Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do want to get clarification for the Deputy. We will look at that by way of the regulations as well because I do want to make sure that those who should be consulted are consulted. The point I am making is that if you are a language planning officer in a local authority in any of those areas, you will know where your líonraí Gaeilge are and you will know what you are responsible for. You are part of the development plan. If we can strengthen that through the regulations I will happily look at that and come back on Report Stage with it. I have said to Deputy Ó Snodaigh that I get the point on Foras na Gaelige and An Coimisinéir Teanga as well. This is something that is more appropriate for the regulations. I can take the point. It could be problematic in the legislation.

Another thing is that there is another area there. If you put that in, do you create other lacuna or grey areas for challenges to it? The regulations would be the best place. I am more than content to report back on that in advance of Report Stage. As I said, with many of the amendments, it is not that they are crazy it is more a question of their appropriateness in primary legislation versus regulations. That is where it is at. It is to allow the flexibility that one would need into the future. The strategy on the Irish language has had to be flexible right the way through. Some initiatives that have looked good on paper have not taken hold and others have. There has had to be flexibility to respond to different challenges. If you tie that into the primary legislation, then any changes in future will require the Act, as it will be, to be amended. I am happy to look at them in regulations and to report back to Deputies in advance of Report Stage but I am not in a position to accept those amendments.