Results 3,021-3,040 of 19,329 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. 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...

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

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I have no problem with this. The commission, logically, would have to have that flexibility. I have a question about whether consideration has been given to amending Article 16.2.2°, given that the population is growing at the rate it is. It might need to be changed to reflect that by either a greater number of people per Deputy or an increase beyond that. Otherwise, we could...

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

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: For instance, if Ireland takes 30,000 Ukrainian citizens who also stay here for six years, that figure would be the equivalent of one Deputy just on that basis alone. That figure does not include children or whatever else occurs, never mind the rest of the population growth. We may be looking at this at a different time when we have the border poll. It will address the-----

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

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: Like the other Deputies, I have always favoured larger constituencies. We should approach this and get it right at the lower end, which is to set the local electoral boundaries and try not to breach them insofar as possible. The reason I say that is there is an affinity to or an identification with local authorities, and there are local authorities where parts of their remit are in other...

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

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: I move amendment No. 25: In page 26, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following: “(c) the objectives, outputs and strategies of the Commission for achieving the aim of increasing the use, visibility, and prominence of Irish, and achieving equal access by Irish speakers to participate, in the electoral and democratic processes.”. This amendment is born out of...