Vol. 828 No. 2
1. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the actions he will take to ensure the next national city of culture initiative application process is conducted in a more transparent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4109/14]
2. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the contacts he has had with the organising committee of the Limerick city of culture; and the progress made in ensuring Limerick city of culture will be a success. [4111/14]
5. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current selection process or nomination process involved in the selection of Ireland's city of culture; if he will consider granting Waterford the status of the next city of culture; the formal representations Waterford city would need to make to his Department in this regard; if he or his Department has thus far given any consideration to choosing the next city of culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4342/14]
I have received a message indicating that Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl has been delayed as a result of an accident. While he is not involved, he has been caught up in the traffic jam, and in light of the exceptional circumstances I suggest that Deputy Kitt be authorised to take the question in his place.
That is agreed.
If Deputy McLellan wishes, she can introduce her question as it being grouped with others. I advise the Minister that here is a new procedure whereby a Deputy can introduce his or her question.
I am aware of that.
Deputy McLellan can introduce her question as Deputy Ó Fearghaíl is not here.
I ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the actions he will take to ensure the next national city of culture initiative application process is conducted in a more transparent manner.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 5 together.
As Deputies will be aware, the Government approved an allocation in the budget of €6 million to Limerick City of Culture 2014. While the original aspiration was to have a national city of culture designation every two years, it became clear, however, that it would not be feasible to make a similar resource commitment again as soon as 2016. It is the intention, therefore, that the next city of culture will held in 2018. It is envisaged that a call for proposals from cities, including Waterford, will issue later in the year, following which a selection process will take place to select the next national city of culture.
I wish to advise the Deputies that the selection criteria for the designation of city of culture will include the following elements: an emphasis on the arts, culture, heritage and the Irish language in the location, scale and attractiveness of the programme of events planned for the designation year; community involvement in the planning of the programme of events, with a preference for a bottom-up approach which seeks to unite cultural and socioeconomic stakeholders in a common project, together with a focus on bringing communities together to work towards a shared vision; a programme to increase participation in the arts by local residents; the involvement of local schools in the arts and in the programme for the year of culture; the capacity to foster creativity; the city's ability to maximise its existing infrastructure and facilities to the benefit of the arts; and the lasting and positive impact on the location long into the future.
Regarding Limerick City of Culture 2014, the appointment of an interim head and the broadening of the city of culture board to include local authority and arts community representatives have been important and welcome steps in ensuring the designation will be a success for Limerick.
I have great confidence in the local organisations, the arts community and the people of Limerick to work together to make this a success. More than 100 events are scheduled to take place in the first quarter of this year and, as Deputies are aware, significant funding is in place. The keystone events so far - the opening concert on New Year's Eve, the Riverdance performances, the Michael Warren exhibition and the Haselbeck photography exhibition - have been hugely popular and critical successes. I believe that this bold and confident artistic start to the year can continue and when Limerick is judged by its programme for the year, it will be seen to have exceeded all expectations.
My officials and I remain in contact with the local authority and the other key stakeholders. I am confident that, working together, these partners can ensure the best of Limerick is showcased to a national and international audience this year and that an enduring and positive legacy for arts and culture in Limerick is the primary outcome of the year.
I thank the Minister for his response. This is the first discussion we have had in the Dáil on this important issue since the Christmas recess. By his own account the Minister found out about the crisis of confidence in the city of culture committee in the media, as this occurred during the holiday period. Surely he had been in touch on a regular basis in the run up to the launch in Limerick. He is the Minister and he should provide leadership. Is he confident that the outstanding issues have been resolved to everyone's satisfaction, most of all those community-based arts and drama groups which have been working incredibly hard to ensure Limerick can justifiably take a bow and proclaim itself the city of culture for 2014?
When I announced the city of culture designation, it was indicated that it would be up to the city council to decide on all personnel issues and the artistic director to decide on programming issues. Obviously, I was aware there were tensions but as I said on a radio interview, I was not aware at the time of the resignation of the artistic director. I am happy to state in the House that since then the city of culture has taken off and the events to date have been very well attended and have received a very positive response.
