Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

Tacaíonn Fine Gael leis an Bhille seo. Tá leasú amháin curtha síos againn chun stádas na Gaeilge a neartú san ollscoil. Tá súil agam go nglacfaidh an tAire le leasú Fhine Gael.

I welcome the Bill. I know from the Minister's contribution that it has been presented in close consultation with her colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, Teachta eile as Gaillimh Thiar. I understand that he was a reluctant traveller regarding the Bill, but if it is good enough for an tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, it is good enough for me. From that perspective, we have no difficulty in supporting the Bill.

However, we have tabled an amendment that we feel would strengthen the legislation. It would add to the Bill's aims by inserting additional text after page 3, line 18. We suggest that it would complement and strengthen the Bill's intent. From that perspective, we hope and presume that the Minister will have no difficulty in accepting it. Our amendment reads as follows.

In page 3, line 18, after "language." to insert the following:

"It shall be amongst the principal strategic aims of the National University of Ireland, Galway to provide leadership in the provision of University education through the medium of Irish, both in the provision of a wide range of academic courses through the medium of Irish and in the creation of a functional bilingual communication culture within the system and the management and administrative practices of the University. Accordingly, it shall be the duty of Údarás na hOllscoile and the President of the National University of Ireland, Galway to frame and to implement policies, regulations, rules, provisions and practices for the purpose of fulfilling the aforementioned strategic linguistic aim.".

That amendment was tabled by Deputy McGinley, our spokesman on Gaeltacht affairs, and me, a local representative. I presume the Minister will have no difficulty with it since it is only to strengthen what the Minister is trying to achieve in the Bill.

I note that the Minister has stated that she worked in close consultation with an tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Ó Cuív, in framing this Bill, which creates the principle of choice in hiring the necessary personnel. However, when ceannaire Fhine Gael, Deputy Kenny, reasonably proposed that there be a principle of choice in Irish at leaving certificate level, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was not too happy and castigated our leader for daring even to suggest that there be a principle of choice at that level. That does not coincide with what the Minister for Education and Science, Ms Hanafin, is doing now.

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