Conor D McGuinness: Where's the Plan for Irish?
Conor D McGuinness speaks in the Dáil about the future of the Irish language, pressing for a clear plan, evidence and timely parliamentary scrutiny. He supports the bill in principle but asks where it will operate, how it will be delivered, and which legal protections and committees will be involved.
Conor D McGuinness opens in Irish and frames his intervention as a question about the strategy behind the Irish language bill debated in the Dail. He says he agrees the bill is right in principle but insists the Seanad must know the plan, the evidence base and the locations where provisions will apply.
He outlines the need for regional and local engagement, arguing that co-ordination through regional committees is essential if the State is to support Gaeltacht communities effectively. He references earlier legislation and protections as part of the legal context that must inform any new scheme.
McGuinness presses for prompt but rigorous scrutiny: he wants the parliamentary process to run quickly where possible but not to shortcut the necessary examination of provisions. He warns against duplication and procedural obstacles and calls for clear lines of accountability for implementation.
The speaker urges colleagues to ensure the bill is coupled to practical delivery - from committees to statutory protections - so that Gaeltacht communities see real benefits. He closes by thanking officials and stressing the need for clarity before the bill advances further.
Opening and purpose
Conor D McGuinness opens in Irish and frames his intervention as a question about the strategy behind the Irish language bill debated in the Dail. He says he agrees the bill is right in principle but insists the Seanad must know the plan, the evidence base and the locations where provisions will apply.
Regional committees and legal context
He outlines the need for regional and local engagement, arguing that co-ordination through regional committees is essential if the State is to support Gaeltacht communities effectively. He references earlier legislation and protections as part of the legal context that must inform any new scheme.
Timing, scrutiny and process
McGuinness presses for prompt but rigorous scrutiny: he wants the parliamentary process to run quickly where possible but not to shortcut the necessary examination of provisions. He warns against duplication and procedural obstacles and calls for clear lines of accountability for implementation.
Consequences and next steps
The speaker urges colleagues to ensure the bill is coupled to practical delivery - from committees to statutory protections - so that Gaeltacht communities see real benefits. He closes by thanking officials and stressing the need for clarity before the bill advances further.
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Transcript
I'm Seanad Éireann, and I'm going to be speaking in Irish this time. I'm going to be answering this question with a question about the future of the Irish language. As you know, there was a lot of debate in the Dáil Éireann Chamber about the future of the Irish language and its future. And I'm not saying that we should all agree on one thing. I agree that the bill is right and that we should have a future for the Irish language. But what is the plan, where will it be, and is there any evidence to support that? A go raibh maith agat, Cíonníon Dúchtarán Connolly, an hacht Udairása na Gaeilteachta, lás úteith feis sé, aonad ríor an ceid ládh amí uill. Si'n prif cosbórnachta an broses Amnacon agus Ráineacón ratha, a rílion ceapacón bór dúdairása na gaeilteachta fí ac na gaeilteachta a athrú, agus prosiest Táocan agus Ráineacón nua a churna náit. Leis an lás ú, coileannaidh gaeiltainus a thoghaoic lór an ríoltas, Táocan do