James Dillon (1902-86) was the sun of John Dillon, the last leader of the pre-WW1 Irish Parliamentary Party, and played a key role in founding Fine Gael, but left or was expelled from that party in 1942 owing to its support for neutrality in WW2 and then sat in the Dáil as an independent. He rejoined Fine Gael in 1953, and became its leader in 1959-65, but resigned as party leader after narrowly failing to be elected Taoiseach. He was minister for agriculture 1948-51 and 1954-57.

http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie/D/0099/D.0099.194603070002.html has his comments in the Dáil on March 7th 1946 on the Caighdeán Ofigiúil. He describes the new spelling as "unsatisfactory" and asked the Taoiseach:

"If the Taoiseach agrees with me that his approach to the science of linguistics and etymology in setting up a body of civil servants to prepare the litriú is, to say the least, revolutionary, will he not think it desirable to establish a standing commission, analogous to that established by the Academie Francaise, to supervise the spelling and etymology of our own language before whom representations may be laid by interested parties, from time to time, with a view to having its work reviewed and improved if opportunity offers? Surely no valid objection could be made to that course and it would meet the views of persons, who are scarce enough in this country, God knows, who love the language for the language's sake and not for what they hope to get out of it."

"The Taoiseach has got what he wants—the litriú. Is it not reasonable to ask on behalf of those others who love the language—the Taoiseach is not the only person who loves it—that some body of scholars, as distinguished from zealous and public-spirited servants, should be set up to whom those persons can make their submissions with a view to preserving the integrity of the language they love rather than subserving the general policy of the Government in respect of the language of the country. There is surely an academic, a linguistic and an etymological side to this which appeals deeply to scholars who have devoted their whole lives to the language."

"If you cut the linguistic roots of the language, the language will die."

The Taoiseach gave some bureaucratic reply - basically the issue was being handled in house by the civil service and wider discussion was not be permitted...

I wonder what he would have done had he been elected in 1965.

In 1965 he asked in the Dáil on October 28th 1965 (http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie/D/0218/D.0218.196510280041.html)

"As a result of the changes made, which have resulted in what the Minister now describes as “Standard Irish”, is “Standard Irish” spoken by any native speaker here or anywhere else?"

"No; this is a simple question. I just want to ask if there is any living creature with Irish ón gcliabhán who speaks what the Minister describes as standard Irish. I submit that outside the bureaucracy of the country and those who have book Irish, no living creature speaks standard Irish. It is an etymological rule."

Rinne an caighdeán leas mór a Josh. Dillon's few words here, in English, don't do anything for me. His party hasn't changed it's opposition to using Irish. They are the champions of the Dinglis no Irish for our kids argument.

Ní fiú aon cheist Ghaeilge a chíoradh leo, tá siad chomh naimhdeach sin.

A Sheosaimh,

ceapaim go bhfuil tú beagánín aontaobhach. Nach bhfuil an tAire Oideachais ag ionsaí na Gaelscoileanna faoi láthair agus nach raibh lucht tacaíochta Fhianna Fáil ag ionsaí páistí beaga ó Ghaelscoil i dTiobraid Árainn roimh an olltoghcháin?

Níl Fine Gael in aghaidh an Ghaeilge agus níl Fianna Fail i bhfábhar an Ghaeilge. Sin an fhírinne.

Ba é dearcadh an Chadhnaigh ar a raibh éagsúil idir an dá dhream acu i ngnóthaí Gaeilge:

Is féidir náire a chur ar FF, ní féidir náire a chur ar FG.


Is é an scéal céanna inniu é, measaim. Is féidir náire a chur ar an gcéad dream agus tá an dream eile mar a bhí riamh anall.

Feicim an mhaith iontu go léir mar dhá dhream daoine. Bheadh gaolta agam leis an dá dhream, agus aithním an éagsúlacht daonnachta atá le brath, dar liom, sa dá dhream. Tá a leithéid ann. Ach maidir le Gaeilge, feicim go raibh Máirtín Ó Cadhain, an duine bocht, thar a bheith cruinn sa chuntas sin.