Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The appointment of two Ministers with responsibility for the Gaeltacht who do not have functioning Irish is a backward step. I make no criticism of either Minister. I have worked with the Minister of State, an Teachta McHugh, who has played a very positive role as Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I am sure that both he and an Aire, an Teachta Heather Humphreys, are very capable representatives. Mar sin, nílim ag tabhairt amach faoi na Teachtaí seo go pearsanta.

However, the appointments and the manner in which the Department has been reorganised provide further evidence of the downgrading of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht that has been the mark of this Government. Dhá bhliain ó shin, bhrúigh an Rialtas an Bille Gaeltachta tríd an Dáil, cé nach raibh aon duine sásta leis. An cuimhin leis an dTaoiseach gur shiúl an Freasúra amach as an Dáil nuair a chuaigh an Bille tríd. Freisin, bhí na grúpaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta thar a bheith míshásta leis an mBille.

Gaeltacht communities have been stripped of their right to democratic representation on Údarás na Gaeltachta. There is another quango which is not representative of the people of the Gaeltacht areas.

I Mí na Nollag seo caite, d'éirigh an Coimisinéir Teanga ag an am, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, as a phost. Dúirt sé ag an am sin go raibh sin déanta aige mar nach raibh sé sásta le polasaí teanga an Rialtais. Dúirt sé go raibh an Stát ag obair in éadan na ndualgas a bhí air faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.

The Taoiseach's decisions have increased the marginalisation of the Irish language and the public administrative system. The decision to merge the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga with the Office of the Ombudsman and the insufficient resources are further evidence of the disregard the Government has for the Irish language.

Tá grúpaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta dearg le fearg faoi seo. Labhair mé leis an Taoiseach cúpla uair cheana faoi na daoine óga agus aosta atá ag iarraidh a gnáth saol a mhaireachtáil trí Ghaeilge. Tá a fhios ag an Rialtas gur ionann tír le teanga agus tír le hanam. In light of the criticism of the Taoiseach's appointments, will he now reconsider the allocation of these posts and ensure that at least one of the two Ministers with responsibility for the Gaeltacht areas has working Irish?

See this speech in context