Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy who raised the issue of translation has managed to escape the Chamber for a few minutes. Maybe he will come back or read on the record that there is nothing in the amendments I proposed that would place an extra burden on Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht - nothing whatsoever. There is already a burden on Irish speakers because they have to do all their business through English in most of the planning systems in the State. There is nothing of an extra burden on English speakers either, especially given the easy and accessible use of Google Translate if they have a document that they cannot figure out. Most of them have and can use Google Translate. Anybody who is competent in submitting planning in a Gaeltacht area is already versed in, or aware of anyway, what they have to do as regards the Irish language. In fact, the Deputy, as far as I remember, supported the passage of the Irish language Act in the House. That gave the additional provisions. He did not raise any objections at that stage, yet he sneaks in here as a Deputy representing a Gaeltacht area to cast aspersions on the Irish language, that it is difficult and awkward or whatever, and then leaves.

I still support this. I still wish the Minister would look again at the amendments relating to the Irish language, especially amendment No. 718, which deals with the language competency of those chairing oral hearings on planning in Gaeltacht areas. Translation services can be provided for English speakers in Gaeltacht areas if they so wish. Nobody wants to exclude people from any process in the State. The State has sometimes been good but also very bad as regards access to official processes for Irish language speakers. We should not do to English speakers what was done to Irish speakers in the past.

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