Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

Rinne mé iarracht inné cúpla focal a chur le chéile le mo smaointe a leíríu don Teach ach ní raibh an t-ádh liom.

I will revert to Irishman's English. A fundamental issue is being raised in terms of the current position of the Irish language and how the Minister envisages the evolution of the programme for its ongoing development. It begs the fundamental question that has existed down through the decades about the promotion of Irish by the State, State bodies and successive Ministers. It also begs the question as to which is the best method, namely, to direct and dictate or enable and facilitate.

My understanding is that this is the central issue and I ask the Minister to correct me if I am mistaken. Everybody in favour of the Irish language would be warmly and enthusiastically supportive of what Senator Ó Murchú has said, namely, that when a person communicates in Irish, either orally or in writing, with a public body, the State should make a positive effort that the communication is responded to in the Irish language. I am in favour of that proposal and I know in recent times there has been a warming of attitude and response to the promotion of Irish outside the Gaeltacht. However, I must acknowledge reality. I am a teacher and I am reluctant to admit that at all levels of the public service and even within the teaching profession there is a reluctance and a shyness – it could, perhaps, be called a lethargy – towards making a spontaneous response in Irish, whether orally or in writing.

The Minister's strategy has been well articulated by Senator Ó Murchú. The Minister has set out an overall framework in the Bill. There are mechanisms within that framework such as the scheme, the commissioner and the arrangement for reporting back. The Minister has established an ability for all schemes from the public bodies and local authorities to be examined by him. The Bill gives him the power to scrutinise and to make further recommendations to the relevant bodies and local authorities. That is the right approach, the bealach ceart that he should follow.