Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

If the Minister had listened to my last contribution, he would know I stated that I, similar to others in the House, use various forms to refer to the force. However, the legal title of the organisation is An Garda Síochána. The Bill includes instances where this title is shortened to "Garda", for example, in reference to "Garda Commissioner". I am not seeking to change that aspect but I request that the title of the organisation, An Garda Síochána, be correctly used. One would not interfere with a French, German or Japanese title by imposing "the" or any other English word. The first and official language of this State is An Gaeilge and the Minister knows that as an officer of the courts in the past.

I am trying to effect only a minor change and I did not foresee it would take this length of time. If the Minister had agreed with the purpose of this amendment, as the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, seemed to indicate on Committee Stage, it could have been dealt with quickly. The objective is to recognise that the legal title of the organisation is An Garda Síochána. This would have allowed us to get on with the business we intend to do.

Is oth liom cinneadh an Aire gan glacadh leis seo. Is mionathrú é, agus sa deireadh thiar thall, más léiriú é seo ar an meon atá ag an Aire i dtaca an Bhille ina iomlán agus na leasuithe atá againne, cad is fiú dúinn ar an taobh seo den Teach bheith ag iarraidh athruithe cuimsitheacha a chuirfeadh leis an Bhille a chur chun cinn? De réir cosúlachta, níl an tAire sásta éisteacht le haon leasú in aon chor. Sa chás seo, is oth liom arís nach bhfuil sé sásta éisteacht le hathrú beag simplí nach gcuirfeadh as d'aon duine, a bheag ná a mhór. Sa deireadh thiar thall, bheimis ag ceartú botúin atá ann ó 1925 de réir an Aire.

Ní ghlacaim leis sin mar sa stair, thuig siad an Ghaeilge agus a tábhacht agus chuir siad teideal gach uile eagrais a bhunaigh an Stát as Gaeilge seachas an polasaí nua atá ag an Rialtas teideal Béarla a thabhairt do gach eagras a bhunaíonn sé, cosúil leis an Private Residential Tenancies Board, agus smaoiníonn sé faoin teideal Gaeilge sa dara áit. Léiríonn sin an meas atá ag an Rialtas agus ag roinnt státseirbhíseach i leith na Gaeilge. Ba chóir an deis seo a thapú an reachtaíocht seo a cheartú.

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