I was at Riverdance, which was a spectacular event. I opened the Hasselbeck exhibition, which was a resounding success and had a full house. The Michael Warren exhibition received critical acclaim in The Irish Times last Saturday. Overall, it has been positive. I was in Limerick on Monday evening and the Irish Technology Leadership Group, ITLG, in Silicon Valley attended. It showed how technology and culture can come together to create jobs and creativity, which is so needed in Limerick city. It has gotten off to a great start and I am confident, despite the initial difficulties and challenges. These are not new to the city of culture programme and the same problems existed in Derry, Liverpool and Cork.
The Minister specified community involvement and the bottom-up approach, which is central to the application process. Does it not account for a proportion of the cuts in the arts in every city and town in Ireland? An example is that over the past five years there has been a nationwide cull of funding to regional theatre companies. There is a widespread perception that funding to smaller regional companies is being sacrificed for the five, mainly Dublin-based, companies. When the Minister's Department examines the applications for the city of culture designation, will the impact of funding cuts that have taken place in each city's arts scheme be taken into account?
I was faced with the same challenges as every other Minister. Cuts were commensurate across all Departments but I tried to minimise, over the past three budgets, the cuts to the Arts Council. The Arts Council allocates funding that I give. It makes the decisions on who gets funding and it is a matter the Deputy can bring to the attention of the Arts Council. There is an arm's-length approach that prevents me from interfering with the Arts Council allocation.
Regarding future applications for designation as a national city of culture, there is strong interest already including from Deputy Halligan's city, Waterford. An injection of €6 million into a city is an enormous boost for the arts organisations and the arts community. Apart from the €6 million this year, a further €2 million has come in from the Arts Council and other national cultural institutions. That amounts to an injection of €8 million for Limerick and as well as private funding. There has been a very good response to the call for private funding in Limerick. I can see a major boost to the arts in Limerick, in the region and in the country because of the designation of Limerick as a city of culture.
I am lucky that we are taking Questions Nos. 1, 2 and 5 together. My apologies to the Ceann Comhairle and the Minister for being late.
I explained the Deputy's position. It could happen to a bishop.
It is generally acknowledged that what was done in respect of Limerick, in terms of its selection and the idea of having a city of culture, was a superb idea and one for which the Minister can take a bow. The lack of transparency about the appointment of the CEO should not have happened and it is important we all learn from the mistakes made. I contend that, as the initial decision was a superb one, it should be built on and carried forward. That is why I expressed, at the committee meeting dealing with the Estimate, disappointment that we see a two-year setback to 2018 for the selection of another city. We should not be downcast in respect of the mistakes made in Limerick, we should learn from them and move ahead with 2016, which was the original intention.
As I explained to the previous Deputy, the issue of appointments was a matter for the city council. Programming was a matter for the artistic director and the CEO. From the beginning, I had no involvement and our Department manages the funding and ensures everything is done in a proper fashion. We are completing a service level agreement with Limerick City Council to ensure that. It will be subject to the examination of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform so everything will be done in the correct manner. As regards the original designation set out in 2016, the huge financial contribution meant it could be difficult from a budgeting point of view. Also, there would not be a long enough run-in for preparation. The year 2014 was designated because Limerick sought it as a result of the change in governance. I mentioned Limerick as an ideal city because of the vibrancy of the arts but the Limerick regeneration implementation group, chaired by Denis Brosnan, made a very strong proposal. Some people questioned whether it was done on a whim but it was done on the back of a very good proposal from Limerick that linked culture, arts, community and economic activity. It is a prototype for other cities. In the future, it will give cities a chance and we will look for applications. Hopefully I will announce the next city of culture at the end of the year. It will give people the chance to plan the future.
Limerick sees this as preparation for the European city of culture, which will be in Ireland in 2020. It is ideal preparation and is bigger than the designation as national city of culture. For the other cities, it will be part of their preparation to try to be the European city of culture.
I raised the issue of funding in September and there were indications that all was not well. It is important it runs smoothly to show Limerick to its best potential. The Minister informed the House the actions he has taken to ensure he is up to speed and in touch for the duration of the city of culture programme. What structures have been put in place to ensure there is no repeat of the New Year's debacle? Can the Minister state on record his confidence in the chair of Limerick city of culture?
