Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I refer to No. 8 on the Order Paper, the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2005, in my name and that of Senator Coghlan. Since we last met, the town of Dingle has voted on the name of its town. The result of the vote was that 1,005 were opposed to the decision that has been made as against 70 in favour. I look forward to debating this in the House.

However, there are two reasons I do not want to call for the debate now. First, the Minister intends to talk to Kerry County Council and the Dingle group over the next month and I would like to see how that plays out. Second, the plebiscite in Dingle took place under the Local Government Act 1946, but the Minister seems unclear about that and keeps mentioning the Local Government Act 2001 and the Official Languages Act 2003.

Under the 1946 legislation, after the plebiscite the returning officer is required to forward the result to the Government which will make the next decision on the town's name. Lest there be any doubt, this is now a decision for the Government, unless the Minister intervenes somewhere along the way. Will the Leader find an opportunity to ask the Taoiseach where we stand on that and whether the Government is likely to take a decision on it soon?

Another issue of concern is the position of the unfortunate woman in County Cork who suffered sexual abuse as a child at the hands of her principal teacher and tried to find compensation through the State. Having failed in her case, which is understandable from the point of view of the State, it is horrific that she must continue to worry about losing her property, perhaps even her house, although in fairness the Taoiseach has said she will not. Nonetheless, the State is pursuing her for costs. This is wrong.

The last time a Government and Minister in similar circumstances apishly stood with legal advice was in the case of Mrs. McCole in Donegal. It was the worst political decision and especially bad for a decent man, Deputy Noonan, and damaged him eventually. The same could happen in this case. The people do not want to see this woman pursued for those costs.