Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his policy regarding the primary language, Irish or English, to be used in the naming or renaming of State agencies, State companies and other bodies under his remit; his views that in view of the fact that Irish is the national language, and so designated in the Constitution that the Irish forms of such names should take primacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37245/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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A key objective in the naming of public bodies is to convey clearly to the widest possible number of people a sense of the purpose and role of such a body. As most such bodies are established by statute, the name in both Irish and English is set out in the relevant statute. While responsibility for policy on the Irish language is a matter for my colleague, an Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, my own view is that it would be appropriate that the name of a body be used in either language as appropriate to the context.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Among State agencies, the Health Service Executive, which is always referred to as the HSE, is the predominant name. There has been a tradition of using Irish language titles for State companies, for example, Bord na Móna, Bord Gáis, Bus Éireann, Coillte and FÁS. This practice gave us a sense of national identity. Recent indications from the Government suggest it intends to effectively refer to all such bodies by their English name. While it may allow for an Irish version in the relevant Act, the English name, as opposed to an Irish equivalent of Bus Éireann or Coillte, will be the one used. Is it the Government's intention to continue with this policy rather than revert to the policy pursued in previous times when names such as FÁS, Coillte, Bord na Móna, Bord Bia and so forth predominated?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Did I say that?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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That is my understanding of the Minister's reply. He should read it.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I do not believe I said that. I am becoming forgetful but not to the extent that I do not recall what I said a moment ago.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The pressure is on.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Forgetfulness is a modest admission by the Minister.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I am not aware of any change in policy in this regard and none has been communicated to me. Bodies under my remit, for example, Bord na Móna, and that of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Coveney, for example, Coillte, are branded and trade under the names they have been given. That will continue to be the case. It was Deputy Ó Cuív's Government which changed the name of Teilifís na Gaeilge to TG4. I am not aware of any intention to change the policy but if the Deputy indicates specifically what he is referring to, I will attempt to respond.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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When new bodies were established the policy until recently was to use the Irish name as the predominant name, as in the case of Bus Éireann and so forth. I accept that under the previous Government, the use of the English name became a habit, one with which I did not agree. As the Minister has outlined in documents on new agencies which are to be established, the English name will be universally used. When naming new bodies or redesignating bodies will he revert to making the Irish name the predominant name, as was previously the case?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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If there is any policy by the Government to change practice and refer to the bodies in question in the English language only-----

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I referred to new bodies, not existing ones. The Minister should read the question.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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-----I am not aware of it. Such a policy is not intended. It is not exactly the daily meat of the Government to think about what we will call any bodies that are set up. We are trying to close down some bodies and merge and amalgamate others. It is not immediately on the agenda to have an bord nua in whatever area. If, however, there are good reasons to establish a new State agency or commercial entity, I am happy to agree with the Deputy that we should select a suitable name as Gaeilge which would be the brand under which the new company would trade. It is not my intention to establish new bodies unnecessarily, however. We had too much of that in the recent past, as I am sure the Deputy will agree.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The possibility of merging Coillte and Bord na Móna has been discussed and the proposed name for the new organisation is in the English language.