Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Ba mhaith liomsa go mbeadh an meabhrán mínitheach le fáil i nGaeilge ag an am gcéanna agus an leagan Béarla, ach ní dhéantar sin anois. Deputy Ó Snodaigh has mentioned how good and hard-working the people doing the translation are. They have undertaken to have it available as soon as possible. However, I understand it has been the custom to complete the translation once the Bill has been passed, particularly in the case of technical Bills in case there are substantial technical amendments. The point Deputy Higgins made about the translation of the explanatory memorandum being available at the same time as an leagan Béarla is a perfectly valid comment. That may be an issue the Whips could pursue with the Houses of the Oireachtas translation staff. If it were possible it would be helpful to everybody. I understand the staff will be working flat-out to complete the leagan Gaeilge as quickly as possible after the passage of the Bill. We are anxious to proceed on 1 July because the Bill provides for the reinstatement of the previous minimum wage. There would be difficulties with the reinstatement of the minimum wage and its enforcement if the leagan Gaeilge had to be available on exactly the same date. There is an absolutely pressing reason in this case. Deputies on all sides have said they favour the reinstatement of the minimum wage. This is a technical difficulty and we should explore whether at least the explanatory memoranda can be available in the Irish and English versions on the date they are published.

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