A Chara, - I wish to draw your readers' attention to a leaflet I received in the post today from the Revenue Commissioners, entitled PAYE On-Line.
This four-page leaflet had instructions in Polish and Lithuanian, Chinese and Japanese as well as English, but not a word anywhere of Irish, the first language of this State. Not even the customary "A Chara" or "Is mise le meas". Instead we had "Dear Customer" and "Yours sincerely".
Now, I greatly admire the efforts of our Government departments to integrate the new immigrants into our systems but perhaps we could take a hint from our neighbour, Wales, which prints all government leaflets in Welsh and English and offers immigrants a copy in their own language should they require it.
I hope the total disregard of the Irish language shown in this State document will enrage enough of your readers to have the matter redressed. - Is mise,
PHILOMENA LAWLER, Malahide, Co Dublin.