Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Yes, that matter will be the subject of discussion in respect of another amendment. To return to Senator O'Reilly's amendment, if we apply the logic of what the Government has done in respect of junk food, why should we not provide that a broadcasting code relating to the advertisement of alcohol should be drawn up? In addition, why should we not provide that, in the absence of such a code, the authority may prohibit the advertisement of alcohol products? Are we speaking out of both sides of our mouths? Are we willing to state how worried we are regarding the drinking of alcohol to excess, particularly among young people, but that in the final analysis we are afraid to tackle the vested interests or challenge the industry?

No one is suggesting that we ban the sale of alcohol products. We are proposing the banning of the advertisement of alcohol products, enabling such a ban to be put in place or enabling — as in Senator O'Reilly's modest but none the less thoughtful and welcome amendment — the establishment of a code under which the advertisement of alcohol could be banned in certain circumstances. I commend Senator O'Reilly on tabling his amendment. I will not be pressing my amendment but I will support the Senator's, if necessary in a vote.

Senators O'Toole and Doherty also tabled amendments in respect of this matter. That in the name of Senator Doherty is extremely thoughtful in nature. It goes to the heart of an issue of great relevance to our society, namely, the promotion of consumerist attitudes, particularly in circumstances where broadcasting content is aimed at children. I have stated on many occasions that I regard the law as an educator. That which the law provides has the effect not just of preventing certain behaviours but also of fostering particular attitudes.

Under the proposed new paragraph (g) in Senator Doherty's amendment, the authority would be obliged to have regard to the matter to which I refer in preparing or revising a broadcasting code. That is highly relevant. Many people are concerned with regard to consumerist attitudes. I am not referring to harmless advertisements such as that relating to Terry's chocolate orange where a woman says "It's not Terry's, it's mine", rather I am talking about a more insidious consumerist attitude that is fostered in programme content and certain advertisements. The amendment in Senator Doherty's name does not propose the imposition of anything, it merely refers to a matter which the authority should be required to take on board. What could be more reasonable than that?

Tá mé go huile agus go hiomlán i bhfábhar na leasuithe atá molta ag an Seanadóir O'Toole. Is minic a breathnaím ar TV5, staisiún teilifíse na Fraince. Bhí sé ar fáil saor in aisce i mBaile Átha Cliath, ar a laghad, ach ní mar sin atá sé anois. Caithfimid íoc as faoi láthair. Tá sé iontach go bhfuil daoine in ann breathnú ar scannáin Francacha, leis an gcomhrá agus na fotheidil i bhFraincis, ar TV5. Cabhraíonn sé sin go mór le daoine atá ag foghlaim na Fraincise. Tá siad in ann éisteacht leis na focail, agus iad a léamh ar an scáileán ag an am céanna. Is iontach an seirbhís é sin do dhaoine atá ag iarraidh an Fhraincis a fhoghlaim. Ní ionann an rud atá molta i leasuithe an Seanadóir O'Toole agus an rud atá á rá agam anseo. De réir leasú Uimh. 36b, beidh fotheidil i gceist i gcomhthéacs cláracha teilifíse.

Nuair atáimid ag caint mar gheall ar pholasaithe i leith na Gaeilge, ní mór dom a rá go bhfuil an-chuid rudaí iontacha déanta ag an Rialtas. Tréaslaím leis an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív, ní hamháin as ucht an suim atá aige i gcur chun cinn na Gaeilge ach freisin as ucht an infheistíocht pearsanta atá déanta aige san ábhar sin. D'fhéadfainn labhairt ar feadh an lae ar fad mar gheall ar an méid atá déanta. Bhí Seanadóirí ag caint mar gheall ar an cheist seo ar maidin. Dúirt an Seanadóir Doherty ar maidin go bhfuil sé in am dúinn stádas agus chur chun cinn na Gaeilge sa sochaí a phlé mar dhíospóireacht iomlán sa Teach seo. Tá mé go mór i bhfábhar an moladh sin.

Tá go leor rudaí maithe tarlaithe ó thaobh reachtaíochta de chun na Gaeilge a fhorbairt. Tá sé fíor-thábhachtach go mbeadh an Ghaeilge sofheicthe sa sochaí. Molaim é sin i gcónaí nuair atá mé ag caint mar gheall ar chúrsaí Gaeilge. Ba cheart go mbeadh an gnáth-duine in ann an Ghaeilge a fheiscint. Tá sé go maith go bhfuil cáipéisí móra á aistriú ó Bhéarla go Gaeilge. Má tá na cáipéisí sin le bheith ann i mBéarla, ba chóir go mbeadh siad ann i nGaeilge. Tá mé ag caint faoi cháipéisí oifigiúla an Stáit. B'fhéidir go bhfuil sé níos tábhachtaí go bhfuil comharthaí — go háirithe comharthaí na heagrachtaí Stáit — i nGaeilge chomh maith le i mBéarla. Ba cheart go mbeadh na comharthaí cruinn agus chomhsheasmhach i gcónaí. Is minic a bhíonn an aistriúchán Ghaeilge a dhéantar ar chomharthaí iontach, ach ó am go ham bíonn sé go dona.

Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar bhealach nádúrtha i gceist. Baineann se sin le scoileanna agus eagraíochtaí Stáit, srl. Ba chóir i gconaí go mbeadh foirmeacha atá ar fáil i mBéarla ar fáil i nGaeilge freisin. Ba cheart go mbeidís ar an taobh eile den leathanach, chomh fada agus is féidir. Is rud iontach tábhachtach é an teilifís inár gcultúr. Ba chóir go mbeadh fotheidil ar fáil i gcónaí i nGaeilge. Tá a fhios agam go mbeadh deacrachtaí ann le craolacháin beo, ach tá mé ag caint faoi gach clár eile. Ba chóir go mbeadh deis ag lucht labhartha agus foghlamtha na Gaeilge fotheidil a léamh i nGaeilge nuair atá cláracha Béarla á chraoladh. Dar ndóigh, baineann sé sin le seirbhísí teletext freisin.