Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Fáiltím roimh an rún. Bheadh sé oiriúnach go mbeadh an díospóireacht seo ann go rialta. Tá an Teachta McGinley ag déanamhan-jab ó fuair sé an post seo. Tá meirg ar mo chuid Gaeilge ach tá na tuairimí a nochtfaidh mé chomh daingean agus chomh láidir agus a bhí siad riamh.

Molaim gach duine ag a bhfuil suim sa chultúr agus sa Ghaeilge agus na himeachtaí ginearálta atá ag titim amach ó tháinig an tAcht seo isteach. Tugann sé cearta bunúsacha don Ghaeltacht agus do Ghaeilgeoirí agus is maith agus is fiúntach na rudaí sin, a bhí ar lorg le tamall fada.

Tá drochscéal ann fosta, ar an drochuair, go mórmhór faoi Dingle agus An Daingean agus An Clochán Liath agus Dungloe agus áiteanna eile faoin Acht. Nuair a bhí muid ag cuidiú leis an Bhille, ní raibh a fhios againn go mbeadh ant-athrú chomh mór sin ar Daingean Uí Chúis, Dingle. Tá sé ag teastáil ó mhuintir na háite go mbeadh an dá ainm ar an bhaile. Tá sé soiléir go mbainfidh muintir na Gaeltachta úsáid as Daingean Uí Chúis don bhaile ach tá formhór na ndaoine atá ag dul ann going to Dingle. Tá sé scannalach go bhfuil an t-ainm oifigiúil á bhrú ar dhaoine nach bhfuil sásta é a úsáid.

Sin an rud faoin chultúr go ginearálta — ba cheart dúinn go léir a bheith ar chomh-aigne agus na cearta bunúsacha ann. Níor cheart go mbeadh brú ann mar a bhíodh ann na blianta ó shin nuair a bunaíodh an Stát agus cuireadh obair na Gaeilge ar leataobh toisc the zealotry and fanaticism that went with the language.

Tá Fine Gael dílis don Ghaeilge agus don chultúr agus ní ghlacfaimid le haon óráidí ón Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta faoin pholasaí atá againn ar son na Gaeilge. Níl meas agam ar an rud a dúirt sí faoi pholasaí Fhine Gael an Ghaeilge a chleachtadh, a neartú agus a chothú sa tír seo. Caithfimid an zealotry seo a bhaint amach ón Ghaeilge agus a bheith ar chomh-aidhm an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.

There is no place in a modern state for zealotry, extremism and a lack of understanding and appreciation of the difficulties people clearly have with doing their leaving certificate through Irish. Thousands of people do not even sit the exam every year because they have not received the required education or teaching. The Minister for Education and Science does not have enough inspectors to inspect the course in Irish and the students do not even have the Irish textbooks, for God's sake.

We must look at this issue in reality. We must accept the reality and commitment we have to pushing forward our culture and language. We must recognise the needs of people who have difficulty understanding English, never mind Irish, and who come from parts of the country which do not have the same fine tradition as those who lived near Teach an Cuinne, at the bottom of Castle Avenue in Thurles. The Minister for Education and Science's forefathers lived in that area, as did my people. We come from the same street in the same town in Tipperary and my father and her father were good friends in days gone by. However, we disagree fundamentally on her approach to the Irish language. It is not acceptable that she would reduce the commitment of Members on this side of the House to such a low and silly level.

With regard to the question of Dingle and An Daingean, the last thing we want is to have plebiscites here, there and everywhere. We had them in the 1960s and 1970s with regard to An Uaimh and Navan, and Ceanannus Mór and Kells. They are gone.

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