The Minister agreed that the city selected in 2018 will have to seek matching funding from the private sector. Given the current economic climate, it is crucial that time is allocated to the city. The Minister has confirmed that the decision will be reached on the selection soon. I congratulate the Minister on the huge effort for what happened in Limerick. I ask him to consider cities that have been economically devastated, like Waterford, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country but a history associated with its culture. Whatever city is allocated the status, it will have a major impact on the city businesses and in building confidence that has been hurt by the current economic climate. I congratulate the Minister on the effort he made in this venture.
I seek assurance from the Minister that those making a pitch for 2018 will have a bottom-up approach and that we will look at communities, including schools and the arts community, being actively involved. Then, we can see a coming together on the ground of all the players making a pitch for this valuable initiative that highlights the culture and heritage and provides a platform to the arts community. That has an intrinsic value but what flows from it is the added socio-economic benefit. Can we be assured that is what will happen?
I lend my support to Deputy Halligan's comments. Cities like Waterford have been devastated by economic disadvantage in recent times and that should be weighed in the balance as well.
With regard to Deputy McLellan's question, I was always up to speed with this project, and that is why Limerick was designated as such. It is a suitable designation because of the challenges faced in Limerick, both economic and otherwise, and this was a way not only to lift the morale and self-esteem in Limerick but to shape Limerick and brand it for the future. That was part of the designation process and I am convinced at the end of the year, that is what will happen. I have an observer on the board and the arts community, on my advice, is also represented, along with local authorities. The board is broader now than what it was initially and everybody has welcomed that.
With regard to Deputy Halligan's comments, I am aware that Waterford faces similar challenges to Limerick. There is a new governance structure for Waterford and last year I recommended that the Georgian section would be designated under the living city initiative. I understand from Deputy Deasy that there was an event to recognise and, more or less, to launch the initiative with the Irish Georgian Society recently. I am delighted the Deputy is considering the matter in that way, and this can be seen as a way to lift the morale and economy of Waterford. The same applies to Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's comments.
This is apart from the intrinsic value of the arts, which is so important in all communities, and I can see how in Limerick this is lifting communities in so many different ways. There are now bigger international performances in the city and the people of Limerick have been energised by what is happening. The programme for the first three months is excellent and any city would be proud of it. It is an international programme of high quality. I agree with Deputy Ó Fearghaíl in that there is a major socioeconomic aspect to this, which is why the top people in Silicon Valley were in Limerick last weekend and Monday night. It is the national city of culture and they wanted to show how technology, the arts and culture can come together to produce creativity and jobs. I hope people will recognise these aspects, as Deputies have done this morning.
3. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with regard to the three draft reports produced by his Department, his views on these reports; what he expects the outcome of this process will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4338/14]
I thank the Ceann Comhairle and I am delighted to be able to address this issue. I attempted to do so twice when the reports came out but it was not deemed important enough to be discussed in the Dáil. It is good that we can talk about it today. There is much talk about value for money in Ireland, as it is very important to people. When we consider the estimated €500 million that is being thrown at the issue of bogs and the Habitats Directive, one would imagine we could get success. After all these years, the success is as follows.
The Minister is in charge of the following bogs. Killyconny bog's active raised bog habitat has decreased by 89%, that of Raheenmore is down by 13.5% and that of Lough Forbes is down by 91.6%. There are four bogs on which we cut turf; my bog of Cloonchambers has seen the active raised bog habitat increase by 120%; that of Moanveanlagh has increased by 69.8%, that of Monivea has increased by 66.9% - I witnessed 1,000 hoppers of turf cut there this year - and Lisnageeragh's active raised bog habitat has increased by 127%. The best performing bog has turf cut by our chairman, Mr. Michael Fitzmaurice.
