Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

Déanaim chomhghairdeas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle as ucht an onóra a bhronn an Teach seo air nuair a toghadh mar Leas-Cheann Comhairle é. Tá mé cinnte go n-éireoidh go geal leis sa phost sin. Tréaslaím leis an Aire faoi mar atá sé ina Aire sa Dáil arís agus tá súil agam go n-éireoidh go geal leis fosta. Tá fadhbanna idir lámha ag an Roinn agus caithfidh fuinneamh a bheith aige.

I thank the Minister for consulting Opposition spokespersons on the Bill in the course of the previous Dáil. We know its content and I do not propose to discuss the detail of its main provisions. We agree with the Minister. The Labour Party will not oppose the Bill and has not put down amendments to it. We accept the Bill for what it is, as outlined in the explanatory memorandum, which states: "The purpose of the Bill is to confirm and to secure an integrated statutory basis for the broad range of functions and responsibilities of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs." Nonetheless, I will make some observations on other issues that arise in the context of the Bill.

The term "scheme" is one of the terms defined in section 1, which states:

"scheme"—

(a) means programmes or measures operated, managed, delivered or sponsored, whether in whole or in part, directly or indirectly or in conjunction or co-operation with any other person (including the European Union or any Department of State), by the Department in relation to the performance of any of the functions of the Minister...

I have a concern in this regard, namely, the elimination of duplication of schemes operated or provided by different Departments, although I accept an effort was made to deal with the issue during the lifetime of the last Government. The other Departments that are most important to the schemes of the Minister's Department are the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Minister put much work into this matter during the term of the last Government. Is he satisfied substantial progress has been made? Is more to be accomplished on this front? It is an issue that has given me some concern in the past. Obviously, substantial progress in this regard would be welcomed on all sides of the House.

I next turn to section 2 of the Bill, which concerns the functions of the Minister, including with regard to the Irish language. The section states: "...support and promote the Irish language, including the coordination of policy in this regard". What is meant by the co-ordination of policy? Obviously, the function in regard to the Irish language is spread over virtually all Departments in one form or another, although the Department of Education and Science would certainly be a major player, as would the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in the context of the funding provided for Irish language broadcasting.

There is no strategy for the Irish language although the Minister published a document last December. I am concerned about this because proper co-ordination is achievable only in the context of a strategy with clearly stated and defined objectives. What will the role of the Department, as described in the Bill, and that of the other Departments which have substantial responsibilities in respect of the Irish language, mean on a daily basis? Better co-ordination offers scope for getting better results from the available resources. Strategy is fundamental to that process.

Under the Bill the Minister has a responsibility to "co-ordinate the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy (including matters relating to the allocation of services and facilities to counter drug misuse in areas of the State where such misuse is significantly higher than in other areas of the State)." I hope that this does not envisage an over-concentration of facilities in certain areas because the problem of misuse of drugs exists everywhere and is growing. This was frequently aired during Question Time in the previous Dáil.

What exactly does "co-ordination" mean in this context? It is a weak term in respect of what is needed. It does not mean that the Minister can direct other Departments or State agencies to do what he feels is necessary. The Minister cannot nominate the priorities for other Departments and State agencies. We are losing the battle on this issue although there is a Cabinet sub-committee dedicated to it, as is the case with the Irish language. We need to step up the commitment to dealing with the problem. The Department should have more power to get things done and to see that other Departments and State agencies do not drag their feet.

I would like to see more openness in the selection of projects for community development. The patronage system that can develop over the lifetime of a Government that has been in office for ten years and looks like it will be there for another five can be detrimental to democracy. There is a need for this Government not to do as it did with the Dormant Accounts Bill, which this Minister stewarded through the last Dáil and which ceased the allocation of these funds by the independent board, giving that power to the Government. Does the Cabinet approve all the allocations or do certain Departments make allocations as they will? The use of national lottery money during the last general election campaign shows that a patronage structure can develop whereby certain funds become slush funds during the lifetime of a Government that has been too long in office.

Is anything emerging from North-South co-operation on the revival of Ulster Scots or Scottish Gaelic in which we can rejoice? We need clearly defined strategies for every aspect of the Irish language and its revival.

That the Western Development Commission is coming under the remit of the Freedom of Information Act is welcome. I spent a long time investigating this earlier today and it seems that more information will be available, which is progressive. That is one of the reasons for our support for this Bill.

The raising of the limit for financial or other material aid from £250,000 to €1 million is also welcome. I compliment the Minister on this move because it was the right decision. I recall his telling me that this concerns decentralisation and that some of the less momentous decisions can be taken away from the Department. The Minister believes that there should be more delegation of this type. In general, I welcome this legislation but there are issues relating to the Minister's functions on which I would like more clarity. I would also like to know the working situation as it differs from what is in the Bill.

Go n-éirí leis an Aire sa tréimhse atá romhainn agus go n-éirí leis ó thaobh na mBille seo.

See this speech in context