Annie Hoey (Labour)
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Before we commence, I remind everyone that a Senator may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to the discussion on the amendment. Each non-Government amendment must be seconded.

Amendments Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 1:

In page 83, line 6, after “manner” to insert “, in the Irish language or in both the Irish language and the English language”.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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I second the amendment.

Ní chuirfidh mé a lán ama amú agus muid ag plé na ceiste seo. Ar Chéim an Choiste, leag mé amach go soiléir ní hamháin luach an leasaithe seo ach luach na leasuithe ina n-iomláine atá curtha síos i m'ainmse agus in ainmneacha mo chomhghleacaithe ó Shinn Féin maidir le cur chun cinn na teanga agus an teanga a bheith i bhfad níos feiceálaí ar tháirgí agus ar chomharthaíocht sna Sé Chontae Fichead. Tá an leasú seo ag iarraidh é sin a bhaint amach. Ritheann sé go hiomlán le ciall. Ritheann sé go huile is go hiomlán le reachtaíocht agus dlí an Aontais Eorpaigh. Sílim gur ceart glacadh leis faoi dhualgas bunreachtúil an Rialtais agus, dár ndóigh, mar go bhfuil sé ciallmhar agus dearfach agus mar go bhfuil sé ag iarraidh an teanga a chur chun cinn.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh na leasuithe. Táimid ag iarraidh dul ar an turas céanna agus an dearcadh céanna a bhaint amach ach níl mé in ann na leasuithe seo a ghlacadh mar gheall ar na cúiseanna a luaigh mé an tseachtain seo caite agus a leag mé amach i mo litir oifigiúil a sheol mé chuig an Seanadóir. Níl an bunús dlí láidir mar is é an chéad uair a tháinig na leasuithe seo os ár gcomhair ag na céimeanna seo. Ní raibh seans againn iad a scrúdú ar bhonn pre-legislative nó sa Dáil. Freisin, táimid buartha faoi chúrsaí costais go háirithe do ghnóthaí beaga. Ní raibh seans againn ábhar an chostais sin a phlé leis na cumainn ghnó.

Tuigim agus aontaím go mór lena a bhfuil á dhéanamh ag an Seanadóir, ach níl mé in ann dul leis na leasuithe seo. Beidh cruinniú agam leis an Seanadóir agus le cúpla Seanadóir eile, an Seanadóir Clifford-Lee ina measc. Tuigim go bhfuil grúpa ann a bhfuil ag iarraidh go mbeadh níos mó pacáistíochta as Gaeilge. Beidh mé in ann cruinniú a thionól an mhí seo chugainn chun an treo is fearr a phlé. Aontaím go mór go gcaithfidh i bhfad níos mó pacáistíochta agus eolais a bheith as Gaeilge i gcúrsaí siopadóireachta agus retail, agus i ngach gné eile.Nílimid in ann glacadh leis na leasuithe ar an ócáid seo ach beidh cruinniú agam leis an Seanadóir agus leis na grúpaí sa spás seo chun an treo le dul a phlé. Leanfaimid ar an turas sin a luaithe agus is féidir. Níl aon suim agam labhairt faoi. Tá mé ag iarraidh dul ar an turas.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Aithním go bhfuil an tAire Stáit ar aon intinn le cuspóirí na leasuithe seo ach táimid san áit ina bhfuilimid agus na leasuithe os ár gcomhair. Tá freagrachtaí ar leith ag an Aire Stáit. Tá sé ag rá nach bhfuil sé á nglacadh agus tá sé i dteideal é sin a dhéanamh.

Ní ghlacaim leis an argóint nach raibh pre-legislative scrutiny déanta air seo agus gur tháinig sé aniar aduaidh ar an Aire Stáit. D'iarr mise ar chruinniú idir an Dara Céim agus Céim an Choiste. D'iarr mé ar chruinniú eile idir Céim an Choiste agus an Chéim ar a bhfuilimid anois sa dóigh gur féidir linn cibé imní a bhí ar an Aire Stáit nó a oifigigh a phlé agus é seo a réiteach. Níor tharla na cruinnithe sin agus, le bheith ionraic faoi, níl an locht ormsa nár tharla siad.

Aithním go bhfuil an tAire Stáit ag iarraidh na cuspóirí seo a bhaint amach. Tá súil agam gurb amhlaidh a bheidh sé agus go n-éirí leis an Aire Stáit sa chás sin ach tá leasuithe ciallmhara dearfacha os ár gcomhair inniu gur féidir linn agus gur cheart dúinn glacadh leo. Tá mé ag tabhairt an tseala anois, ar an gCéim dheireanach a bheidh againn mar Sheanad, do Sheanadóirí a vóta a chaitheamh agus cá háit a seasann siad ag an bpointe seo a léiriú go soiléir.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 2:

In page 83, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:

“Language of On-Premises Information 103.(1) This section shall take effect on a date to be set by the Minister, no earlier than 31 December 2023 and no later than 1 January 2026, and shall have effect only on on-premises signage newly erected or altered following that date.

(2) All information provided on on-premises signage aimed at consumers shall be in the Irish language or in both official languages.

