Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Can I put it on record how unsatisfactory it is to be debating this motion today? We received the motion this morning and were looking for it all day yesterday. We are being asked to take at face value some of the proposals contained therein. There was certainly not enough time to examine the issues in detail. I would like to have had the opportunity today to discuss the conflict that might arise between the Official Languages Act and the new section 19, for example, but I do not feel I have time. Although our job is to hold the Government to account, we are not allowed to do so by virtue of the way business such as this is being handled. It is most unsatisfactory. I do not doubt the exact same points would have been made by the Minister if he were on this side of the House. It is not acceptable.

I have a question on the changes proposed to the Official Languages Act. We can all point to conflicts in our constituencies. The local authority in Naas uses An Nás whereas Nás an Ríogh is widely used. There are differences in name signs. I hope the Minister will respond to this and that a petition system will be properly provided for to rationalise this. I also hope there will not be a conflict between this and the Official Languages Act.

Deputy Luke "Ming" Flanagan made the point that he cannot participate in this debate because he is attending a meeting of the committee with responsibility for health. He had a conflict between Roscommon County Hospital and bogs. He wanted to attend this debate and make that point.

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