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Thursday, 17 Apr 2014

Written Answers Nos. 28-37

Foras na Gaeilge

Questions (28)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

28. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an ndeimhneoidh sé go n-íocfar íocaíochtaí iomarcaíochta reachtúla leo siúd ar fad a chaillfidh a bpoist de bharr chur i bhfeidhm an mhúnla nua mhaoinithe agus mura bhfuil na hacmhainní cuí ag na heagrais chun na híocaíochtaí sin a dhéanamh, an gcinnteoidh an tAire go dtacóidh Foras na Gaeilge leis na híocaíochtaí seo. [18043/14]

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Written answers

Is mian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta go bhfuil foireann na n-eagraíochtaí bunmhaoinithe fostaithe go díreach ag na heagraíochtaí sin. Faoin dlí a bhaineann le cúrsaí fostaíochta, baineann ceisteanna maidir le híocaíochtaí iomarcaíochta reachtúla leis na fostóirí ar an chéad dul síos. Mura bhfuil na hacmhainní ag na heagraíochtaí iad féin chun na híocaíochtaí seo a dhéanamh agus sa chás go bhfuil na heagraíochtaí sin ag scor, tuigtear dom go bhfuil maoiniú ar fáil ó chistí Stáit ar leith sa dá dhlínse chun cabhrú le heagraíochtaí a ndualgais reachtúla iomarcaíochta a chomhlíonadh. Sna cúinsí sin, tuigfidh an Teachta nach bhfuil aon ról reachtúil agam maidir leis an ghnó seo.

Foras na Gaeilge

Questions (29, 32)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

29. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad chuige a bhfuil deireadh á chur le seirbhísí nuachta agus eolais Gaelport.com nuair nach bhfuil aon chinneadh déanta maidir lena dtiocfaidh i gcomharbas air; an eol dó go bhfuil an-rath ar sheirbhísí Gaelport.com agus go bhfuil an t-éileamh ar an tseirbhís ag dul ó neart go neart, gur breis agus 1,000,000 amas sa bhliain a fhaigheann an láithreán gréasáin, go bhfuil 7,000 síntiúsóir cláraithe lena ríomhirisí, agus gurb iomaí duais agus gradam atá bainte amach ag Gaelport le blianta anuas. [18044/14]

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Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

32. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar cheadaigh sé féin agus an tAire i dTuaisceart Éireann cinneadh Fhoras na Gaeilge na deontais a tharraingt siar ó roinnt irisí Gaeilge, irisí liteartha ina measc; an inseoidh sé an chúis a bhí leis an gcinneadh sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [17778/14]

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Written answers

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh 29 agus 32 le chéile.

Ar an chéad dul síos, is mian liom a mhíniú do na Teachtaí go mbaineann na saincheisteanna seo le gnóthaí oibríochtúla Fhoras na Gaeilge agus nach bhfuil ról sonrach agam féin mar Aire ina leith.

Tuigtear dom ó Fhoras na Gaeilge go bhfuil roinnt irisí eagraíochtúla agus an suíomh idirlín Gaelport.com maoinithe go díreach trí na heagraíochtaí bunmhaoinithe. Mar thoradh ar chinneadh na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas treoir a thabhairt d'Fhoras na Gaeilge socruithe nua maoinithe a chur i bhfeidhm le héifeacht ó 1 Iúil 2014, tuigtear dom gur thóg bord an Fhorais cinneadh deireadh a chur leis an mhaoiniú do na hirisí eagraíochtúla agus don suíomh idirlín thuasluaite ag an am céanna.

Agus é mar aidhm ag Foras na Gaeilge an iriseoireacht Ghaeilge a chothú agus pobail léitheoireachta a spreagadh, tuigtear dom go mbeidh scéim le haghaidh iris stíl mhaireachtála á fógairt ag deireadh mhí na Bealtaine agus go mbeidh scéim le haghaidh iris níos téagartha á fógairt san fhómhar.

Ós rud é go bhfuil Conradh na Gaeilge roghnaithe mar eagraíocht cheannais sa réimse feasachta le héifeacht ó 1 Iúil 2014, titfidh an cúram ar an eagraíocht sin cinneadh a dhéanamh, i gcomhar le Foras na Gaeilge, faoi na háiseanna is fearr chun an obair sin a chur i gcrích. Tuigtear dom go bhfuil plé ar siúl idir Foras na Gaeilge agus Conradh na Gaeilge maidir le tosaíochtaí feasachta don todhchaí agus go bhfuil soláthar seirbhís ilmheáin nuachta agus eolais san áireamh mar chuid den phlé sin. Sa chomhthéacs seo, ní miste a lua gur fhógair Foras na Gaeilge a chinneadh ar an 11 Aibreán maidir leis an gconradh ceithre bliana chun nuachtán Gaeilge ar líne a chur ar fáil.

