someone in a wheelchair to get off his arse and walk.
Some of you commenting should be ashamed of yourselves. In 2015, it’s disgusting that people still have a backward way of thinking about mental illness. And then to think why suicide is so high in young people? I say fair play to her and it doesn’t bloody matter what her “writing style” was like. Ffs some people need a slap of reality
Well said.
I think everyone gets anxious to some
Degree or other. I did a lot years ago but over time it gets better. Hasn’t completely gone away but if you surround yourself with people you care for you and remove the negative people it turns out alright
I am quite an anxious person..always worrying about the future and possible outcomes. I hate change but it’s inevitable. I envy people who can just go with the flow. So I under stand some of what Michaela is saying..you can’t just snap out of it. There was a guy on with Neil Delamere on today fm today talking abt mindfulness ..I found some of what he was saying helpful. Getting a grip on my anxiety is a work in progress..
Anxiety is part of being human. The more sensitive the person the more anxious quite often. Not a bad thing either as it is our natural instincts and often inborn intelligence coming to the fore when we know something is not as it should be etc. Read Gabor Matés work dealing with anxiety, depression, addiction and so on. http://drgabormate.com/
What we have grown up to believe as true is far from it re so called “Mental illnesses”". Modern western medicine and psychology is grossly corrupt. Best of luck to you in your search and take very good care. Grá Mór!
Kudos.
It’s a very difficult illness it can happen so fast but it can be cured in time the healing is slow but eventually will happen the way of thinking will change for the good .
Very brave of you to write this. You wrote it from the heart and experience. People who don’t understand won’t get it. But there are many who can relate to every word you wrote. Also slowly people are becoming more accepting but there’s a very long way to go. The comments on here prove that beyond doubt.
You failed to highlight things people can do to help those with anxiety beyond the classic ‘just get over it’ which you so regularly repeated. Although I hope this rant made you feel better, that’s all it was.
Like mist in the journal, it’s a complaints forum not a let’s see what we can do to fix it kinda place.
They just need some one to listen
The best way to communicate is just to listen.
One of the best pieces of advise my mother gave me years ago was ‘Do your best, it’s not the end of the world’. I think if you put all lives woes into that context, you’ll do just fine. This is coming from someone who used to worry and get wound up about stuff.
Seems a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy. Getting anxious over getting anxious later.
At Michaela Dunne..Fairplay to You for opening up about this….Fact is People don’t and wont Care, they are Vultures… Just look at the amount of stupid comments on here about this…And they will tell You,its there Right to comment…LOL.
So surround Yourself with people that understand ,or try and understand.Take it day by day or hour by hour if needs be…You are living Proof You can do it *Fact*…
Empty your mind of what other will say or do…Its Your life…Not there’s…Thanks.
Not getting into war of words with folk over this…When You engage Stupid, they will drag You down to there level and then beat You with Experience… ;- )
Thanks A FELLOW SUFFER…
I always feel like somebody’s watching me.
They are. Just ask frank. Or glen.
@Exit stage left…. Yr comment made me spill my cup o tea I laughed so much. …!
Which one?
Well said, suffering from anxiety can be very debilitating.
I think there is more to this issue that isn’t discussed enough though.
The main message in the media about mental health is the argument that it should be recognised by society as a real illness. I accept that it is, of course, I have my own bouts with depression as does everyone in my family.
What I don’t accept is that medication is the way out and that people should feel no qualms about finding the ‘one that suits them best’ before exploring other avenues. Make a rule to get 8 hours sleep a night, daily exercise and a healthy diet for 6 weeks and reevaluate your feelings. Read self-help books and look to progress yourself. Progress in made outside of your comfort zone! Small victories over your anxiety will lead to bigger victories. Best of luck to everyone out there
People judge others by themselves and what they feel and believe are the main avenues but as well from gossip, popularity beliefs and trying to fit into groups but this is why so many are ignorant of others that they do not want something from in my view. As people can be very selfish and ignorant of others because they never question anything and are on autoself the whole time?
What is the saying, to walk a mile in someone elses shoes? A great saying.
Due to some technical ‘glitch’ my last comment here seems to have gone astray but for what’s worth, you could try ‘Mindfulness’ and the web site ‘Headspace’ for some practical advice on coping with stress/anxiety? Besides, it’s free and won’t cost you 80€ or more per session with your ‘friendly’ local psychologist. Failing that, how about having a decent fireside chat with a sympathetic friend? Over to you and good luck Michaela.
good, and avoid negative people, those who feed on easy targets, bullies, opportunists. keep a small social circle to start with, take slow steps. the wider your social circle, the more chance you’ll meet obstacles, more BS, to deal with that you need to be resilient, then avoid, cut them off. they need help too, but a different kind, it’s not your job, ignore, don’t react, walk away.
Have spoken with the author on twitter about this already, but I figured I’d share on here too. I feel like those who campaign to remove the stigma behind mental health will only keep going until someone close to them is affected. Then they become too much to deal with and too difficult to understand and the affected person aren’t willing to open up about their problems. Sorry if that doesn’t make as much sense as I hoped it would! But as a Leaving Cert student who suffers from anxiety, I can definitely empathise with everything mentioned in this article and like you said, the exams only worsen the problem. The exam system is very flawed but that’s another article entirely!
What kind of judgemental a-holes are you sharing your anxiety with? A true friend would never tell you “Get over it” maybe be more conscious of the people you share your issues with.
most people get anxiety from time to time, even those on stage. wouldn’t call that ‘mental illness’, neither would they. its a word that can be thrown around too easily. one persons version of anxiety could be a walk in the park for the other ‘really’ suffering with anxiety WITH severe psychotic depressed periods and often is dosed up for years on end. We need to be careful here and respect what it really is.
For natural approaches to anxiety and depression see http://www.biobalance.ie
“Self hood” by Dr Terry Lynch is an amazing book. I would recommend anyone with anxiety to check it out.
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