Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I am disappointed the Minister of State believes that. The notion it might lead to confusion in subsequent litigation is a poor reason for not making good law. We should not look over our shoulders at the courts when we establish law. The idea behind it is to provide clarity to an individual coming here to work on the conditions in a language he or she understands. That is a reasonable expectation and not a great burden to place on this society.

Regarding the confusion that might arise because some countries have more than one language, one could simply ask the applicant to specify which language they wish to use from a list of those available in a practical way. A minor dialect of an obscure language would not be available and it would not be expected. I do not want to take up time if the Minister of State has closed his mind to it. However, providing for language varieties in official documentation would be an incremental positive step in dealing with a multicultural Ireland and its changing ethnicity.

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