Results 16,301-16,320 of 19,518 for speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 1: In page 10, line 29, to delete “ “Commission” ” and substitute “ “Coimisiún” ”. This amendment relates to the passage of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. It was decided that the titles of State companies and institutions would be in Irish in the future. This is the first point where...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: That is a preferable response to the one which the Minister, Deputy McEntee, gave with regard to another Bill last week. As it is the Government's intention to commence the Act, I cannot see why it cannot be done. I will happily withdraw them on the basis that we will look at it again. I will submit them again anyway to ensure that there is a debate at that Stage. The delay in...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 4: In page 14, lines 8 and 9, to delete "or, in the English language, as the Electoral Commission".

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 5: In page 15, between lines 34 and 35, to insert the following: "(10) At least 20 per cent of ordinary members appointed to the Commission shall be competent to conduct their functions in the Irish language.". This amendment arises out of the discussions we had in the run-up to the enactment of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021. It concerns the need...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I am not going to take up much more of the committee's time on this issue. We are trying to ensure, for example, that the 20% requirement in respect of staff recruited to the commission in a given year is included in this legislation for the very reason that the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 has not commenced. Staff could be recruited to work for the commission before the date of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I accept the Minister of State's assurances. However, I will be pressing amendment No. 21. I will not delay the committee when we reach that point. I am happy with the assurances of the Minister of State.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Yes.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 21: In page 20, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(5) At least 20 per cent of members of staff appointed in a given year shall be competent to conduct their functions in the Irish language.”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 22: In page 21, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: “(5) A person shall not be appointed Chairperson unless that person is competent to conduct their functions in the Irish language.”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 24: In page 23, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(21) A person shall not be appointed chief executive unless that person is competent to conduct their functions in the Irish language.”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Yes, I have spoken to all three amendments.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I acknowledge what the Minister of State has said. In all of the discussions thus far on the Irish language and the change in tack that has come about since the discussions on the Official Languages Acts, and the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 in particular, there is an acceptance that things had gone awry and that our job is to set the system on a proper course that recognises the...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: That is one of the assurances I take from the commission because at least it will be the one constant in this, unlike with previous elections. Sometimes it comes down to a new Minister but at least in this case we will have a commission in place that has the duty to deal with complaints if they come or to take the praise if there are no complaints. I am willing to withdraw amendments Nos....

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 27: In page 27, line 31, after “information” to insert “equally in both official languages”. Amendments Nos. 27 and 31 have to do with information being published equally in the official languages. English is recognised as an official language and Irish is the national language and an official language. The amendments seek to ensure that...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: On that basis, I will be withdrawing amendments Nos. 27, 31, 40, 42, 45 and 50.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 28: In page 27, after line 37, to insert the following: “(i) to promote the increasing use, visibility, and prominence of the Irish language, and equal opportunities for Irish speakers to engage, in the electoral and democratic processes.”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 29: In page 27, after line 37, to insert the following: “(i) to regulate to ensure that no communications for electoral purposes in Gaeltacht areas act to promote the use of the English language as the primary language of the community for electoral or democratic processes to the detriment of the Irish language.”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Electoral Reform Bill 2022: Committee Stage (31 May 2022)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 31: In page 28, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “(4) The Commission shall ensure that— (a) any statement published and distributed in accordance with section 30(1)(b)is published simultaneously and distributed equally in both official languages, (b) any brochure, leaflet or pamphlet published and distributed in accordance with...