22 September 2000

FARREN: I.T. HAS KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN IRISH LANGUAGE SPEAKING

"IT can help us promote and develop the use of the Irish language and create a truly inclusive society with mutual respect for all cultural traditions," the Northern Ireland Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, Dr Sean Farren, said tonight.

Making the keynote address to the first National Conference in Computer Assisted Learning of Irish at the University College, Cork, the Minister said: "New technologies are giving us new and unparalleled opportunities to increase our knowledge and thereby our skills and abilities. That is clearly vital in today's hugely competitive global marketplace.

"But, just as significantly, those technologies are giving us the chance to bring people closer together and allowing them to learn from one another and to respect one another by removing borders and barriers. In our own situation, and given our history, that is crucial if we are to create the stable, prosperous and truly inclusive society that every right thinking person wants.

"We have already made real progress towards that goal in the world of education at all levels. A wide variety of North/South links exist. I believe we have to strengthen and extend them.

"The Irish language has a part to play in doing that, something which has been clearly recognised through the Good Friday Agreement and the establishment of the North/South Language Body, and this conference therefore has an important contribution to make.

"It will certainly help enhance the favourable climate that already exists towards the promotion of Irish and it will go even further. By helping us to improve the teaching of all languages in our places of learning it will help foster understanding - and ultimately understanding must be at the foundation of any democratic and inclusive society."

The aim of the two day conference "O Leacra go Lionra 2000" is to examine the methods by which the computer can assist language teachers. Among the themes to be covered are language planning, sources of funding, the Internet and Irish Medium Schools. Speakers from throughout Ireland and from all levels of education are attending.

 

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