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“AN tSILEÁIL GHLOINE”: SEOLADH OIFIGIÚIL AG AN UACHTARÁN 14 MÁRTA, 1997

"AN tSILEÁIL GHLOINE": SEOLADH OIFIGIÚIL AG AN UACHTARÁN 14 MÁRTA, 1997

Aitheasc a Soilse Máire Nic Róibín Uasal, Uachtarán na hÉireann, ag ceannoifig Údarás na Gaeltachta, Na Forbacha, Gaillimh, Dé hAoine 14 Márta 1997 ag 2.30 p.m.

Tá an-áthas orm a bheith anseo libh inniu in ardoifig Údarás na Gaeltachta chun tacú leis an gcéim dúshlánach atá tógtha ag an Údarás leis an togra dar teideal "An tSiléail Ghloine" atá á mhaoíniú faoin gclár Adapt de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh. Tá sé tráthúil agus feiliúnach go bhfuil an togra seo ar bun ag an Údarás, cagraíocht atá lárnach í bhforbairt agus i gcur chun cinn na bpobal éagsúla Gaeltachta. Agus muidne ag druidim le deireadh an chéid tá aghaidh á thabhairt againn ar na hathruithe atá ag teacht ar thimpeallacht na hoibre agus ar an saol i gcoitinne ní hamháin leis an nua-theicneolaíocht ach leis an ndearcadh úr atá le feiceáil maidir le córais oibre i gcoitinne.

Tuigtear dom go bhfuil an togra seo á bhunú chun scagadh agus cíoradh a dhéanamh ar struchtúr agus ar chultúr an ionaid oibre agus chun polasaithe a chinnteóidh comhionnasnas ag gach leibhéal a chur i bhfeidhm, ionas go mbeidh comhpháirtíocht iomlán ag fir agus ag mná na heagraíochta i gcur chun cinn aidhmeanna agus fís an Údaráis sa ról tábhachtach atá aige chun na pobail Ghaeltachta a fhorbairt.

Tá árdmholadh tuillte ag an Údarás as an gcéim dhúshlánach seo a ghlachdh. Ní foláir a bheith misniúil agus cróga chun athruithe a chur i bhfeidhm in aon eagraíocht, eagraíochtaí Stáit ach go háirithe, agus is minic a shamhlaítear go mbíonn sé níos compordaí fánacht ar thalamh tirim seachas a bheith ag treabhadh farraigí árda.

Tuigim go bhfuil gné den togra seo "An tSileáil Ghloine" ag díriú go príoma ar dheiseanna féinfhorbartha agus traenála a chruthú do mhná na heagraíochta ionas go mbeidh muinín agus deiseanna acu dul chun cinn láidir a dhéanamh agus ról níos fairsinge a bheith acu i dtabhairt chun críche polasaithe agus mianta na heagraíochta. Is obair ceannródaíochta atá ar siúl ag an Údarás sa chás seo agus táim cinnte go n-éireoidh go geal leo.

Údarás na Gaeltachta, as the unique development authority for the Gaeltacht, is to be commended for spearheading the project "An tSileáil Ghloine" which seeks to promote equal opportunities for both men and women in the workplace and to develop strategies that will enable them to contribute fully to the important work of the organisation in the changing economic, social and cultural environment of our time as we look forward to the beginning of a new century.

Although the project strives to realise the full potential of each individual's contribution within the organisation, there is a particular emphasis on the development of the women in the organisation and a recognition that their potential has not been fully realised or accommodated in the past. The qualtiy of a country, or even an organisation, can be judged by the manner in which it values its minorities and under-represented groups and encourages and mobilises the talents of all its diverse groups. These groups can become demotivated if their voices are unheard over a long period of time and they need to be nurtured and encouraged to participate fully in the design and building of the furture. Every group within a country has a role to play in shaping its future, as has every individual within an organisation.

It is generally recognised that women, although acknowledged as the powerhouse within their own domestic setting, have had limited input into decision-making where it concerns policy design and implementation in corporate and organisational settings. In general they have not been meaningfully involved in the decision-making process on strategic issues either at local or national level. In recent years, with the increasing number of women pursuing full-time careers, this situation has changed. The emphasis on cohesive local development and management, encouraged by the European experience and supported by an tÚdarás, is seeking to ensure that women - and men - are being empowered to take responsibility for their own immediate environment. This will have far-reaching consequences. The Gaeltacht community is advantaged in this respect in that a framework exists already within an tÚdarás to facilitate this particular type of development.

