Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

Creidim go mór leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir O'Toole maidir leis na logainmneacha ar fud na tíre. If the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs comes to the House, we should ask him why he has insisted on imposing the new regulations on local authorities. I did not realise that one Minister can impose his particular wish on another Minister. The Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, has insisted that local authorities, for which the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible, should act immediately. The underlying level of vindictiveness is unbelievable.

If the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, comes to the House, we should ask him to review the areas which are classified as Gaeltacht areas. Senator Kitt has mentioned the relevance of this issue to County Galway. If one is driving on the N18 from Tuam to Galway, one will see a big hoarding saying "An Ghaeltacht" when one is approximately 12 km from Galway. I do not think anyone will disagree with me when I say that one would not find a person who speaks Irish on a daily basis within ten miles of that sign. The Minister must review the boundaries. There has been controversy in this House about the election to Údarás na Gaeltachta of certain people who cannot speak a word of Irish.