Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I move amendment No. 15:

I leathanach 10, fo-alt (6), líne 18, tar éis "potential", "and shall take account of the child's cultural background and linguistic needs" a chur isteach.

Is é atá i gceist sa leasú seo ná an deacracht a bhíonn ag daoine nuair nach bhfuil a dteanga ar a dtoil ag na daoine atá ag déileáil leo agus nuair nach bhfuil tuiscint acu ar a gcearta. Pléadh na deacrachtaí céanna anuraidh i gcomhthéacs an Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill maidir le daoine a bheith á gcur isteach faoi bhrú in ospidéil mheabhairghalair. Bhí alt san mBille a bhain le cearta an othair agus an tábhacht a bhain leis na cearta sin a mhíniu dó. Mholas an uair sin go mbeadh sé de rogha ag duine a tháinig ón nGaeltacht, mar shampla, go míneófaí an méid sin dó ina theanga féin. Is é a dúirt an tAire an uair sin ná go raibh an-seans ann gur ó na hOileáin Fhilipíneacha nó ó áit eile tríd an domhain a tháinig an dochtúir nó an bhanaltra, and that is perfectly understandable. Ach, an rud a bhí i gceist agam ná go bhféadfaí, ar a laghad, an rud a chur ar fáil don othar ina theanga féin — it could just be written out. Tá an cás atá á phlé againn anocht an-chosúil leis sin.

Níl na leasuithe seo ag díriú isteach ar Ghaoluinn amháin. I often have differences of opinion with groups in the Irish language lobby. As a great supporter of the Irish language I have spent most of my time arguing with many of the eagrais Ghaoluinne. However, this shows a progressive and forward thinking view from groups like Comhdháil Naisiúnta na Gaeilge and others. Is é atá á mholadh acu is not confined to people with Irish or people as na Gaeltachtaí but also to immigrants. In our multicultural society, it is crucially important that a person's language background be taken into consideration.

I will outline some examples. The Department of Education and Science regularly gives consideration to this issue. Is cuimhin liom an tráth a bhí mé i m'oide óg ag tosnú ag múineadh Béarla i mBaile Lúidín or Blanchardstown. It was my first teaching job.