Vol. 487 No. 3
243 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will comment on a statement issued by her Minister of State on 6 February 1998 to the effect that it is time for a radical review and concerted action before the Gaeltacht is destroyed by the total hypocrisy of the way it is treated; her views on this statement; and the proposals, if any, she has to deal with it. [3970/98]
244 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on a statement issued by the Minister of State at her Department on 6 February 1998 about treatment of Gaeltacht areas by the Government; if she regards the fact that professional services cannot be provided by corporate personnel through the medium of Irish as being a denial of human rights; the way in which she proposes to deal with this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3972/98]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 298 agus Uimh. 300 le chéile.
I have read my Minister of State's speech of 6 February at the conference in Westport organised by Cumas Teo.
In the first instance I wish to state that I have total confidence in his ability to carry out his brief in relation to the Gaeltacht and the Irish language effectively.
The position in relation to the delivery of State services through Irish to Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht, and indeed to such speakers outside the Gaeltacht, is obviously unsatisfactory and has been well documented in recent years. It is to this inadequacy of service that the Minister of State was referring in his speech and the comments he made, and the examples he gave, were aimed at highlighting this inadequacy. I fully support his view that the supply of these services through Irish is inadequate and needs to be addressed.
I should point out that the Minister of State outlined in his speech the steps he proposes to take to improve the position in relation to the delivery of State services through Irish in the Gaeltacht and I would direct the Deputy's attention to those positive proposals.
