Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

Tá sé deacair a thuiscint conas a mbeadh deacracht ar bith ag baint leis an moladh atá os comhair na Dála an t-údarás a ainmniú as Gaeilge. I do not see how it could be difficult to put in an English version of the Bill the official title of the agency in the Irish language. The Minister of State has not proposed anything. He said he was advised that there might be deacrachtaí ag baint leis. Where are these deacrachtaí? We do not see the particular difficulties in achieving this.

As a matter of principle, not long ago we established in Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla the right of citizens to do their business in Irish más mian leo and, as a matter of course, we should have in normal parlance the use of either the Irish or English versions of all State agencies. It should not be that there is an official title of an agency that is in English. If one wishes one can look at the Irish version of it and use an Irish version of the official title. I am strongly of the view that the Irish version of the title of any agency is as valid and should be inserted as valid in the primary legislation going through the House. That should be the norm rather than the kneejerk reaction from some drafters to say it will be covered in the Irish version and that there will be an Irish version of all legislation in any event.

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