Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 3, to delete lines 12 to 18 and substitute the following:

"3.—(1) The governing authority of the College shall ensure that the aims for the operation and development of the College set out in each strategic development plan prepared after the commencement of this section shall include the provision of a wide range of academic courses through the medium of the Irish language, as well as the creation of a functional bilingual communication culture within the managerial and administrative practices of the University.".

I was not aware earlier that this amendment was discussed with amendment No. 3 because the grouping of amendments had not been circulated at the time. I did not indicate I wanted to speak on it because I did not know it was coming up.

The amendment takes on board some of what groups such as Conradh na Gaeilge were seeking in terms of an amended wording of the proposed legislation. It reinforces the need for the college to put as one of its aims a bilingual communications culture, both within the managerial and administrative practices of the university and in the provision of academic courses. I do not intend to press the amendment. I will leave it to the Minister to accept or reject it as she sees fit.

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