Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I do not wish to be pedantic or silly about this but in the context of the Official Languages Act 2003, it is offensive that the Long Title does not include a reference to the Irish language Title of the Bill. This means the people of the Gaeltacht and others in the Irish speaking minority must search through the Bill for it.

I do not wish to be rude in making another point in this regard. If the Government Chief Whip cannot ensure that the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel adopts a consistent position on the use of the Irish names of State bodies, he should reconsider his role. An instruction from the Chief Whip with the authority of the Taoiseach to the effect that all Long Titles must include both the English and Irish versions of the names of the agencies to be set up would finally resolve this issue. As I said, I cannot argue that such an inclusion is necessary, but its omission is extremely inappropriate. It is a great pity that some unelected person has made this decision.