Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht agus an deis cúpla focal a rá ar an mBille thar a bheith tábhachtach seo. Ba mhaith liom tréslú leis an Aire Stáit faoin bhfuinneamh atá léirithe aige ó ghlac sé a oifig. Tá iarrachtaí leanúnacha a dhéanamh aige chun an teanga a chur chun cinn.

I acknowledge the passion, energy and commitment the Minister of State has shown for the language since he assumed office a little more than a year ago. There is no denying that the language is in decline, particularly in certain parts of the country. The Minister of State has an opportunity and a responsibility to pursue a course which will revive the language. It is an opportunity that might not present itself to future Ministers with responsibility for the Gaeltacht. Since the Minister of State took office he has assumed this role with vigour and enthusiasm at a time when we find our language at a crossroads.

There has been a discernible reduction in the use of the Irish in designated Gaeltacht areas. Without the Minister of State's urgent intervention at this point, we are facing the prospect of its substantive extinction as a community and household language within the next 20 years. His commitment has manifested itself through this Bill and it represents a final opportunity to rescue the language and reinvigorate its use.

To turn to some important aspects of the Bill, it provides for a geographical redefinition of the Gaeltacht. It is only right that in the increasingly globalised world in which we live that geographic boundaries should no longer define where our language is promoted, where it should thrive and where our efforts in nurturing, encouraging and developing its use should be focused.

By defining Gaeltacht areas and narrowing our focus on these limited corners of the country we are merely consigning the language to quarantine where it will await its ultimate extinction. Instead, this Bill provides for Gaeltacht language planning areas which will service towns in the vicinity and will be responsible for the statutory preparation of language plans. It also provides for the designation of language networks in communities outside of Gaeltacht areas, areas within which the use of the language can be fostered and developed. This is a welcome addition and inclusion in the Bill. I would like to see the establishment of some of these language networks in areas of Galway city within which there is a strong pre-existing tradition of use of the language. One such community is Knocknacarra where the language is very much alive and well, thanks in no small part to the contribution made by the local national school, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, which has its own challenges at present.

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