Fiach MacConghail (Independent)

Fáilte, I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality and I congratulate him on the extraordinarily moving Citizenship Ceremony in Dublin Castle on 24 June, where some immigrants became naturalised Irish citizens. Long may that continue; it reminds all of us of our own renewal of citizenship.

I have a number of questions. I do not understand why the amendment of the Official Languages Act is occurring in this Bill. From where I am coming from, it is a red herring. I am a native speaker, Irish is my first language. Under the programme for Government, it was promised to review the Official Languages Act 2003 and, in my view no changes to the Act should be made before that review, with the inclusion of stakeholder in the process, is conducted. In terms of enacting good law, this section sidelines a very important issue, the Official Languages Act 2003. There are many things wrong with that Act. I am absolutely burdened and it has a really negative impact on the Irish language to have to translate everything fromIrish into English and then for all of that to be published and printed. Much of it is a waste of money. In the Abbey Theatre I use the Irish language all day every day. For every single word to be translated into the English language and to be printed can ironically do a disservice to the Irish language. Having said that, I will be supporting amendments Nos. 15 and 16.

I do not understand the reason that both amendments are in Irish and in English when the Bill is in English. Yesterday, An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, said he was looking forward to a very comprehensive review of the Official Languages Act 2003 and acknowledges the fact - I will read it out in Irish:

Maidir le ceist chonspóideach na bhfoilseachán oifigiúil a chuirtear ar fáil i nGaeilge faoin Acht teanga, molann tuarascáil an choimisinéara go dtabharfaí tús áite do na foilseacháin is mó a bhfuil éileamh ag an bpobal orthu, pobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta san áireamh.

Even the Coimisinéir Teanga is acknowledging that not everything needs to be printed in English to try to avoid additional costs on the taxpayer. However, I will be supporting the amendment.