As the Deputy is aware, I recently published the draft national peatlands strategy, the draft national raised bog special areas of conservation, SAC, management plan and the review of raised bog natural heritage areas, NHAs. The draft peatlands strategy has been prepared in consultation with relevant Departments and with the Peatlands Council. It sets out for the first time a strategic, long-term vision for the management and use of our peatlands resources. This includes the protection of Ireland's unique bog habitats while also clearly recognising the valued tradition of turf cutting and the many other uses to which Ireland’s vast peatlands are put. The draft strategy envisages more joined-up thinking across Government when policies and decisions relating to the future use of peatlands are made. The drafting of an SAC management plan was recommended by Mr. Justice Quirke following the peatlands forum and was called for in the motion that was agreed by Dáil Éireann in March 2012. It sets out how the raised bog SACs are to be managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed.
The NHA review proposes a reconfiguration of the network of raised bog NHAs and will involve the de-designation of a number of sites and the designation of new NHAs. The resultant network of sites will be of greater conservation value than the existing network while reducing the number of turf cutters who will be required to cease cutting from over 3,000 to just over 500. These documents have been underpinned by the most comprehensive scientific assessment that has ever been undertaken of our raised bog resource. A three-month period of public consultation has now commenced and I urge people to reflect on these proposals and to let their views be known.
When I came into office, Ireland was on the cusp of legal action in the European courts for failure to implement the law. Since then, we have introduced a compensation and relocation scheme, which is heavily subscribed; established the Peatlands Council; held a peatlands forum; and through these most recent policy advances, are bringing certainty to difficult issues that have been avoided for too long. We now need to consolidate the progress that we have made and ensure the preservation and restoration of our most valuable bog habitats while addressing the legitimate concerns and needs of those affected. These documents set out how, working together, we can do this. I again encourage all stakeholders to engage with me and my Department so we can continue to make real progress.
I would really appreciate if the Minister did not, when asked a question, come to the Chamber and read verbatim from a script which he does not even understand. If the idea of the Habitats Directive is to preserve bogs, I have no problem with that, as they are fantastic habitats which need to be preserved. There should also be room for turf cutters. If the idea of preservation is to improve quality, will the Minister, rather than reading verbatim from a script, explain how my bog grew by 120.1%, and in area is only down 1.5% in 17 years? Fernandez has indicated that turf cutting is on the decline so over the next 17 years, the decrease will be even less. At the same time, Lough Forbes has lost 91.6% of its active raised bog habitat. What exactly is the Minister trying to achieve?
It is quite clear what is being achieved. The Minister is alienating turf cutters and destroying habitat. Will he deal with the issues? If one reads some of the stuff about us in the media, one would think we are trying to destroy bogs but my bog and that of our group's chairman are the best performing bogs in the country.
I answered the question asked by the Deputy and gave my views on these reports, which are very important. Even the Deputy would recognise that this has been the most scientific approach to this subject ever taken in this country. It has enabled the Deputy to come up with his statistics today. Listening to the Deputy, I wonder if sometimes he does not fully understand the issue. I do not mind Deputies trying to change the law but he is trying to break the law and, unfortunately, advocating such action.
That is not the issue.
If I can finish, the Deputy knows that SACs were designated by European law.
Not according to my barrister.
It is transposed into Irish law, and something major is required to change that. This scientific evidence will give us an opportunity to go back to Europe, if we get the co-operation of people on those SACs. In the case of some bogs where there is no relocation, there may be room for a proposal for limited turf cutting under Article 6.4 of the Habitats Directive. We could have that opportunity, if there is co-operation from everybody.
It is of no help, and I do not appreciate that every time I come to the House to represent turf cutters, and also to represent an organisation whose chair was described as a hero and a patriot by the Taoiseach, that the Minister calls us criminals. If the Minister wants to find a solution he must stop calling us criminals.
I never called anyone a criminal.
Let the courts decide that and do not predetermine what the courts have decided.
Deputy Flanagan should put his supplementary question.
I stand here today proud of the fact that active raised bog habitat has grown on my bog. On a bog of which the Minister is in charge, it is down by 91.6%. It is time for the Minister to resign. It is time for the National Parks and Wildlife Service to step back because it does not have a clue.
I never described those people as criminals in this House.
I am one of those people.
Since the 53 SAC bogs were designated we have lost 37% of the active raised bogs in those habitats.
That is on the bogs the Minister owns.
