Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. It is always helpful when the Minister responsible comes and takes the issue.

To recap briefly on the history of the issue, before I entered politics there were two superintendents based in Connemara, one in Oughterard and one in Clifden. In a decision which was made before my time in politics but which was made by a Fianna Fáil, the headquarters for east Connemara was moved into Salthill barracks, but the regional headquarters for the rest of Connemara remained in Clifden. I now understand that the proposal is that the headquarters for all of Connemara would be in Salthill, which means that Galway city will have the headquarters for all of Connemara as well as the regional headquarters - a fantastic massive building which the Minister opened - but of which no notice was given until the last minute.

Some of us have not got the notice yet, although we will park that as it is not the subject of my question today. Second, an issue had been raised about having an office with an inspector in Carraroe that would be specifically for the Gaeltacht area, which would be a sub-region. However, we understand that is not going to happen either. Third, there is a need to ensure that, right up to the level of superintendent, all of those dealing with the Gaeltacht area can speak Irish. This happens to be the biggest Gaeltacht area in the country and things such as court cases are habitually carried out in Irish, of course, only when the other side can deal with a person in Irish. This is always the thing that forces language choice, and it forces language choice on me every day. My office deals with those who can deal with us capably in Irish through Irish, but we deal with those who can only deal with us capably in the English language in the pragmatic way, that is, through English.

We will not beat around the bush. Why will there not be a regional headquarters for Connemara based in Connemara, with the superintendent based in Clifden, as was always the case? Why is there not a sub-regional office for the Gaeltacht with an inspector based in An Cheathrú Rua? Will the Minister ensure that gardaí of all ranks who will be dealing with the Gaeltacht area of Connemara, which is about half of Connemara, will be able to do their business in both official languages in a fully competent manner? That would be an ceannfort, an cigire, na sáirsintí agus na gardaí in that area, so they would be able to go in and do the business i gcúirt Dhoire an Fhéich nó Chill Rónáin through Irish or English, depending on the language chosen by the defendant, and do their business in those languages before it ever gets to a court, as the case may arise. That is basically it. We will not waste any more time beating around the bush.

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