Some time ago I offered the view that the main practical barriers to women participating equally with men have been identified and can be summarised in simplified terms as the four C's:

 

* Culture - in that the ambience of politics has tended to be overwhelmingly male.

* Confidence - in that it is said that women lack the assertiveness and the

in-bred aptitude for power of male politicians.

* Children - in that women both rear children and continue to exercise the main responsibility in relation to rearing them.

* Cash - in that women tend to lack resources and financial autonomy.

 

However, identifying impediments to equal participation is less than half the battle. Indeed, there can be a tendency among women, as well as men, to feel comfortable with this perceived reality and to resign themselves to the inevitable. So the real question is: "Is this balance inevitable?" This remains a real challenge.

Both women and men have to recognise that both parties require a change in attitude and a realisation that the issues need to be broadened beyond the focus on gender in order to harness the contribution and enthusiasm of all involved. I am delighted, therefore, to announce here that "An tSileáil Ghloine" intends to run a series of lectures focusing on these particular issues and striving to heighten awareness and bring about the attitudinal change needed to create a new synergy and partnership between men and women not alone in the workplace but in the community as well.

The recognition and consequent utilisation of the different qualities and approaches practised by women and men as they go about their daily work would be of enormous benefit to society in general. The fact that the lectures will be held here in an tÚdarás and will be open to the public is a healthy development in that it illustrates the willingness and openess of a State agency like an tÚdarás in inviting its community, i.e., Pobal na Gaeltachta, to bevome involved in the process of change and to participate in the ensuing robust discussion which I am sure will be generated by each of the speakers who have been invited to give a talk. The interaction and partnership between an tÚdarás and its community the more it will fortify the structures that support and enhance the social development of Gaeltacht areas and thereby reinforce the language which is the solid foundation on which the Gaeltacht survives.

In relation to the speakers chosen I notice there is a 50/50 gender balance and that there is also an equal number of speakers in Irish and in English. The lectures will introduce a wide diversity of speakers from both political, academic, and business backgrounds as well as a number of case studies of organisational change and down to earth presentation by women who have broken (uninjured!) through the glass ceiling.

Bring about attitudinal and organisational change is not easy. It requires compassion, tolerance and openness to new ideas and concepts but it can also mean upheaval and uncertainty and, for some, fear of the unknown. It certainly brings new challenges and it ultimately leads to heightened awareness and involvement as well as satisfaction and raised expectati9ons for the future.

Ba mhaith liom ag an bpointe seo mo thacaíocht phearsanta a léiriú do mhná na Gaeltachta, foinse na teangan don nglúin atá le teacht. Go dtí seo, ar bhonn Praiticiúil, b'iad na máthaireacha ba chúis leis an dteanga bhaile in aon líon tí - go ginearálta pé scéal é - agus mar sin caithfear aitheantas speisialta a thabhairt do mhná na Gaeltachta toisc go bhfuil an Ghaeilge fós beo mar theanga dhúchasach sna pobail sin. Caithfear a aithint chomh maith go mbíonn gréasán an-ghníomhach idir mhná i bhfoirm tacaíochta agus obair dheonach sa phobal agus gurb iad cnámhdroma an phobail sa mhéid is go ndeineann siad cúram ar leith do sheanóirí, do chomharsana agus do dhaoine óga. Cé go dtugtar aitheantas coiteann don ról teaghlaigh a bhí ag mná riamh, tá sé tábhachtach fresin go dtabharfaí aitheantas agus moladh don ról poiblí atá ag teastáil ó mhná na haimsire seo agus dá gcearta chun an ró poiblí seo a ghlacadh de réir a gcuid mianta agus a gcuid talainn féin.

Mar fhocal scoir ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh arís leis an Údarás i dtaobh na físe agus an mhisnigh atá léirithe acu leis an togra seo "An tSileáil Ghloine". Tá súil agam go mbeidh an próiseás a úsáidfear le linn an togra mar fhoinse eolais agus deo-shampla d'eagraíochtaí agus do chomhlachtaí eile sa Ghaeltacht agus sa tír i gcoitinne agus go mbeidh toradh leanúnach fadtéarmach ar an obair sin isteach sa mhílaois nua atá amach romhainn.

Gúim gach rath ar an straith léachtanna seo, ar obair "An tSileáil Ghloine" agus ar na daoine a bheidh páirteach sa togra agus, gan amhras, ar Údarás na Gaeltachta as an obair thábhachtach atá ar siúl agaibh chun gach gné de shaol na Gaeltachta a fhorbairt agus a chur chun cinn. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.