That is being taken very seriously in Europe. If Deputy Flanagan has his way we will be in the European Court and we will face huge fines. I welcome the fact that the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, TCCA, has gone into consultation with the consultant that drew up the plans. It had a five-hour meeting with him recently. I requested the TCCA to do that with the RPS Group months back but it decided not to do so.
The RPS Group is appalled.
That is the TCCA's own business but now it has entered into discussions. I appeal to Deputy Flanagan. My door is always open to anyone. Many of the Deputies present took up the offer and came to me privately and they have been very helpful. In spite of what he said, the same opportunity is open to Deputy Flanagan. He can speak to me about the matter anytime.
Does the Minister want to talk to me, a criminal?
I am open to speak to everyone.
Calling me a criminal does not help. An olive branch is long overdue.
We have made great progress. We can go even further if given the opportunity.
I am making great progress on my bog.
4. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael P. Kitt den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén uair a cheapfar Coimisinéir Teanga nua, an mbeidh an coimisinéir neamhspleách; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [4110/14]
Beidh an Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Curreáin, ag éirí as oifig i mí Feabhra, trí seachtain ar aghaidh ó inniu. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an coimisinéir as ucht na hoibre atá déanta aige. Ach ba mhaith liom a fháil amach anseo inniu cén uair a cheapfar coimisinéir nua. An mbeidh an coimisinéir nua neamhspleách agus an mbeidh seirbhísí Stáit ann do dhaoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu?
Mar is eol don Teachta, tá sé curtha in iúl ag an Choimisinéir Teanga reatha go mbeidh sé ag éirí as a phost ar 23 Feabhra 2014 tar éis deich mbliana in oifig. Tá an próiseas chun Coimisinéir Teanga nua a cheapadh ar siúl faoi láthair, trí léirithe spéise a lorg ar www.publicjobs.ie ó dhaoine ar mian leo go gcuirfí san áireamh iad i gcomhair ceapacháin mar Choimisinéir Teanga. Is é deireadh an lae ar an Déardaoin 30 Eanáir, sin amárach, an spriocdháta chun léirithe spéise a dhéanamh.
Déanfar Coimisinéir Teanga a cheapadh ina dhiaidh sin faoi réir alt 20(3) d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003, a fhorálann gurb é Uachtarán na hÉireann a cheapann an Coimisinéir Teanga ar chomhairle an Rialtais tar éis do Dháil Éireann agus do Sheanad Éireann rúin a rith ag moladh an cheapacháin.
Is sealbhóir reachtúil oifige é an Coimisinéir Teanga a fheidhmíonn go neamhspleách faoin Acht. I measc fheidhmeanna an Choimisinéara Teanga, tá: monatóireacht ar an gcaoi a bhfuil comhlachtaí poiblí ag comhlíonadh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003; imscrúduithe ina leith sin a chur i gcrích; comhairle a sholáthar don phobal maidir lena gcearta teanga faoin Acht; agus comhairle a sholáthar do chomhlachtaí poiblí maidir lena ndualgais teanga faoin Acht.
Is dóigh liom go ngabhann an tAire Stáit buíochas leis an gcoimisinéir freisin. Tháinig an Coimisinéir Teanga go dtí cruinniú de dhá chomhchoiste den Teach seo agus ag na cruinnithe sin, leag sé béim ar sheirbhísí Stáit do dhaoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu. Labhair sé mar shampla faoi chúrsaí talmhaíochta, cúrsaí iascaireachta, agus cúrsaí a bhaineann leis an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí. An dtuigeann an tAire Stáit go bhfuil sé an-tábhachtach go mbeidh Coimisinéir Teanga ann chun iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar na ceisteanna seo?
Freisin, nuair a bhí na Meastacháin á phlé againn, dúirt an tAire Stáit go mbeidh €567,000 ar fáil chun fadhbanna reachtúla an choimisinéara a chomhlíonadh, ach ní dúirt sé aon rud faoi choimisinéir nua. An cheist atá agam mar sin ná, céard a dhéanfaidh an tAire Stáit, a Roinn agus an Rialtas anois chun seirbhís Stáit a chur ar fáil do dhaoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu.
