Dan Boyle (Green Party)

-----is something towards which I am working. I very much admire Senator Alex White for the contribution he made, something to which I can only aspire at this stage. I hope I will be able to add mine in future debates in this House.

Given my background - I have a parent who comes from a Gaeltacht area - I record my acknowledgment of the role Údarás na Gaeltachta has played since the 1970s. It is a form of local government which tries to combine recognising and enhancing the separate identity of Gaeltacht communities with its operations as a development authority for these communities. The extent to which it has been successful ought to be the subject of a wider debate in the House. It has been largely successful, but there have been times when its own standards have not been reached. I remember such an occasion when I was a member of the Commitee of Public Accounts when there was a question mark against sums of money being used in Galway area directly outside the boundaries of the Gaeltacht community. The committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General addressed the matter at the time and one hopes this led to improved governance in Údarás na Gaeltachta.

We have seen some improvements. There has been an increase in the number of elected members to 17 which amounts to a majority. The fact that the number of seats in constituencies varies from one, two or three makes it difficult to ensure political representation is as wide as possible. The worst electoral performance of the Green Party, Comhaontas Glas, was in the last Údaráss na Gaeltachta election in the Rath Cairn constituency in which our candidate received five votes. That was before we entered government. However, we should try to improve the position and hold elections to Údarás na Gaeltachta as a body.

The reason for the Bill is to provide for a two year gap. My hope is that this will be a once-off act that will fit in with the Irish language strategy and that Údarás na Gaeltachta as a body will be better prepared to deal with the matter. That said, the purpose of the Bill, in its current form, is very narrow and only mentions the two year extension of the electoral mandate. Perhaps the Minister of State might talk about the role of the three appointed members and whether they are considered to be elected members and open for reappointment. If that is the case and given the two year extended period, it might be an opportunity for the Minister of State to ensure there is new blood goes in Údarás in the crossover period between mandates. I urge him to give this strong consideration.

Although there is a reluctance not to use the whip, there is an understanding, at least on this side of the House, that the strategy will have both cultural and economic benefits for Gaeltacht communities. Údarás na Gaeltachta should be encouraged to achieve this as a body. On these grounds I support the Bill.