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THE SÍNEADH FADA in Irish names will be legally protected when dealing with public bodies under new legislation.
When Sections 4 and 5 of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 come into force, titles like Mr and Ms before a person’s name will also become optional when dealing with public bodies, and “local names” or nicknames that “distinguishes them from other individuals bearing the same name in the locality” will be allowed.
The Act covers dealings with all public bodies, including the HSE, county councils, universities and Uisce Éireann.
The official commencement date for the changes has not yet been decided, but it is understood that public bodies will be contacted in the coming weeks with more information.
In 2015, An Coimisinéir Teanga researched the matter during an investigation carried out on the Department of Communications on the rollout of Eircodes.
The investigation centred on the use of official place names but the issue of the use of a ‘síneadh fada’ in a person’s name and address also came to the fore, the commission said.
It found that there was no provision in the Official Languages Act in respect of the right to use one’s name in Irish.
There is a world of difference in meaning between ‘Sean’ and Seán’, for instance, or between Orla and Órla.
“This was the issue on which my Office received the most complaints in its history,” Órla de Burca of the complaints department said.
“Indeed, when I first started receiving complaints on the rollout of Eircode I was prompted to issue a statement to the effect that ‘If a person’s birth certificate is in Irish, and they never use the English version of their names at any stage of their lives – then surely it follows that that is the version that should be used by the State?’
“The síneadh fada in an individual’s name is an integral part of that name – there is a world of difference in meaning between ‘Sean’ and Seán’, for instance, or between Orla and Órla”, she said.
The historic change has been welcomed by republican party Sinn Féin, which said it’s “only taken 101 years”.
Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for Gaeilge Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said it is “unfortunate” that the party’s proposal to extend the provision to private companies, such as banks and airlines, was rejected.
“The right to your name is a fundamental one, enshrined in Article 7 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Irish state should not allow the colonial practice of Irish names being anglicised and declared invalid to continue,” he said.
“Respecting a person’s síneadh fada is a core element of that.”
In 2019, the State data watchdog ruled that Irish people did not have an “absolute right” to have their names spelt correctly, after a complaint was made about medics leaving the fada out of a patient’s name.
The new law runs contrary to the ruling.
Not attractive? News to me I needed to find attractive jobs, I spent 40 years in jobs I wasnt attracted to, but needs must and people sending me bill’s don’t care that I’m not attracted to the jobs out there! only the last few years I’ve managed to do things for work that attract me. The only things I’ve ever been attracted to were the wife 30 years ago and an old fancy Mazda I bought back in the day, one rusted badly and swore I’d never be attracted to the like again.
@This time its personable!: You’re some hero!
@Luke: I’m full up on badges and medals for not pissing and moaning me
@This time its personable!: What are you talking about? This article isn’t about unemployed people/other workers giving out that the hospitality sector isn’t attractive, it’s about the hospitality sector saying they can’t find workers and being told it’s because people are choosing to work elsewhere. There are plenty of jobs in other sectors that people are choosing to work in at the minute. If hospitality want to attract workers, they need to provide better working conditions.
@This time its personable!: the hotels are to blame themselves why would they listen to guests complain and complain for minimum wage when they can get 12€ an hour stocking shelves in Aldi and guaranteed 40 hours a week unlike seasonal work in hotels
@Karl Harvey: I read the article, I understood what they were saying. And it’s still the same point. Its both sides of the argument pissing and moaning about it, no wonder they can’t attract workers or why some people think they’re better than it. Everyone is entitled aren’t they!
@This time its personable!: well obviously not ‘needs must’ for many people. Things have to change in all areas that i can see where work is seasonal, low paid, high pressure and zero respect for person or rights!!.Thankfully people are copping on and not putting up with it.
@Marie Broomfield: I don’t agree with bullying and harassment and such like, but some people feel they’re not there to work and should be paid for the pleasure of their company, they feel aggrieved if asked to do something. I’m no fireman or surgeon but I known as a bit of a gambler and high pressure in hospitality, come on. Yes you have to rush the odd time but really, high pressure!
@This time its personable!: “Some people” is just another way of saying “people I made up in my head”. I don’t understand why you’d have any problem with workers finally having the power to demand a bit of dignity from their job.
@This time its personable!: i know of one lady who had to be admited to hospital for psychiatric care due to her work pressure and harrassment and another lady who comes home physically and mentally drained and looks 10 years older than she is and yet another lady who works herself to the bone working hours that makes a joke of the Organisation of Working Time Act! It’s not about feeling ‘aggrieved’, or having to rush the odd time, it’s far more serious than that!
@Karl Harvey: it’s not really, you just have to look about in workplaces whether it’s hospitality or not. I’m sure most people can think of examples of me naming random situations. You’re so vehemently against the point, don’t take it personal, we lead different lives and different view points, I wasn’t speaking about you specifically as I’ve never met you.
@Marie Broomfield: well those situations sound horrible for all involved. Not making light of them at all and me continuing to make any points on this wouldn’t be appropriate.
Second highest minimum wage but yet people can’t survive the cost of living
@Tom Bombdadil: or afford to rent or buy a simple home…..
As a worker in the hospitality sector for many years, we used to have no issue finding staff compared to nowadays we simply can’t find enough due to low wages for a lot of work. Sad to see as we have endless opportunities with this sector!
When did minimum wage mean you could live off it? All my life it was a secondary wage.
@This time its personable!: “Some people” is just people you’ve made up in your head. You should just be happy workers finally have the power to demand a bit of dignity at work and go about your day.
If you treat your staff like they’re not essential with zero hour contracts and low pay then you deserve all you get.
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