Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Ní dúirt mé rud ar bith faoin Aire Stáit. Ní dúirt mé nach raibh suim aige sa cheist. Creidim go bhfuil an t-Aire Stáit mícheart. Ní bheidh muintir na Gaeltachta ábalta vótail ar bhord an údaráis. Quango eile a bhéas ann i ndiaidh an phróiseis seo.

Aontaím leis an Taoiseach go ndearna an Stát teip ar an dteanga ó bunaíodh é. Is í sin ár dteanga atá á labhairt sa tír le 20,000 bliain anuas. There were 250,000 Irish language speakers in the Gaeltacht when this State was founded and there are now only 25,000, so there is obviously a failure. It is not just that the language is dying; the language is being killed off, not least by bad legislation like this. It flies in the face of expert advice. It also flies very particularly in the face of the 20-year strategy, and I have met the Minister of State to discuss this. The vast majority of Irish language groups in the State are calling for this Bill to be suspended so amendments can be introduced to fix what they perceive to be problems.

Is there not something wrong when a Government does not accept one single amendment, not just from Sinn Féin but from all of the other parties? Tá sé de chumhacht ag an Aire Stáit an rud ceart a dhéanamh. Tá a fhios sin ag an Taoiseach. Why does the Government not bring in a one-line Bill to postpone the údarás elections for six months? This Bill is being rushed because the údarás elections are due in September. Why not suspend the elections for six months and then allow for a more detailed discussion on all the issues involved?

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