Air Strips

Questions (30)

Seán Kyne

Question:

30. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the airstrip at Cleggan in Connemara is available for use for emergency med-vacs operated by the Coast Guard as the current landing site, a sports field in Clifden, is not suitable for night-time use; if he will be open to liaising with the Coast Guard regarding possible use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17987/14]

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Written answers

This airstrip is unlicensed at present and does not currently have the capacity to facilitate night-time landings. However, my Department is open to dialogue with the Coastguard in order to assist them with their activities in any way possible.

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Questions (31)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

31. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and his Department have had discussions with other Departments, with particular reference to the impact of special areas of conservation on river or waterway catchment areas in view of the extent to which the need for flood alleviation and prevention has become obvious in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18046/14]

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Written answers

My Department maintains ongoing contact with the Office of Public Works, local authorities and other relevant agencies in relation to the management of protected rivers and other areas. In relation to the recent the winter storms, I would refer the Deputy to the guide produced by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, entitled Guide to Works and Development Consents for Repairing Infrastructure Damaged in Storms or other Emergency Events. This issued in response to the legal and other issues raised by the storms and floods of last winter. The guide was drawn up jointly by my Department, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport, and the Office of Public Works, following extensive discussions. The guide addresses, among other matters, the issue of biodiversity and compliance with the applicable EU law protecting nature sites. The guide is available on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie.

Question No. 32 answered with Question No. 29

Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla

Questions (33)

Michael P. Kitt

Question:

33. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael P. Kitt den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an mbeidh sé ag cur i bhfeidhm moltaí Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga mar gheall ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [17776/14]

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Written answers

I mí Iúil 2011, d'fhoilsigh Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga tuairisc maidir leis an athbhreithniú ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 ina ndearnadh tráchtaireacht ar fheidhm phraiticiúil agus ar oibriú fhorálacha an Achta sin. Tógadh moltaí na tuairisce sin san áireamh san athbhreithniú a rinneadh ar an Acht. Tá tuairisc mo Roinne ar an athbhreithniú sin, mar aon leis na haighneachtaí éagsúla a bhfuarthas cead iad a fhoilsiú, le fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne www.ahg.gov.ie, in éineacht le Ceannteidil Bhille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú) 2014, a d’fhaomh an Rialtas ar 1 Aibreán 2014.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (34)

Finian McGrath

Question:

34. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the peace talks in Colombia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18266/14]

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Written answers

I strongly support the Colombian peace process and hope that the negotiations underway will bring an end to a long conflict which has caused much suffering. I welcome the progress that has been made to date in the peace negotiations. Two areas on the agenda are now subject to provisional agreements: political participation and agarian reform.

Indications are that progress is being made in discussions on the third item of the agenda which relates to illicit drugs. I wish the parties to the negotiations success in reaching agreement on this and on the other items remaining on their agenda so that a final comprehensive peace agreement can be secured as soon as possible. Ireland will continue to follow closely developments on the Colombian peace process, and to support a negotiated solution to the conflict in Colombia.

Passport Services

Questions (35, 36)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

35. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a person who changes their name by deed poll must wait a particular period of time before changing their name on their passport; the length of time needed; the reason for same. [18289/14]

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Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

36. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the procedures a person wishing to change their surname on their passport after getting married must go through if they present an Irish or UK marriage or civil partnership certificate; the procedure they must go through if they present a non-Irish or non-UK marriage or civil partnership certificate; the length of time both of these procedures take; the reason for any differences; the legislative provisions governing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18290/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.

The Passports Act 2008 provides the basis on which the name should appear on a passport. In general terms the name in which a passport may issue shall be in the name of the applicant as it appears in the relevant certificate of birth. The Passports Act makes further provision to have a change in surname on the passport after getting married. This name change is accommodated on submission of a passport application accompanied by a certificate of marriage or civil partnership from the appropriate civil registration authorities. The Passport Service does not distinguish between the country of origin of the civil registration certificate for name change purposes.

The Passports Act also provides the legal basis for name changes on passports by deed poll. Evidence to the satisfaction of the Passport Service which proves use of the new name for a period of two years is required for a passport to issue in a new name without any observation as to the name previously used.

Passport Services

Questions (37)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

37. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to make available a contact within the passport office for Deputies to make inquiries on behalf of constituents. [18395/14]

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Written answers

Oireachtas members with urgent passport queries on behalf of constituents are advised to use a dedicated email address. In order to maximise resources and to allow queries to be dealt with in a prompt and timely manner Oireachtas members are requested to complete a short form when submitting these enquiries. This email address and form has been circulated to members a number of times in recent years and will be recirculated in the coming weeks. Additionally members are advised that the current status of a passport application can be checked on the Passport Tracking System (www.passport.ie) using the 11 digit barcode. This site is updated several times a day.

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