Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I support these amendments tabled jointly by the members of the commission. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was very critical of a minute that I put on the record of the House. I can understand where he is coming from, but I would not like to see officials questioned and queried as regards a minute.

There is one small part of a letter that further enhances and endorses what I said earlier, which I wish to add to the discussion about the amendment. It is a letter from the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, dated 6 November 2006. I have already quoted part of it, but I will re-read that part and the crucial next part.

At the outset can I make it clear on the Government's behalf that provision of additional resources if required is not an issue. I can assure you on behalf of the Government that the necessary funding for translation work (including staff and other costs) will be provided during the next funding period.

The next part is very relevant to the minute the Minister queried:

The precise details of the funding will, of course, need to be worked out between your officials and the Department of Finance, as will the precise way in which the agreement should be provided for in the forthcoming legislation to replace the funding provisions of the 2003 Commission Act.

It is important to have read that in the context of the other minute, to the effect that the officials were to be informed and were to work out what precisely was to happen. What happened was that the Bill was published.

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