Sir, As reported in your issue (January 13th), the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins, may very well pour scorn on his critics, but I believe has correctly identified the problem of Teilifis na Gaeilge being "an extravagant personal gesture", even if that was not his intention.
The rights of Irish language speakers are more than adequately addressed in the relative over representation of Irish language programmes on RTE 1 and Network 2. While still regarding it as a waste of scarce resources, I believe the only benefit for the vast majority of viewers, whose mother tongue is English, might be that Irish language programming may be taken off RTE 1 and Network 2. Can we have a commitment on this?
The downside, of course, is that RTE will be penalised to the extent of £5 million or £7 million, depending upon whose estimates prove correct. This will result in a decline in the quality of programming from RTE 1 and Network 2 and, I understand, is a major factor in the request for a sharp increase in the cost of the television licence.
The Minister's comments regarding citizenship, democracy and national self respect are at best disingenuous or, if sincere, extravagant and worrying. Yours, etc., Blackrock, Co Dublin.