Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 15:

In page 19, line 16, after “traditions,” to insert “in particular the Irish language,”.

I was not expecting all these amendments to be grouped together. There is some logic to grouping them. The aim of these amendments is to try to ensure a wide range of duties and responsibilities, go bhfuil dualgas dearfach agus reachtúil ann ó thaobh chur chun cinn na Gaeilge i measc na meán. Tá sé sin tábhachtach dúinne agus do dhaoine eile nach féidir leo a bheith anseo, sé sin, na heagrais atá ag cur chun cinn na Gaeilge, iad siúd a cheapann go bhfuil an Bunreacht i gceart gur teanga náisiúnta na tíre í agus, dá réir, gur chóir go mbeadh dualgas ar leith ar aon eagras atá ag craoladh sa tír seo ó thaobh na Gaeilge de.

The purpose is to ensure the Irish language is not ignored. Its history, traditions, language and music need to be presented and supported. There is a duty to promote beyond what is sometimes the current view that is a burden. If the duty to promote the Irish language and our traditions is included in legislation, then we can demand of the media that they do more. For many years, the debate has been focused on the failure of our State broadcaster to fully carry out its duty under the Constitution to promote the Irish language and do more to ensure that our traditions are promoted. We believe this is an opportunity to right that wrong and to ensure that all the media in Ireland understand that is part of their duty.

A number of the amendments relate to section 7 and further down they relate to the long Title of the Bill because we believe it of such important that it should be mentioned. The issue was raised on Committee Stage in the Seanad. Having reflected further on that debate in the Seanad, the Minister may now be in a better position to accept these amendments or at least give an indication to come back on Report Stage with a version of what is being proposed here.

Maidir le leasú Uimh. 5, sin an fhoclaíocht a chur Conradh na Gaeilge chun cinn. Tá foclaíocht dhifriúil againn chomh maith, ag déanamh cinnte de go mbeadh ní hamháin the duty to satisfy the existing demand, but to go further and stimulate an increased demand for the Irish language.

Tá mise den tuairim gur chóir go mbeadh sé sin mar dualgas ag an Stát, ní hamháin sna meáin ach i gcúrsaí oideachais chomh maith. Ní hamháin go mba cheart an t-éileamh a shásamh ach ba cheart cuidiú leis an éileamh a chruthú. Bheadh níos mó brú agus níos mó éilimh ar chláir agus a leithéid maidir leis an nGaeilge i nGaeilge agus maidir leis ár dtraidisiún ar an oileán seo.