Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Chair does not want me repeating myself but I have said at least ten times when talking about language planning that language plans come on a statutory basis from the Gaeltacht Act 2012. The language planning process includes Limistéir Pleanála Teanga, Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta and Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta Teo. The Chair does not want me repeating myself but I have made that point consistently throughout the discussions on these amendments. If the Minister felt that the wording needed to be tightened up, I would be more than happy to work with him on it.

The Minister is also saying that the priority area plans will deal with this and that we cannot get into the specifics of unique communities in the context of the national planning framework and the Irish language. I am not seeking in this amendment to get into the specifics of unique communities and the national planning framework. I want to ensure the national planning framework contains in its written statement policies and proposals supporting the implementation of language plans. That is what these amendments are seeking to do. They seek the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of Irish language and Gaeltacht communities. It is high-level national policy to go into the national planning framework and is completely appropriate. There are other high-level national plans and that does not stop issues being worked out, community by community, in other areas on the ground level where there are the development plans and priority area plans, on a unique basis, whether it is Gaeltacht or otherwise.

What we are trying to do is completely consistent with the approach in other areas.

I will make this final point. The Minister says he is going to do these things and I take that in good faith. However, the issue is that an election is coming up in about a year. There could be a different Minister in a year's time. In terms of this legislation and the national planning framework, what will guide that if there is a change of Minister, be it within the existing Government parties or if Opposition parties move into that office? In that scenario, we have no guarantees in this legislation that the national planning framework covers these things. All we have is a verbal commitment made in good faith by the existing Minister, who may have moved on to another brief or whatever by that time. We are discussing the legislation, not the Minister's good intentions. I accept the Minister is explaining how, through this legislation, there is a route to do the priority area plans. That is well and good but if it was in the national planning framework as well, that would be much more robust going into the future. That is what I am seeking to do with these amendments.

I will move on to my amendment No. 193. This relates to considerations for issuance of a national planning statement. This amendment would mean that in deciding to issue, and in formulating or amending a national planning statement, the Minister would have regard to the desirability of setting out policy and providing guidance regarding the protection of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Irish language in Gaeltacht communities by supporting the implementation of language plans.

There is a range of issues in terms of consideration for issuance of national planning statements written into the Bill but this is missing and there is a very strong case to include it in the list. Given that the Minister is not opposing in substance the rationale behind this, it would make sense to accept this amendment.