Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

Fáiltím roimh an Bhille seo. The legislation amends the University College Galway Act 1929. The amending legislation will have the effect of removing the requirement to appoint candidates competent in the Irish language to positions in the university. It replaces that requirement with an obligation to ensure that the university's development plan contains a provision for the delivery of education through the Irish language.

Perhaps it was appropriate, in 1929, for a university located in the historic city of Galway which was at that time surrounded by a fluent Irish-speaking population, that a provision be incorporated into the legislation as follows:

It should be the duty of the senate of the National University of Ireland, the governing body of the college, or the president of the college, when making an appointment to any office or situation in the college, to appoint to such office or situation a person who is competent to discharge the duties thereof through the medium of the Irish language, provided a person so competent and also suitable in all other respects is to be found amongst the persons who are candidates or otherwise available for appointment.

Attempts have been made by Fine Gael to link, in some way, the amendment of that section with the new Irish language policy of that party. There is no connection whatsoever. When recruiting staff it is appropriate that no restrictions or barriers are placed in the way of recruiting the best person for the particular job. NUI Galway has been very successful in attracting research funding in the areas of science and technology. We have highly qualified researchers in Ireland but periodically it may be desirable or appropriate to attract research personnel from abroad. In this respect, it would fetter NUIG if it were to be constrained by the provisions of the 1929 Act and thereby prevented from recruiting what would be deemed to be the most suitable person at a particular time.

As I am from a household which has two NUIG graduates, I am aware of its record of commitment to the Irish language. The university's track record, programmes and plans convince me that if this amending legislation is passed it will in no way dilute NUIG's commitment to the Irish language.

NUIG has demonstrated its commitment to the Gaeltacht and the Irish language in a practical way by servicing the existing university education centres in An Cheathrú Rua, Carna and Gweedore. If at any time the commitment of NUIG to the Irish language weans, the Official Languages Act will spur it on to live up to its responsibilities. If I had any doubt about NUIG's commitment to the Irish language, I would not support the Bill. I have no doubt about it, however, because the university's record speaks for itself. On Committee Stage we will discuss various amendments that have been tabled, some of which are desirable. We will leave discussion of those to the appropriate time, however.

I wish to place on the record my admiration for the excellent work done by NUIG in all disciplines. The quality of the graduates produced by the university are second to none. The college president, Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, who visited us today, and the governing authority deserve our thanks.

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