Results 4,961-4,980 of 5,388 for speaker:John Deasy

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: I am afraid my Irish is not good enough to make a speech. On the issue of translation costs as they pertain in particular to local authorities and other State bodies, I got involved in the matter because a senior council official brought to my attention the amount of money it spent on translation costs for the county development plan approximately 18 months ago. He could not believe the...

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: I am just outlining the situation. It is somewhat disingenuous with regard to——

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: Yes.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: Yes. The people who have complained most to me about this issue are those from the Gaeltacht of Ring — the Gaeltacht I represent. They believe the money should be put into different areas to support the Irish language. They do not believe it is well spent. They feel it is giving the Irish language a bad name. People are ridiculing the Irish language with regard——

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: The Minister should let me finish. They are the people who are saying this money is being badly spent in the area of the Irish language. They are uncomfortable about what is happening in Waterford County Council. Previously if somebody wanted to do business such as planning through Irish, the service was provided. I asked whether anybody had ever complained about the provision of services...

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: I premised my argument at the start. Why can a student not continue to study for the leaving certificate through Irish after second year? If funds are not available to support such students, that is a perfect example.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: I am not going to be interrupted every time I speak.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: Let me finish.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: The Minister has been shouting us down on this issue for long enough. When my party leader mentioned compulsory Irish we were branded as Irish haters. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, said if it was up to Fine Gael we would not have an Irish language. Every time we raise these issues, we are branded as being instinctively against the Irish language.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: That is the case.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: We can have an honest difference of opinion regarding how money should be spent with regard to the Irish language.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: The Minister should do us a favour. We are shown real disrespect when we are immediately branded as being against the Irish language.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: After Deputy Kenny made his comment, we heard two or three——

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: Fair enough.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: There were plenty of people on the Government benches, who used it as an opportunity to have a go at us as being against the Irish language, as the Minister knows.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: I asked every Department——

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: Let me finish. I asked every Department how it implemented the Official Languages Act, particularly as it pertains to Government reports. It was just amazing. Some of the Departments——

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: I have the facts.

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: Some of the Departments——

Irish Language: Statements. (30 Mar 2006)

John Deasy: I do not mind interaction, but if the Minister is just trying to interrupt me for the sake of it——