Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate that we welcome the Bill. I want to be clear about that, notwithstanding any debate we have had today. This is a positive Bill and a positive day. The Ombudsman made clear that it was 25 years in the coming. Numerous Administrations have promised to bring forward this Bill but the Minister is to be commended on doing so, of that there is no question. There is no question about extending the remit and we welcome it. Perhaps to some people we have gone over the point that there are deficiencies in the Bill ad nauseam. I take the Minister at his word that this is a work in progress. It is imperative for the Ombudsman to do her job properly. To ensure proper oversight in the State she must be given these powers as quickly as possible. We favour this but we believe there should be future amendments to the Bill to expand that remit to the areas she has suggested.

The introduction of the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions is a positive move. I am involved in that committee and I will be attending the next meeting in a couple of minutes. It is an important development and it will be beneficial to the people here.

Na pointí maidir le cúrsaí teanga, ní pointí beaga iad. Is bunphrionsabal é seo. Is ball de pháirtí é an tAire a sheasann le bunphrionsabal go rialta agus is bunphrionsabal é sin ó thaobh cearta teanga agus cearta na Gaeilge agus seasaim leis sin chomh maith céanna.

Tréaslaím leis an Aire agus tá againn gach rath ar an Ombudsman ina cuid oibre mar beidh obair mhór roimpi nuair a bheidh an Bille seo achtaithe agus nuair na heagrais seo ar fad faoina cúram. Tá súil agam go mbeidh mar thoradh air sin ná go bhfaighidh saoránaigh na hÉireann cothrom na Féinne agus má dhéantar aon dochar dóibh in aon bhealach, tá córas acu faoi shúile an Stáit a dhéanfaidh cinnte go bhfaighidh siad ceart agus cóir ina dhiaidh sin.