Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a gabháil leis na Seanadóirí ar fad as ucht an fháilte a chuireadar romham agus roimh an mBille seo. Go háirithe, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas agus moladh a thabhairt dos na Seanadóirí go léir a labhair i nGaeilge. Thaispeáin siad go díreach an méid Gaeilge atá ag gach Ball den Seanad agus, dár ndóigh, ag muintir na hÉireann. Ní gá ach a bheith muiníneach as í a usáid. Is cuma má táimid mall nó lochtach — má táimid sásta an Ghaeilge a labhairt, beidh todhchaí ann don Ghaeilge.

It is interesting that I first encountered this Bill when, as Chief Whip, the president of UCG, Professor Iognáid Ó Muircheartaigh, asked me if I could progress it. I referred him to the then Minister for Education and Science, little thinking that I would be bringing the Bill to the Seanad today. I am delighted that the Bill has reached this stage.

Labhair an-chuid Seanadóirí go ginearálta mar gheall ar an Ghaeilge. Ní dóigh liom gurb í seo an t-am chun deireadh a chur le Gaeilge éigeantach sna meánscoileanna. Is dóigh liom go bhfuil bláth agus forbairt ar siúl sa Ghaeilge faoi láthair, ós rud é go bhfuil tír ilchultúrtha againn. Déarfainn go bhfuil meas níos mó ag daoine ar an nGaeilge anois, toisc go bhfuil sí ar fás ag an leibhéal áitiúil agus go bhfuil stádas oifigiúil faighte aici ag an leibhéal Eorpach.

As a former teacher of Irish to honours leaving certificate level, I strongly believe that the Irish syllabus and curriculum need to be changed. It would be easier for teachers to use their skills and to teach the Irish language if 50% of the marks in the Irish examination were allocated on the basis of an oral examination. D'fhéadfadh na múinteoirí díospóireachtaí, labhairt phoiblí, drámaíocht agus i bhfad níos mó a dhéanamh chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. If people love the spoken language, it will last. I have asked the curriculum board to examine matters of that nature.

For the first time in many decades, there is now at least one gaelscoil in every county in Ireland. The gaelcholáiste and aonaid network is being expanded. The language has been recognised at EU level. In the new multicultural Ireland, people are becoming more conscious of the value of our identity. Therefore, it would be very short-sighted to provide that it is no longer compulsory to study Irish to leaving certificate level. I do not doubt that it would lead to the death knell of the language. The leaving certificate curriculum is broad, whereas the UK system asks A-level students to study two or three subjects. Under this country's system, leaving certificate students take seven subjects. They are required to study English and mathematics, encouraged to take a science subject and recommended to learn a language. There is space for compulsory Irish as well. It should be considered in the context of the broad and successful form of education we offer in our second level schools.

A number of Senators mentioned the Government's investment in third level education. I thank them for their kind comments in that regard. It is interesting to note that an additional investment of €1.2 billion will be made in the third level sector over the next five years. Based on current funding, it appears that the total amount that will be spent in that sector will be €8 billion. Such money is needed because 54% of school leavers progress to third level education. A significant amount of money is being invested by the top multinational companies in universities and institutes of technology to develop the pharmaceutical and information technology industries. We need to provide top-quality graduates for such companies.

We should ensure that many people benefit from third level education, not only because such education is valuable in itself, but also because it is valuable to society. I am pleased, therefore, that the Government is making an additional capital investment and supporting the core funding of colleges in the third level sector. We need to encourage reform, modernisation and innovation in our universities. The University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005 fits into that overall context. We are looking for excellence in teaching and research throughout the third level sector. Our universities need to be among the top 100 or 200 such institutions in the world.

Senators are aware that earlier this year, the Taoiseach led a delegation of 200 business people, four Ministers and the presidents of many of our universities and colleges on a visit to China. The members of the group, who comprised the largest such delegation ever to leave this country, were charged with attracting people from China to come to Ireland, which can offer them quality education and care. A similar operation will take place in India next January.

We need to put in place quality structures and facilities to attract quality researchers and partners in education. Officials in UCG feel that their attempts to attract people to the university have been hindered by the regulations which are being amended by the legislation before the House. I am happy to introduce this Bill to meet UCG's requirements. The university authorities have always fulfilled their obligations to the Irish language very well. Tuigeann siad go maith an dualgas atá orthu toisc go bhfuil siad suite cóngarach don Ghaeltacht. Tá meas agus grá acu don Ghaeilge. Cuireann siad an Ghaeilge chun cinn i gconaí and I am satisfied that they will continue to do so. Representatives of the HEA will meet the presidents of the universities in the next term to discuss how they can operate in a similar manner.

There has been an increase in the number of people who want to be given their second level education through Irish. The increased demand for translators and interpreters at EU level will lead to significant job opportunities. We have to ensure we can respond to that. It is not all about the economy and the creation of jobs, however — it is about ensuring excellence and quality. We do not want University College Galway, which has fulfilled its mandate in this regard, to be hindered in any way as it develops as a top-class international university. The other universities will also have to step up to the plate, as I said in my opening remarks. They will have to encourage the use of the Irish language not only by supporting societies and organisations, but also by providing third level education through Irish for those students who want it.

Senator Tuffy raised some issues about the changing structures within the third level sector, such as the modularisation of degree courses. The changes which are taking place in our colleges and universities are widening the opportunities which are offered to people who wish to participate in third level education. The Government's strong support for such changes is recognised in its decision to allocate €300 million, on a competitive basis, to the strategic innovation fund. Access to third level education will be one of the criteria which will have to be met. We do not want it to be all about IT systems and collaboration in change. It will also have to involve encouraging more and more people to avail of third level education.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí go léir as ucht na tacaíochta a thug siad don Bhille seo, do chur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus do sheansanna fostaíochta in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.