(3) In the event of the information referred to in subsection (2)being provided in both official languages—

(a) the text in the Irish language shall be first,

(b) the text in the Irish language shall be at least as prominent, as visible and as legible as the text in the English language,

(c) the lettering of the text in the Irish language shall not be smaller in size than the lettering in the text in the English language or in italic font where the English text is not,

(d) the text in the Irish language shall convey the same information as is conveyed by the text in the English language, and

(e) no word of the text in the Irish language shall be abbreviated unless the word in the text in the English language, which is a translation thereof, is likewise abbreviated.

(4) Text on a sign shall be exempt from the requirements under subsection (2)if it fulfils any of the following criteria:

(a) information in a language or languages without either Irish or English versions present;

(b) temporary information to be replaced within a period no longer than three weeks;

or

(c) the name of a person, family, trademark or brand.

(5) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the provision of information on signage in other languages in addition to those required under this section.”.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I second the amendment.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 3:

In page 83, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following:

“Language of Information Required for Goods 103.(1) This section shall take effect on a date to be set by the Minister, no earlier than 31 December 2023 and no later than 1 January 2026, and shall have no effect on the packaging of products for sale prior to the date set by the Minister.

(2) In order to be considered, provided in a clear and comprehensible manner in accordance with section 101, all information specified in sections 101 and 102, as well as text conveying branding or messaging for marketing purposes, and shown on the label, container or packaging of a pre-packaged product, including information presented in stylised or artistic renderings of text, shall be shown in the Irish language or in both official languages, unless the product fulfils the criteria for exemption under subsection (4).

(3) In the event of the information referred to in subsection (2)being provided in both official languages—

(a) the text in the Irish language shall be first, where both languages feature on the same surface,

(b) the text in the Irish language shall be at least as prominent, as visible and as legible as the text in the English language,

(c) the lettering of the text in the Irish language shall not be smaller in size than the lettering in the text in the English language or in italic font where the English text is not,

(d) the text in the Irish language shall convey the same information as is conveyed by the text in the English language,

(e) no word of the text in the Irish language shall be abbreviated unless the word in the text in the English language, which is a translation thereof, is likewise abbreviated, and

(f) where there are one or more surfaces on the container or packaging of a pre-packaged product that are of at least the same size and prominence, the information shown on one surface may be shown in one official language if such information is shown in the other official language on one of those other surfaces.

(4) A product shall be exempt from the requirements under subsection (2)if it fulfils any of the following criteria and provides the required information in at least one official language on the label, container or packaging:

(a) a speciality imported product, not widely used and without a readily available substitute;

(b) a language-based product, such as a greeting card, book, talking toy or game, in which knowledge of the language used is a basic factor essential to the use of the product;

(c) a test market product for the duration of, and no longer than a year following the commencement of, its product trial; or

(d) a local product which is not available for sale on premises outside of the local authority area in which it is produced and the local authority areas which border that area.

(5) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the provision of information on pre-packaged goods in other languages in addition to those required under this section.”.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I second the amendment.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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I move amendment No. 4:

In page 100, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following: “Consumer Rights relating to Language Options of On-Premises and Public Self-Service Kiosks

122.(1) This section shall take effect on a date to be set by the Minister, no earlier than 31 December 2023 and no later than 1 January 2026, and shall have effect only on self-service kiosks which are newly introduced, upgraded or updated, following that date.

(2) In the case of a self-service kiosk, including but not limited to self-service cashiers, ticket machines and automated teller machines, located in a business premises or operated by a business in a public place for the purposes of use by a consumer or member of the public, the kiosk shall provide the consumer with the option to use the kiosk in the Irish language or provide the consumer with a choice between using the kiosk in the Irish language or the English language.

(3) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the provision of options to use the kiosk in other languages in addition to those required under this section.

(4) The service available on the kiosk in the Irish language shall be of at least the same standard and quality as the service available in the English language.

(5) Where there is a single default language on the self-service kiosk or its homepage menu, the default shall be the Irish language.

(6) Where flag icons are used to represent language options on a self-service kiosk, the Irish flag shall be used to represent the Irish language option.

(7) In the event of the information referred to in subsection (2)being provided in both official languages on the same page—

(a) the text in the Irish language shall be first,

(b) the text in the Irish language shall be at least as prominent, as visible and as legible as the text in the English language,

(c) the lettering of the text in the Irish language shall not be smaller in size than the lettering in the text in the English language or in italic font where the English text is not,

(d) the text in the Irish language shall convey the same information as is conveyed by the text in the English language, and

(e) no word of the text in the Irish language shall be abbreviated unless the word in the text in the English language, which is a translation thereof, is likewise abbreviated.

(8) Where the kiosk allows for, requests, or causes to be recorded, a consumer’s name as part of its use, an interaction or a transaction, the right of the consumer to correctly input and have recorded their name, in the Irish language or in the English language, including síntí fadaand séimhithe, shall be guaranteed.".

Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein)
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I second the amendment.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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When is it proposed to take Final Stage?

Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail)
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Now.

Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.