Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 17 is similar to amendment No. 5, although it deals with the education and training board system as a whole rather than focusing solely on those which include Gaeltacht areas. It is important that a minimum number of members of a board are able to carry out their functions through the Irish language. When we raised this issue on Committee Stage, we were advised that education and training bodies will come under the Official Languages Act as public bodies. It is important that our national language is promoted and bodies which are instrumental in providing necessary supports must be able to carry out their functions as Gaeilge. For that reason we ask the Minister of State to consider both amendments favourably. We will be supporting amendment No. 5.

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