tp
Newbie
Posts: 31
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Post by tp on Jan 25, 2008 16:51:56 GMT
The comment wasn't intended to offend Setanta.
I know some Dutch people who can probably speak better English than me, but that doesn't in anyway take from their own national identity.
In the EU parliament interpreters (not all) would not be needed and have to be paid obscene amounts of money to translate, if various MEPs from Ireland and else where, who are more than capable of speaking ('the more widely used') English language. I agree with WASP in that the money could be put to far better use, that's all.
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Post by Jim on Jan 25, 2008 16:57:41 GMT
Jim where did I say you?? I said the countries. Alright, me and the other lot who speak Irish. I'm a fluent speaker so I'm directly part of the language. If you mean "countries" as in Governments, well, Ireland doesnt have the one Government to have a united front on the issue. The bill would fall on organisations and schools and even right down to small places were people learn it, to pay it. Right, I know the money can be put to better use, but we can say that about a lot of things. We could get right down to how money is spent in every department of both parts of Ireland and say there is un-needed spending, we could do the same with the EU, how MPs, MLAs, TDs and MEPs spend their time away from their constituencies in luxury when the extra millions could be spent on cancer treatment or housing schemes for homeless, a big problem in Britain alone. But we don't, so why are we picking and chosing? Funding the language I grew up learning and speaking actively is as important to me as where I live or how I live, I'm very outspoken for the language on these forums and I dont think some people understand why. Its more important to me than any flag, languages go beyond borders. |
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Post by Wasp on Jan 25, 2008 17:54:47 GMT
Jim I am not picking and choosing as you suggest, I agree with you on all the money factors beside the language. Let's try and leave the problems we have IN N.Ireland for a minute. You were born into an English speaking country where a tiny percentage if anyone use Irish as there first language, the republic has English as there first language and so on. You have every right in supporting your language and culture but when it comes to something as expensive as this to please somepeople who's first language would be mostly English then it is plain ridiculous. The same goes for similar situations elsewhere.
Therefore a country as rich as Ireland should they not pay translators themselves if they want to use Irish for few people who have it as there first language? There is too much money wasting by the EU and this is one of them.
What would you rather have a language that is the first language of not to many people with all the expense, or money being put towards the elderly, the poor, the disabled where the vast majority of the country is affected in one way or another. The same goes for the rest of their squandering money.
BTW it would be the exact same if it was Ulster-Scots etc.
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Post by Jim on Jan 25, 2008 20:18:42 GMT
No, they shouldn't, the translators should be paid money in accordance with the work they do.
I cant answer that question Wasp I dont think its a fair question to ask, money can be moved on from other places where it really is being wasted to go to elderly and the poor. The Irish language has paid for itself for decades, in the north it took years for schools to get funding from the government, and the growth of the language eventually came to a point where the community couldnt afford it anymore so the government had to get in on the act. This is the EU we are talking about, they dont pay anything to our poor and eldery directly they give money to the government to do as it pleases. 13,000 Euro is like 2p in their pocket. They pay more on cars and hotels and expensive dinners for their MEPs.
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Post by Wasp on Jan 25, 2008 22:00:42 GMT
Jim I understand what you are saying and on the EU I agree. They are money wasters and IMO this is one money wasting racket on a long list. Translators are entitled to their pay like anyone else but there has to come a time when people say to the EU enough is enough and pressure them to stop wasting valuable money and this topic would be on the list amongst others. If I were the Prime Minister I would seriously be discussing leaving the EU because of the amount of money wasted.
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