Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I welcome the Minister's response. I intended to call a vote on one of the amendments because I wanted to make a point about them. I appreciate that the Minister is prepared to consider what I am talking about, particularly as regards amendment No. 18, to consider "stimulate and promote" in respect of the Irish language. I take his point, incidentally, about amendment No. 14, which is concerned with the authority, etc. I used it in order to get the matter stated. It was the most convenient place to do it, so that was the practical reason I put it there.

An rud is tábhachtach domsa ná go mbeadh Gaelinn ar fáil agus go mbeadh sé do chúram ar an RTE Authority chun Ghaelinn a chur chun cinn agus cultúr na Gaelinne chomh maith. Tá sé sin thar a bheith tábhachtach domsa. Mar gheall ar sin, an rud a dúirt an tAire ansan, go mbeadh sé sásta féach ar amendment No. 18, where the word "facilitate" would be substituted by "stimulate and promote". I welcome that initiative. If he can find better words and there is some reluctance to use those particular words, I shall be happy to defer.

The issue for me is that if people are speaking, learning and teaching the language, there should be facilities available, not just for teaching and education at school level, but to enable them to do other things, without difficulty. If, as the Minister says, he is prepared to consider a change in the Bill to facilitate "stimulate and promote", I accept his good offices in that regard and very much welcome this. In the context of what he has already said about recognising the needs of Gaeltacht people, reflecting their needs and providing for a Gaeltacht view to be brought forward, I recognise that this is progress, however small. Others may not be happy with it — and neither am I — but I recognise where we are going. On that basis I shall not press amendment No. 14 and I thank the Minister for the openness of his response.