Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Dec 2003

Vol. 174 No. 23

Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Powers and Functions) Bill 2003: Committee and Remaining Stages.

Sections 1 to 6, inclusive, agreed to.

Title agreed to.

Bill reported without amendment and received for final consideration.

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Mr. McHugh

Fine Gael did not table any amendments to this legislation as it is a straightforward Bill. I wish to raise the question of the infrastructural needs and deficits of the west coast and west Donegal. The Irish word for infrastructure is infreastruchtúr. As a learner of Irish at beginner level, I have been told that there is a better Irish equivalent word – I believe the word is buneagraíocht. Gael Taca has been in contact with me and its mission is to avoid the use of Béarlachas in Irish and the over-use of English words. That word for infrastructure is perhaps a direct translation, but I am nit-picking.

With regard to the infrastructure in west Donegal, it is very important that the island communities are given these services under the Bill. The Minister is well aware of the infrastructural and community needs. This morning on the Order of Business I welcomed the rural-social scheme the Minister is hoping to devise for farmers. The Minister has covered much ground in terms of providing funds for these projects, but I hope he keeps his eye on the ball with regard to infrastructural deficits and the road network which leads to the islands.

Gael Taca has also brought the matter of signage to my attention. It wants to see the use of equal sized font for the two languages. I am aware that the Minister is an advocate of such equality. At present the Irish language version of road signs is sometimes in italic script and I suggest the same font should be used for both languages to give them equal status. I am aware that I have digressed from the subject of the Bill, but I wanted to mention those issues to the Minister. My party welcomes the Bill and it tabled amendments in the other House.

Labhrás Ó Murchú

Tréaslaím leis an Aire toisc an Bille seo a chur os ár gcomhair. I compliment the Minister on bringing this Bill to the House. It is indicative of the importance of the Bill that there is such unanimity in the House. I wish the Minister well with its implementation.

Mr. P. Burke

I welcome the Minister to the House. While it may not be possible to bring broadband technology to every house in the country, I ask the Minister to consider the extension of wireless telephony which would help roll out broadband. It would be a great help to the islands and remote areas.

Mr. McCarthy

I thank the Minister for his attendance in the House. A number of years ago in his previous capacity as a Minister of State, he attended a meeting of the western roads committee of Cork County Council in the courthouse in Skibbereen. For some time we had been trying to obtain funding for a road in the Gaeltacht area of Ballingeary. It was not forthcoming and the issue was a hot potato in the local elections of 1999. Funding was made available for what is now a very fine section of road in Ballingeary. It is very important to look at these areas. That initiative brought about a better piece of infrastructure and a better quality of life for the people of those areas. I will let the Minister know about the benefits of the scheme after the local elections campaign next year.

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

I thank Senators for their co-operation in bringing this Bill forward and passing it in the House. One of the issues involved was a matter that was ultra vires and which the Bill will regularise.

With regard to infrastructure, it should be recognised that there have been significant improvements. My view is that one of the problems was that infrastructure was always built from the centre outwards. When I was given funding for road infrastructure in the Gaeltacht areas, I tended to start at the farthest area back, for example, starting at Glencolumcille and working outwards, rather than starting at the Gaeltacht border and working inwards. I had three reasons for that approach. I felt that if anything ever happened, it was much more likely that the outside portion would be finished whereas if the road was built half way to the Gaeltacht, someone might say that was far enough as the population is so small. I always thought it a ridiculous reason, particularly in the case of a stop-end road, that if the road was built inwards, one is driving over the road and destroying the work that has been done. If one works outwards, there is the advantage of working towards the sources of stone and chips. The third reason was that it sends a signal to people that peripherality can be dealt with if the investment is provided. Between the Gaeltacht and the islands particularly, but more recently for wider rural development, considerable extra funding has been made available. I am very jealous about one thing.

When I receive CLÁR, Gaeltacht and Island funding, I am careful to ensure additionality rather than displacement. In the past, when a special fund was established, the money went in but those who should have been doing the job said, "That is very handy, this new fund will look after that", and they tended quietly to pull the money out of the area. I have had many a row with agencies to ensure that the extra funding we provide is additional.

When modest additional funding is provided, it has a significant effect. One example in County Donegal is that when we received the Gaeltacht funding I arrived at an arrangement with the county manager that he would concentrate on the road from Gweedore to Letterkenny, while we would concentrate on the road from Glencolmcille to Kilcar. In that way two roads were being done relatively quickly with considerable sums of money, whereas if the county council had to split the money between both roads the effect would not have been the same. It is important to keep fighting the good fight for rural infrastructure.

I am glad Senator McCarthy mentioned Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh. When I was 12 years old I won a prize for taking 40 minutes to run from Gouganbarra to the Irish college in Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh.

Mr. McCarthy

The Minister would do it in 30 minutes now.

Éamon Ó Cuív

I would not do it at all now. I would have to find some other way of doing it. I do not wish to bore Senators, but all languages have words and phrases that are borrowed from other languages. For example, in Irish we use the words buneagar, bunstruchtúr and infreastruchtúr. We should be relatively careful in decrying such borrowing because words like café and rapporteur are now considered part of the English language and we use them all the time. We are always borrowing words from one language and using them in another. We do not want Irish to be swamped by borrowed words but all languages are made up of such words. An interesting example is the word athair or father. Apparently the Celts could not pronounce the letter "p" and, as a result, pater became athair. That word is a borrowing in itself so borrowing from Latin and other languages did not begin today or yesterday. While we should be careful, it is a question of balance. Sauna is a Finnish word and there are plenty of other examples, even in English.

Broadband is of vital importance and it will either become the great divider or, if we can get it into rural areas, the great leveller. The CLÁR programme is geared towards the increased provision of wireless and other types of broadband. Most parts of the country now have fibre optic cables underground, including Mayo and Donegal. The other big objective is to get this fibre lit and accessible to the public. The Government is committed to doing so.

Gabhaim buíochas le hoifigí na Ranna a réitigh an Bille. Rinneadh cúpla leasú air sa Dáil, ceann molta ag an bhFreasúra agus ceann a mhol mé féin. Rinneadh dréachtú an-mhaith ar an mBille in achar an-ghairid agus tá fadhb a bhí ann leigheasaithe anois. Ní hamháin sin ach tá deis againn anois dul ar aghaidh agus na haerstráicí a thógáil ar na hoileáin.

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leat, a Chathaoirligh, as do chathaoirleacht ar an Seanad.

Question put and agreed to.

Sitting suspended at 2.45 p.m. and resumed at 4 p.m.