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

Mar a dúirt an tAire, rinne muid déileáil leis na leasuithe seo ar Chéim an Choiste. Phléigh muid iad but there is a need to ensure the language impact assessments are embedded in the legislation. I know the Minister is quite favourable to this given that some of the later amendments he has tabled to the Bill will address the issue to some extent. The amendments seek to ensure that happens at an early stage.

The Minister stated previously that he has met BÁNÚ and other groups that are very keen to ensure we protect Gaeltacht areas in terms of planning. I know Conradh na Gaeilge has asked to meet the Minister on a similar issue. I hope he will manage to meet with it as well before the Bill gets to the Seanad so it can impress on him the need for additional changes to the amendments he has tabled to the Bill in later sections.

The Minister has indicated he is not accepting these amendments but I urge him to look again at them before the Bill goes to the Seanad and to perhaps meet with Conradh na Gaeilge, which has raised very specific points on the legislation, in particular about the language impact assessments.

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