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

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 24, lines 7 and 8, to delete “as An Garda Síochána” and substitute the following: “only as An Garda Síochána, with no secondary title in the English language for use on any logo or branding by the service,”.

This is similar to a debate we have had on various Bills. There are several major elements. It has to do with the titles of bodies being in the Irish language only, following the precedent of An Garda Síochána in the first instance. Everybody understands "An Garda Síochána". No English translation is required. In recent years we have seen a shift whereby for some reason An Garda Síochána seems to think it has to explain itself in its logo and titles, which state it is Ireland's national police and security service. This never existed previously. It was "An Garda Síochána". This is what I mean by logos and branding. Expanding on this suggests "An Garda Síochána" is not sufficient. There is a specific historical reason that An Garda Síochána was given that name. An Garda Síochána was set up during a very turbulent time. Its name set apart An Garda Síochána from the trouble and trauma in the country at that time. It ensured it was sending out a message that there was a break with the past. It was unarmed and had a peaceful approach towards policing. In my travels abroad people might ask about our police service but no more than we would bother asking somebody in France or anywhere else to translate, they have not asked me to do so.

Amendments Nos. 26 and 39 deal with the title of Garda ranks, which already exist, but where English is given precedence. I have had this argument with a number of Deputies and the Official Languages Act has taken precedent but in this case it is about the specific titles within An Garda Síochána. There have always been ceannfort, cigire and sáirsint. They were the official titles, and we seem to have moved towards Commissioner rather than Coimisinéir and so on. It is giving full legal effect to the Irish-language titles for the ranks. There is no anglicisation of the language or the titles within An Garda Síochána. The remainder of the amendments, which comprise the majority, relate to new titles for bodies being established under this Bill. The Official Languages (Amendment) Act has been enacted, and so far as I know, each provision has been given full effect at this stage. Sometimes it takes a while. There should be no new State bodies or institutions being set up in the English language only, or with an English title. The titles should be in Irish only. That is the case with these. It is the "Bord" of An Garda Síochána. It is not the "Authority". It is "Oifig Ombudsman póilíneacht" nó an "Oifig Náisiúnta". That is the intention of these amendments. We have had this debate and the Minister has been quite open about this in the past, as on other legislation. Other Ministers have understood the effects and the parameters at the time before the Official Languages Act was given its full remit or was fully enacted. Some of these amendments may be superfluous but they are there to remind the drafters that it should be given effect in this legislation.