Mr. Robert Watt:

If I may come in, please, just before Mr. Brennock'’s contribution, just to add to what Mr. Reid has said in respect of the Department itself. The services that the Department provides are modest in the context of the services that the HSE provides to citizens. As I set out in my opening statement, we are making efforts now to improve our compliance and our obligations, as mentioned by the Cathaoirleach, under the new Act. We have increased awareness among staff and provide workshops for colleagues so that they are aware of their obligations. We are providing more supports to colleagues who want to improve their language skills, to learn the language and to become more proficient. We have also increased the number of fluent speakers in the Department who are able to converse and correspond in Irish. We have a very clear commitment now that people who want to correspond or speak to colleagues in Irish, that that is available to them. From all of the feedback that I am hearing, that is going reasonably well. Obviously, the scale of the challenges that we face as a Department are easier to manage than those which Mr. Reid would face in providing the whole variety of health services through Irish. It is easier in the Department and we are making strides, as are other Government Departments. As I hear from other colleagues, Departments are embracing this legislation and their obligations and are doing their best.

It is very much through that culture that people will be aware and be encouraged to engage in Irish, to improve their skills and to feel that they are being supported by the Department in doing that.