Madam, - The University College Galway (Amendment) Bill, currently before the Oireachtas, essentially provides for the replacement of the controversial section 3 of the University College Galway Act 1929 by a section defining the obligations of the National University of Ireland, Galway towards the Irish language.
About two years ago, the governing authority of the university unanimously recommended such a replacement section to the Government. The relevant section appearing in the Bill represents a very major dilution, indeed, of that University recommendation.
Many people are of the view that Fianna Fáil did great damage to the Irish language when it closed the preparatory colleges, and the school at Dúnchaoin, Co Kerry. It will also do great damage to the language in NUI Galway if it does not accept amendments to the Bill so as to bring it into line with the unanimous recommendation of the universities governing authority about two years ago. - Yours, etc,
S. Ó FLAITHIMHÍN,
Professor Emeritus of Mathematical Physics,
NUI Galway,
Ard Mór,
An Bóthar Ard,
Gaillimh.