bhfórn Udairása na Gaeilteachta a bhfannú. Ar osach ffáimhine na tháilt a bhfáireaidh an ráctaíoch lás uithe, be diatnáir coileachta totha agus sésior coileachtaí ar na aminúr againnáire ar bhfórn an Udairása. Be aníocht ar gach ceantar gaeilteachta ar an mórd agus ní be aníocht coileachtaí de ceantar bhfogha gaeilteachta i bhfáimh a thillú. Con nás níos láidear ceant uithe ar an pobol agus obair an bhfórn, fáiltear leis an ach ffresin gramóiní an Udairása trí coiste réigeannachta réichtaile tá cosúil seo lás uaith a bheith bhfáimh reibh féadh dói ag, agus maith mé sán cúran bíog an dirfúilachu. Be coireachtaí amlaí ag Udairása átúile ar na coiste réigeannachta seo agus ní mórd ó gach báilt an Udairása agus a coiste réigeannachta a bheith anáin ag lefel inúnaite sa gaeilteachta a léirú sa ná ríonteachta con ag garrad áimhineachta a chollínu. Con chroíche an adáocháin do bhfórn Udairása seo gaeilteachta, bhi gáil a rhaint lás uaith tecnolaidh a dhéanamh ar act táocháin 1912, an act táocháin 1907, an act am trúilú of Ruscair 1907 agus an ar an act con cosáint sunarí fíos a 2015. Fheoráil tíol eiste an lás uaith seo go gairfidh táocháin Udairása gaeilteachta sa ná rúrf sa heachta na seo. Cú ríte ceist an adáocháin fí Bealláinneach agus déanamh fír cinne maith agus leis an bhfórn maith amma Dóibh in an traitha. Mae go d'áire agus tígim go bhfuil lás uaith leidh déanamh ar an act táocháin 1912, 1907 agus an act táocháin ar an maith agus le brúiscair trúilú agus cosáint sunarí. Ach, o bhfuil ámhlíona i geistio gór na lás uaith seo sin nó bhfuil seo sin le buente maith i mhlíona agus bhuile fí thúirem i déimh ámhlíona dos na táocháin an bhfuil mí de coinnt maith agus ar ribh déirne na bhlíona sa an bhfuil mí de coinnt maith agus ar sáire na bhlíona seo chuaing agus an maig sé fí an ráin tí heachta na táocháin sin ar raibh nó maig séid ar raibh agus do ráin féin. Maith agata. Fóill, a leisneir na ráith na heachta, níl mór an ám dócht ag atí na ceid ceimen aile fíomidh díra ar an bhfuile a chard trúid sin ar achta, so támidh chun agus sin na sgrúide anois. Le tháidh gat táocháin, is táocháin é agus is táocháin tá chóirem na táocháin agus gat táocháin fí chóirem an rín tí heachta agus ríolta sáiltíola. So báidh rodaí na lásaí he, le phlé leis an rín sin agus leis na rodaí eile agus na sunraí eile le tháidh an táocháin le phlé ag level o ríoltas. Ach báidh mé a chur an prósés ffíon na Christian a Réganair ar siúl go luagas as féidir, mair táisí tabhatacht le tháidh an uireas taibh an bhfidh na táocháin, ach táisí tabhatacht go maith sídh a gobaidh agus maith na díní boníochair ar sin. Agus, you know, báidh mé tóstaid tracht ar aisdeach trá reis bríseann táorú agus sunraí eile a phlé ffíonts an ceid phrosés eile agus an ceid ceimanna eile as a Béalais seo. Agus go am buíochas do núch du rán as a hínnú, ach freisin. Go am buíochas dí as a obair a chur síos deagfidh i'n Béalais níor ráisíos a tíos seo. Nach saimúil é sin mar fíorach go raibh buint ag an úochta rán. Well, chur sí lásaith eisteach níor glachtar leis na lásaith a ffíoríor, ach chur sí lásaith eisteach ar taibh a bhfáin agus de hínnigh sí an bheile ffúi arra. Impíom arta arra gan tulumuil a chur leis an brósés. So, peiruidh go fféidir a dhíonnam com tapu leis na táocháin seo, tá mbuint ar na gaeiltachta, na pobl gaeiltachta ag ffeannacht le phad an lá ag orna táocháin seo, tácht ar nás. Máir adórmair, ar an taibh siod an tách le léing na díos bórach dí ar Béalai Uadaros na Gaeiltachta, tá géir go le Tíle Déanlaithas. Eistígs an Uadaros cé, i nór adórm, níol sé ffúirfa i Déamh an Méid Déanlaithas, fíom arne ag sual le níos mú. Ach, an Béalai mar a thá, thóimid ag i gíraí a sin a bhfuint maith go tápaig agus is féidir, annas go féidir leis ne pobl seolaf ag laca aríst, ar tróir Uadaros na Gaeiltachta.