Tá sé nach bhfuil ach cúpla leasú ar an mBille seo, Bille a gcuirimid fáilte roimhe go ginearálta, is iad sin na leasuithe a bhaineann le mír a deich den Bhille, agus go speisialta, cás na teanga Gaeilge. Bhíomar go léir, a bhfuil suim againn sa Ghaeilge, i ndul chun cinn na Gaeilge agus i muintir na Gaeltachta, thar a bheith sásta leis an obair a bhí á déanamh le blianta anuas ag Coláiste Thua-Mhumhan maidir le teagasc agus cur chun cinn na Gaeilge, agus leis an aitheantas a bhí á thabhairt don teanga agus don chúltúr Ghaelach. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh an t-aitheantas, an tacaíocht agus an stádas céanna ag an teanga sa chónascadh úr in Ollscoil Luimnigh agus a bhí ag an Ghaeilge go dtí seo i gColáiste Thua-Mhumhan.
Tá buntáistí móra ag baint le hOllscoil Luimnigh maidir leis an chónascadh; tá dámh nó faculty iomlán Gaeilge ag teacht isteach in Ollscoil Luimnigh, nach raibh acu go dtí seo. D'aontaigh mé ar fad leis an méid a bhí le rá ag an Teachta Kemmy, go bhfuil stádas agus caighdeán an-ard ann agus aitheantas le fáil ó na extern examiners a luaigh sé maidir leis an chaighdeán Gaeilge atá sa choláiste. Is é an príomhdhualgas a bhí ar Choláiste Thua-Mhumhan ná múinteoirí a oiliúint, agus iad ag dul amach ar fud na tíre ag teagasc na ndaltaí. Tá sé riachtanach go mbeadh cumas Gaeilge ag múinteoirí — agus b'amhlaidh an scéal i gColáiste Thua-Mhumhan — agus freisin go mbeadh an rud céanna le fáil nuair a chuirtear an cónascadh seo i gcrích. Mar shampla, tá sé de pholasaí ag Coláiste Thua-Mhumhan, ní amháin ábhar múinteoirí as na Gaeltachtaí a ghlacadh isteach, ach duine ar bith gur mian leis agus a bhfuil an cumas ann teagasc trí Ghaeilge nó trí Bhéarla. Tá polasaí dátheangach acu agus sin rud go gcaithfimid béim a chur air san am atá romhainn. Ní dóigh liom go mbeadh sé sásúil dá mbeadh múinteoirí ag teacht amach agus gan ar a gcumas na hábhair a theagasc trí Ghaeilge. Tá dhá chúrsa Gaeilge i gColáiste Thua-Mhumhan.
One course gives the opportunity of getting a degree in the Irish language that is on a par and up to the standard available at any of our other universities. Deputy Kemmy has given the views of one of the extern examiners, Professor Madigan, University College, Galway, who has praised the standard attained by the students who pursue a degree course in Irish at Thomond College. As well as that there is a professional course in the Irish language where all students attending Thomond College — and it has been a tradition for many years — are obliged to attend courses in the Gaeltacht areas. They attend Gaeltacht areas in Donegal, Galway, Mayo — Deputy Higgins would be familiar with that — Cork and Kerry in the month of June with teachers or trainee teachers from the other trainee teacher colleges. this gives them the opportunity of hearing the Irish language spoken in a natural way. I hope that tradition will be allowed to continue when the amalgamation has taken place.
We know that preparations are being made for the ceard teastas Gaeilge, a qualification that is necessary for all post-primary teachers, particularly in the vocational sector. An effort was made in the Groener case, which was taken to the European Court, to show that the teastas was no longer necessary. However the court had the good sense to say that it was a legitimate aspiration of the Department, the authorities and the Government as a support for the Irish language, and it is as necessary today as it has been in the past. It must continue in the future if we are serious about the preservation and the protection of the language.
When the amalgamation is operating and if it ever comes to the stage where the new University of Limerick will require a second language, I hope Irish will qualify as a second language. At the national university it is necessary to have Irish in order to matriculate. Perhaps the Minister would clarify whether Irish is a required subject for entry into the new University of Limerick? If in future a second language is demanded, as universities are inclined to do at present with the emphasis on European languages, for example, French, German or Italian, I do not think Irish should be ignored but should qualify as a second language requirement.
I am a member of Comhchoiste don Ghaeilge — the Joint Committee on the Irish Language — where this matter arose at one of our meetings recently. Some concern was expressed about the future status of Irish because of the amalgamation. We have been very pleased with the manner in which the Irish faculty has been developed at Thomond. We believe they are going into the new amalgamation with a readymade faculty with a national recognition from academics from other universities. In the new marriage I hope this tradition will be maintained, nurtured and supported for the benefit of the teachers who will qualify from this university in the future and for the ultimate benefit of the young people who will be taught by the teachers in the coming years. If they want to have the opportunity of studying whatever subject, whether corpoideachas, mar a dúirt mo chara, an Teachta Deenihan, nó aon ábhar eile, ba cheart go mbeadh deis acu é sin a dhéanamh i nGaeilge, má bhíonn an fonn sin orthu. Más féidir leis an Aire an guarantee sin a thabhairt dúinne anseo inniu, beimid sásta. Murar féidir léi é a thabhairt dúinn, sílim gur chéim mhór ar gcúl é, ag cur san áireamh an méid atá déanta ag Coláiste Thua-Mhumhan go dtí seo.
