Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

It is true that Galway has a unique position, but the Universities Act clearly places this responsibility on all universities. It states that one of the objects of a university should be the promotion of the official languages of the State, with special regard to the "preservation, promotion and use of the Irish language." An interagency working group, which was composed of officials from the Department of Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Higher Education Authority and my Department has been considering how the development of third level education through Irish can be progressed. I have asked my officials to work with their colleagues in the Department of Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs to progress development of a policy in this area. This University College Galway (Amendment) Bill represents a significant step forward in modernising our education system while demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the development of education through Irish.

Ní thógfainn an Bille seo os comhair an Tí muna mbeinn sásta go mbeadh Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ag leanúint ar aghaidh le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge, le hoideachas a chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá mé sásta leis an obair atá idir lámha aici faoi láthair chun é sin a chinntiú. Iarraimuirthi é sin a dhéanamh, ach tá mé ag cabhrú léi daoine den scoth a mhealladh isteach go dtí an coláiste ó thíortha eile le cur leis an taighde agus múineadh atá ar siúl san ollscoil sin ar nós nan-ollscoileanna eile sa tír. Molaim an Bille don Teach.