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

Tá roinnt leasuithe anseo. Luaim leasú Uimh. 58 agus 59 agus ceann eile ar a bhfuil mé ag iarraidh aird a tharraingt, is é sin leasú Uimh. 67a.

With these amendments, we are trying to ensure that developments in Gaeltacht areas which offend against the Irish language are not exempted. This goes back to the point I made earlier about planning guidelines which would be able to point this out. We should set out specifically in the legislation that no development in a Gaeltacht region will be likely to offend against the Irish language.

Tá sé le sonrú i leasú Uimh. 58 go bhfuil cosaint ar leith sa reachtaíocht ag an staid seo i gcoinne aon tógáil nó forbairt i gceantar a chuirfeadh as don cheantar agus don teanga áitiúil atá ag na daoine ann, nó a chuirfeadh as don aitheantas atá ann cheana féin toisc gur cheantar Gaeltacht é a bhfuil stádas faoi leith aige. Chomh maith leis sin, luaitear i leasú Uimh 59, go mbeadh ar thuairisc, nó language impact assessment, a bheith déanta i gceantair Ghaeltachta.

Language impact assessments should be required in Gaeltacht areas. We and others have set out the need to protect what is valuable and that which if we allow its destruction will not come back. The authenticity of the Irish language in its setting in Gaeltacht areas cannot be replicated because there is an historical link over generations and centuries of the Irish language to the areas currently designated as Gaeltachts. We must ensure there is no negative impact and that is why there is a need for language impact assessments in these instances.

Amendment No. 61 intends to ensure that the surrounding context of protected structures is taken into account. We have had this argument over the years in the context of Moore Street. It is not just about three buildings here or two buildings there. The whole context of the area must be considered so we do not end up with a national monument that is dwarfed by the buildings around it or is taken out of the original context that led to its designation as protected because that context has disappeared. Such a circumstance would negate the very reason for protecting the structure in the first place. That is particularly true in an inner city context but is also true outside the city. We know about the planning rows that have taken place throughout the country where a national monument or protected structure has been encroached upon, which ultimately changes the context.

If the proposal before An Bord Pleanála succeeds, there will be a total change in the context of Moore Street. Similar to what I said about the Irish language when discussing earlier amendments, once we change the context, it cannot be brought back. When the context is lost it can be lost forever.

Amendment No. 67a states:

Where the Minister proposes to make regulations under this section that relate to developments in a Gaeltacht area, he or she shall, before making the regulations, consult with the Minister for the Gaeltacht and the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta in relation to the proposed regulations.

This amendment has been tabled in light of the various powers and responsibilities the Minister and Údarás na Gaeltachta have. It is to ensure that regulations affecting developments in Gaeltacht areas should be made after consulting these relevant entities. There are also amendments to later sections of the Bill before us but this amendment is to ensure it is set out at an early stage that the Minister must consult the Minister with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, currently Deputy Catherine Martin. Responsibility for the Gaeltacht seems to get moved around quite regularly between various Departments. It does not always sit in the same Department. Whatever Minister is responsible should be consulted, as should the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta and future boards when we see an election to it. This is with regard to the proposed regulations. For instance, the treoirlínte proposed by the Minister will go to public consultation and the Minister will already be in discussions with his relevant Cabinet colleague. When they are published, Údarás na Gaeltachta should also be consulted. This also has to do with other future regulations and not only the treoirlínte, which are quite specific. It has to do with regulations that may impact on Gaeltacht areas.

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