Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I will press the amendment, but I wish to say a few words. Aontaím go huile agus go hiomlán leis an Seanadóir Harte. I agree with Senator Harte when he spoke about the education system, the importance of education, and people leaving school without being fluent in the Irish language. We know that even happens in Gaeltacht areas, but it happens outside of Gaeltacht areas as well. It is unfortunate that this happens. One of the major reasons, if we are absolutely honest, is the flippant regard of the Department of Education and Skills for the Irish language. An organisation established in the State called COGG deals with Gaelscolaíochta - oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge and they are not even recognised in this Bill. We say it is important to mol and óige, an óige thabhairt linn an óige agus a dhéanamh cinnte go mbeidh an Ghaeilge á fhorbairt. COGG is not recognised, so education is not really formally recognised in this Bill. That is a major mistake. Senator Harte has raised a point that is important and that viewpoint should be reflected upon before the enactment of this legislation.

I dtaca lena bhfuil muid ag tagairt, d'ardaigh mé roinnt ceisteanna ach ní bhfuair mé freagra orthu. Tugadh freagraí ginearálta maidir leis an dóigh atá an Bille seo á chur i bhfeidhm, ach níor tugadh aon fhreagra maidir leis na critéir eolaíochta nó teangeolaíochta atá in úsáid leis an 19 ceantair a roghnú. Beidh plé againn agus beidh regulations ag teachta i bhfeidhm ach tá na ceantair seo roghnaithe cheana. Cad iad na critéir a bhí in úsáid leis an ceantair sin a roghnú? Ceist bunúsach í sin. Freisin, an raibh aon phlé leis an Coimisinéir Teanga? Cad é an plé a bhí ann leis an Coimisinéir teanga go dáta i dtaca le Bille na Gaeilge?

Dúirt an tAire Stáit go bhfuil cruinnithe poiblí á reachtáil ar fud na Gaeltachta ag an Roinn. Tá cruinniú poiblí i nGaoth Dobhair inniu i dtaca leis an Bille seo. Cén fáth go bhfuil an cruinniú ar siúl inniu? Tá an Bille á phlé sa Seanad inniu agus tá 160 leasú i dtaca leis an Bille á phlé. Mar sin, cén fáth nach raibh an cruinniú sin ann trí nó ceithre mhí ó shin nuair a bhí an Bille á dhréachtú, in áit an Bille a bheith scríofa. Tá an cuma air nach bhfuil an Rialtas sásta glacadh le leasú ar bith uainn, ach tá na cruinnithe poiblí seo ar siúl chun tuairim an phobail a fháil. Tá tuairim an phobail an-soiléir ó thaobh na grúpaí agus na pobail atá ag labhairt linne. Tá sin soiléir ó chuid de na leasuithe atá istigh againn.

Ó thaobh plé leis an pobal, a bheith ag iarraidh daoine a mhealladh agus cuidiú a thabhairt don phobal, tá sin uilig ceart agus aontaím go huile agus go hiomlán leis an Aire Stáit faoi sin, ach cén dóigh an dtig leis sin a dhéanamh ar lámh amháin agus ar an lámh eile, an vóta daonlathach atá ag pobal na Gaeltachta a bhaint díobh sa Bhille seo.

The provisions of the Bill are contradictory. The Minister of State is trying to bring people with him and trying to ensure people sign up, support, play a role and feel they are part of the process. On the other hand the Bill takes away the one thing they have, namely, a democratic voice for elections to the board of Údarás na Gaeleachta, an organisation which under this legislation will be given the authority to define the language plans for each area, yet the people who will be on the board, making the executive decisions will be placed---