Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

An bhfuil aon mhachnamh déanta ag an Rialtas ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla? D'éirigh an t-iarChoimisinéir Teanga as oifig agus tá Coimisinéir Teanga nua againn anois. Bheadh sé úsáideach dá mbeadh deis ag an gcoimisinéir reatha a gcuid tuairimí i dtaobh roinnt ceisteanna áirithe a nochtadh. Conas a bhfuil an tAcht ag dul ar aghaidh? An bhfuil sé éifeachtach? Mar is eol don Taoiseach, táthar ag caint faoi Acht Teanga sa Tuaisceart. B'fhéidir go mbeimid in ann ár dtuairimí a roinnt leis na húdaráis ó Thuaidh de dheasca an taithí atá againn lenár reachtaíocht. D'fhéadfaimid cur síos a dhéanamh ar cé chomh éifeachtach is atá an Acht, ar na deacrachtaí a bhaineann leis an Acht agus ar conas a bhfuil ag éirí linn maidir leis na dualgaisí atá laistigh den Acht sin. Is léir go bhfuil dul chun cinn mór le fheiceáil maidir le cúrsaí labhartha de, go háirithe ós rud é go bhfuil béim faoi leith ar an nGaeilge labhartha san ardteist. I mo thuairim, tá feabhas mór tagtha ar chumas na Gaeilge labhartha atá ag formhór na mic léinn i measc aos óg na tíre seo.

The €5 million assigned to Creative Ireland which gives the impression that it is a branding exercise lacking in substance will have to be spread around thinly. Many short-term contracts are being given to artists, which means that they have a lack of security in their livelihoods.

That chronic lack of security within the arts sector needs to be addressed because there is a continued reliance on low-cost short-term contracts and limited programmes. The Taoiseach might indicate whether any work is under way on the preparation of a multi-annual strategy for the arts. I agree with Deputy Howlin that the row between Aosdána and the Arts Council is regrettable. We cannot apply utilitarian economic maxims to the work of the artist, much and all as we might like to do so.

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