asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht if he will comment on a recent article in a Sunday newspaper (details supplied) that a staff member of an Irish cultural organisation which is in receipt of substantial State subvention had been permitted leave of absence with pay from his employment; if he is aware that the purpose of such absence is to engage in activities on behalf of an illegal organisation which advocates national reunification and the overthrow of the State by armed violence; and if he has any observations to make on such use of taxpayers' money.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leave of Cultural Organisation Employee.
40.
Dá mbeadh aon chuid de chúnamh Stáit le caitheamh ar an mbealach atá luaite ní bheinnse sásta cúnamh mar sin a chur ar fáil.
(Cavan): In view of the recent statement by the Minister for Education in regard to broadening his views on compulsory Irish, would the Minister for the Gaeltacht consider answering questions at least bi-lingually here for the benefit of some of us who cannot follow the Irish answers as well as we could previously?
Mar is eol duit, a Cheann Comhairle, tá cleachtadh bunaithe sa Teach seo go bhfreagraíonn Aire na Gaeltachta ceisteanna as Gaeilge, is cuma an gcuirtear síos iad as Gaeilge nó as Béarla. Níor mhaith liom an cleachtadh sin a athrú, ach mar is eol don Teachta, cuirtear ar fáil aistriúchán as Béarla d'aon fhreagra a thugann Aire na Gaeltachta.
Does the Minister consider it desirable that the State should have some control over the way in which organisations to which it provides funds use those funds; and in this context does he feel that the State is exercising adequate control over how these funds are being disposed in view of the stated aims of the organisations to which they are being given?
Ceapaim gur cóir don Stát aire a thabhairt don bhealach in a gcaithtear airgead Stáit a thugtar d'aon dream den saghas seo. Ach is dóigh liom gur cóir dom a rá go bhfuair mo Roinn litir ó Chonnradh na Gaeilge le déanaí á rá nach raibh an fhírinne sa mhéid a bhí ins an alt ins an nuachtán go ndéantar tagairt dó san cheist seo agus nach bhfuil airgead á íoc ag an gConnradh i láthair na huaire don duine atá i gceist.
Cé mhéid airgid a fuair Connradh na Gaeilge an bhliain seo caite?
Níl an figiúir agam anseo, agus ní dóigh liom gur cóir dom tomhas a thabhairt.
Agus an bhfuil a fhios ag an Aire cé mhéid a tugadh san bhliain atá i gceist don ex-Corporal John Stephens alias Chief of Staff Seán Mac Stiofáin?
Ní fhéadfainn a rá, mar a deirim, níl aon airgead á íoc leis an bhfear sin ag Connradh na Gaeilge de réir na litreach a fuair mé uathu.
An bhliain seo?
Sea. Tá an ceart ag an Teachta.