Mar atá ráite agam, tá próiseas ar siúl i láthair na huaire chun coimisinéir nua a cheapadh. Tá mé an-dóchasach go mbeidh coimisinéir úr ceaptha againn chomh luath agus is féidir. Ba mhaith liom cur leis an mhéid atá ráite ag an Teachta Kitt sa Teach agus buíochas a thabhairt don choimisinéir atá ag éirí as a phost. Thug sé deich mbliana seirbhíse. Mar Aire Stáit sa Roinn i láthair na huaire, ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt dó as an tseirbhís atá curtha ar fáil aige. Is é an dualgas atá orainn anois ná gach céim a ghlacadh chomh luath agus is féidir le comharba a cheapadh don choimisinéir atá ag éirí as a phost.
Mar adúirt mé, tá an post oscailte agus beidh cead ag daoine a bhfuil suim acu an tsuim sin a léiriú agus teangabháil a dhéanamh roimh thráthnóna amárach, a dáta deiridh le cur isteach ar an phost. Cífimid ansin cad iad na hainmneacha a thagann isteach. Táim ag súil go mbeidh deis againn ceann de na hainmneacha sin a thagann isteach a chur roimh an Rialtas. Beidh ar an ainm sin ansin a theacht go dtí an Dáil agus an Seanad agus ansin dul go dtí an tUacharán, mar is aigesan a bheidh an ceapachán le déanamh. Is féidir liom a dhearbhú don Teachta nach bhfuil aon mhoill agus go bhfuil gach céim á ghlacadh le coimisinéir úr a cheapadh chomh luath agus is féidir.
Go raibh maith agat. Is maith liom a chloisteáil go mbeidh coimisinéir nua á cheapadh ag an Aire Stáit agus ag an Uachtarán, ach an cheist a bhí agam ná ceist faoi státseirbhísigh a bhfuil Gaeilge acu ag plé le daoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu. Tá gá ann go mbeidh níos mó státseirbhísigh sna Ranna éagsúla. Ní dóigh liom go mbeadh costas sa bhreis ag baint le sin má tá daoine á fhostú agus Gaeilge acu. An féidir níos mó daoine le Gaeilge a fhostú? Chomh maith le sin, an mbeidh an tAire Stáit sásta teacht go dtí cruinniú den comhchoiste chun na ceisteanna seo a phlé? Tá a lán ceisteanna againn, ní hamháin maidir leis an gcoimisinéir nua, ach maidir le seirbhís do dhaoine le Gaeilge a bhíonn ag plé leis na Ranna éagsúla.
Maidir leis an nGaeilge sa tseirbhís poiblí, is cinnte, mar a dúirt an coimisinéir, go bhfuil deacrachtaí ansin le blianta fada. Aithníonn muid é sin agus sin an fáth anois go bhfuil muid chun, sa chéad fheachtas earcaíochta eile sa tseirbhís poiblí, a chinntiú go mbeidh céatadán áirithe de na poist sin curtha ar fáil d'iarrthóirí a bhfuil togha, rogha agus ard-chaighdeán Gaeilge acu. Is é seo an chéad uair a tharla seo ó 1974, go mbeidh cuóta curtha ar fáil do dhaoine ag teacht isteach sa tseirbhís poiblí a bhfuil ard-chaighdeán Gaeilge acu.
Cad mar gheall ar an gcomhchoiste?
Tuigim go bhfuil cuireadh agam dul chuig an chomhchoiste agus tuigim go bhfuil socruithe á ndéanamh idir oifigigh mo Roinne agus cléireach an chomhchoiste. Sílim go mbeidh deis agam dul isteach chuig an chomhchoiste taobh istigh de roinnt seachtainí, chomh luath agus is féidir na socruithe a dhéanamh. Beidh mé sásta sin a dhéanamh. Sílim go bhfuil an dáta beagnach socraithe, 5 nó 6 Márta, ach nílim cinnte de sin go fóill. Táim sásta dul roimh an chomhchoiste agus na fadhbanna agus na ceisteanna a phlé ansin le baill an chomhchoiste. Bhí mé féin blianta fada mar bhall de chomhchoiste agus tuigim chomh tábhachtach agus atá sé go dtagann an tAire isteach le labhairt ag an gcomhchoiste.
