Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Bhí plé fada ag an Aire ar leasuithe Uimhreacha 1 agus 7 ar Chéim an Choiste. An pointe lárnach a dhein sé ansin ná gurbh éifeacht na leasuithe ná go bhfágfaidís gur Bille neamh-bhríoch a bheadh ann. Dá mba rud é nár dheineamar ach, iachall a chur ar Ostaí an Rí agus ar an Dlí-Chumann "toradh a spreagadh" a d'fhágfadh go mbeadh líon dóthanach abhcóidí agus aturnaetha ann a bheadh inniúil ar an dlí a chleachtadh trí Ghaeilge, mar atá á mholadh ag an dTeachta ina leasuithe, gheobhaimis réidh ar fad le haon tuiscint go raibh dualgas dlíthiúil ann.

The Bill provides that the two bodies I mention should seek to ensure that an adequate number of legal practitioners are competent in Irish and this is a reasonable requirement for them. Given that it is a policy of the State to promote bilingualism and that citizens are entitled to transact their business before the courts in Irish, it is reasonable to require the legal professions to ensure that an adequate number of practitioners are available to assist them in that regard. The amendments remove the primary objective of the Bill to place on the King's Inns and the Law Society an obligation so far as is reasonable, to seek to ensure there is an adequate number of barristers and solicitors competent to practise through the Irish language. This is not an absolute duty but it is stronger than obliging the King's Inns and the Law Society to seek to encourage this outcome as the amendments propose.

The statutory duty placed on the King's Inns and the Law Society promotes as far as possible the Irish language. It will do this by requiring King's Inns and the Law Society to hold courses in Irish legal terminology and the understanding of legal text in Irish for all persons undertaking their professional training courses, establish an advanced course on the practice of law through the Irish language as optional subjects in their professional training courses, hold examinations in the practice of law through Irish at least once a year for those persons who have undertaken the advanced course and publish registers containing the names and contact details of barristers and solicitors who have passed the examinations. In light of those reasons, the amendments are not accepted.

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