Aontaím le mórán a dúirt an Teachta mar gheall ar an ról atá ag an Dáil agus an Rialtas chun na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn ach ní féidir liom, faraoir, glacadh leis an leasú atá os ár gcomhair inniu.
Deputy Ó Caoláin mentioned there was a 20 year backlog in translations. We discussed this not only on Second Stage of this Bill, but on Second Stage of the Interpretation Bill. Since then I have been able to get the up to date position on the translation service and for current legislation there is only a one year backlog. There is, however, a gap for the majority of legislation between 1993 and 1997. This should be rectified quickly because, arising from two separate competitions for the recruitment of translators, four permanent staff and five staff on four year contracts have now been employed and it is hoped that another contract position will be filled shortly. It was very difficult to find them but now that they are in place the work can continue. It will be at least a year, however, before the impact of their work is felt mar in ainneoin cé chomh líofa is atá na daoine seo, is rud eile é an t-aistriúchán ar fad. It is a very particular skill.
There are 1,500 pages of current legislation per year to be translated. The priority is to continue with that legislation so we can meet the requirement that it should be available simultaneously. Unfortunately, if I was to accept this amendment, it would mean further delaying the translation of current Acts of the Oireachtas. Restatement is not legislation. The case mentioned referred to legislation being available in both languages. The chief translator has said that where Acts to be restated have already been translated into Irish, he will give consideration to translating their restatements. It would be extremely difficult and time consuming in the context of the priority of translating current legislation if he was to start afresh on a restatement of legislation that had not already been translated.
A contract to put all translated legislation from 1922 into electronic format will be awarded in the near future by the translation branch and will help speed up the restatements.
Tá a fhios ag an Teachta go mbeidh an Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Comhionannas) ag teacht ar aghaidh and part of that legislation states that as soon as may be after the enactment of any Act of the Oireachtas, the text thereof shall be printed and published in each of the official languages. Ba chóir go rachaidh sin beagáinín níos faide ná a théimid anois.
There is not a 20 year backlog. We are only a year behind with current legislation and we do not want to delay it any further. With the new translators we will be able to get up to speed and we do not want to delay this further by doing restatement, particularly in areas where the Bills might not have been translated. I accept the point made by Deputy Ó Caoláin but it would not be helpful in the overall picture to accept the amendment.
