asked the Minister for Finance if he will state Government policy on the Irish language.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Language Policy.
19.
As indicated in the Statement of Intent issued by the National Coalition before the General Election, the Government's policy is based on respect for and promotion of the Irish language. The Government is examining the implications of this policy for the various Departments and official bodies concerned. As the Deputy is aware, the Minister for Education has already announced the Government's plans in relation to the place of Irish in the school curriculum and the examination system.
I was hoping to get from the Minister an indication of the general policy. It is not fair to refer to one particular Minister and his policy. If we take that, we discover that the Minister for Defence, apparently, was at a loss to know what the policy of his Department was. More correctly we should get at this stage not a statement of intent but a statement of policy from the Government themselves.
If the Deputy had asked a supplementary question I would gladly answer it, but I am not going to comment on an emotionally loaded speech.
Question No. 20.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Tunney, I want to help you but you did not ask a specific supplementary. You related your remarks to another Minister altogether.
He is not entitled to be ignored by the Minister or the Chair.
He will not be ignored by the Chair. No Deputy will be ignored by the Chair.
Is the Minister aware that, in circumstances where two Ministers of the Government give diametrically opposed indications of what Government policy is, it must now devolve on some responsible Minister to say what the policy is? That is a question and would the Minister kindly consider answering it?
I do not think the Deputy is being helpful and he does not intend to be helpful to the cause of of promoting love for and respect for the Irish language in making the suggestions which he is making. He is reventing to the Fianna Fáil type of trying to make a political tool of the Irish language and of Irish culture in general, and I am not going to chase after the animals he lets loose in this obscene race.
Would the Minister say if, in fact, the Coalition are sincere about the promotion of the Irish language?
Our sincerity is as patent as the insincerity of Fianna Fáil is on this question.
We are not debating the matter just now. Question No. 20.
I wish to put a question.
I have called this question twice. Allow the business to proceed.
We have not had very many supplementaries.
Beidh díospóireacht eile againn faoin Ghaeilge ar ball agus an uair sin ní choimeadfar in ár dtost sinn.