Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of including specific obligations on education and training boards in respect of the Irish language was discussed on Committee Stage. As Deputies will be aware, the 20 year strategy for the Irish language from 2010 to 2030 promotes an integrated approach to the Irish language, which is consistent with best international practice. The programme for Government commits to supporting that strategy. In addition, VECs are public bodies which fall within the terms of the Official Languages Act 2003 and it is the intention that the Education and Training Boards Bill 2012 will preserve that position so boards are also obliged to meet the relevant Irish language requirements. These include a requirement on them to prepare a language scheme when requested to do so. The scheme must be agreed between the VEC and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. When a scheme is agreed it has legal effect and the VEC is under a duty to comply with it. Bearing in mind that significant legislative protection is already in place, it is not appropriate to impose additional obligations on these new public bodies in the way proposed in amendment No. 5 and for that reason I do not propose to accept it.

In regard to amendment No. 17, local authority members are elected through a democratic process and quotas for those with proficiency in Irish are not a feature of local elections. There would be a danger in putting down a requirement of this nature if it is not capable of being met and, therefore, I cannot accept the amendment.

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