Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. Anyone who is involved in the sector will know that there is a big difference between advertising a job and finding someone with the skill set to fill it. We have to consider the second part of the equation. There are two possibilities. The first is to train people from scratch, which I will address first, and the second is to go back to the people we have and help them to upskill in a particular area. I draw the Minister's attention to comments made by the outgoing Coimisinéir Teanga before the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach's committee, Comhchoiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus Phobal Labhartha na Gaeilge. He stated, "D’fhéadfadh ról a bheith ag an bhforas riaracháin agus institiúidí ardoideachais siollabas comónta a dhearadh ina gcuimseofaí dianoiliúint teanga agus modúil chuí sa pholaitíocht, eacnamaíocht, dlí agus riarachán poiblí." He sees a role for administrative and higher education institutes in designing a common syllabus that will not only focus on the necessary language skills but also on the other skills necessary to work in the public service. That is worth examining.

See this speech in context