Michael Ring
Question:193 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason statements and replies to parliamentary questions from her Department do not automatically issue in both English and Irish. [21328/00]
Written Answers. - Parliamentary Questions.
I take it the Deputy is referring to a press release which issued recently from the office of the Minister of State. This press release was issued in Irish only and was circulated for information only to all Deputies whose constituencies contained a Gaeltacht area.
I do not accept that Deputy Ring's rights were violated on this occasion. Most press releases from Departments, with the exception of press releases from this Department, are issued in only one of the two official languages. Therefore, in issuing a press release in Irish, the first official language, on this occasion, I have done nothing other than follow normal practice. It is not unreasonable to expect that Deputies wishing to have a press statement translated into a language other than the language of issue should arrange for this themselves, especially as in this case when the press release was directed, in particular, at Gaeltacht areas.
In this case no English version of the press release was provided for the senior Minister. As an assistance to the Deputy, my staff provided an oral translation of the press release.