Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I support the calls regarding the Irish language Act in the Six Counties. It is disappointing that the minister has refused to enact this. However, it is part of the St. Andrews Agreement and, hopefully, this issue will be resolved at executive level. I was glad to be part of the team that negotiated the implementation of an Irish language Act at St. Andrews. It is important that ministers do not shy away from that commitment to which they signed up at St. Andrews. However, I observed a debate in Stormont during which the Ulster Unionist Party and the DUP came together to ensure the use of the Irish language would not be allowed within the chambers of Stormont, at the committees or in correspondence with Ministers. I thank God the motion was defeated. This happened because of the checks and balances negotiated in the Good Friday Agreement, which were acted on by the Sinn Féin and SDLP to ensure the motion was defeated.

However, in proposing the motion the MLAs referred to the amount of Irish spoken in the Houses of the Oireachtas, including when presenting legislation. According to this argument, they said there should not be an Irish language Act in the Six Counties or provision for Irish to be used in the Assembly should not be made. I reiterate the call of An Coimisinéir Teanga on us to use more Irish in the Chamber. Perhaps a presentation is needed as to how the translation system work for those who would like to speak in the first language so that we do not have to translate what we are saying into English. A further debate is needed on the presentation of legislation. It should be presented in Gaelic as well as Béarla and we should be allowed to make amendments to the legislation in Gaelic as well as Béarla. Great work has been done in the promotion of the Irish language but we need to go a number of steps further.

I call on the Minister for Transport to address the House on the progress of Transport 21. I would like him to focus on the west and, in particular, the Atlantic road corridor. Transport 21, which is included in the national development plan, promises an Atlantic road corridor between the south and Donegal to be built to a 2 plus 1 standard. It is reported that the NRA is no longer proceeding with the 2 plus 1 proposal because the pilot projects are not viable or do not comply with safety standards or do not provide efficiency or value for money. A debate is, therefore, needed on what will happen with the Atlantic road corridor. Will it be a dual carriageway or will the Government, for budgetary reasons, allow it to remain as is? I would also like the Minister to focus on the issue of public transport, particularly in the north west.