Deputy Woods.
An Bille um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 1978: An Dara Céim (Atógáil). Údarás na Gaeltachta Bill, 1978: Second Stage (Resumed).
Athchuireadh an cheist: "Go léifear an Bille an Dara hUair."
Question again proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
Mar adúirt me i dtosach, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an tÚdarás agus roimh an Bille seo. Dúirt mé freisin gurb é cuspóir na Bille ná Údarás na Gaeltachta a bhunú chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar phriomhtheanga na Gaeltachta agus forbairt na Gaeltachta a chur chun chinn chomh maith.
Before the debate was adjourned I was making a number of points in rela-tion to the Bill. One of these related to the facilities in the Gaeltacht areas for children going there in vacational periods to improve their knowledge of the language. I believe it would be advantageous to consider considerable improvement in the overall recreational and other facilities provided for these students so that in future far greater numbers would avail of the tremendous service offered by the Gaeltacht people to the country at large.
I regard this as a very important Bill. It provides much wider authority for An tÚdarás than was provided under the Act which established Gaeltarra Éireann. Gaeltarra Éireann was mainly concerned with the industrial and economic development of these regions. I was surprised that a number of Opposition Deputies made a great deal of play about the fact that in their view there is very little difference in this Bill. But even in setting out the purpose of the Bill it is clearly stated that An tÚdarás is to promote not only the economic life of the Gaeltacht areas but also the social, cultural, linguistic and physical development of the Gaeltacht. That statement is broad enough to include a wide variety of new developments in the Gaeltacht. I do not share Deputy O'Donnell's fears that community development and cooperatives will not receive the necessary stimulus under this Bill. I believe the enabling legislation is there to permit An tÚdarás to develop within the Gaeltacht the most desirable arrangements for community amenities in general. That is only right because if community development does not come from the community itself there is no point in trying to legislate for it. The Minister has provided scope for An tÚdarás to develop the necessary arrangements in the Gaeltacht and it is then up to An tÚdarás to produce proposals and suggestions within the context of this Bill.
In 1971 Comhairle na Gaeilge recommended that a working group be set up representative of the various interests involved to furnish a special report which was later entitled "Gníomh don Gaeltacht" and which in effect recommended the establishment of An tÚdarás. The group did very valuable work, furnished a very comprehensive report. They tried hard to consider various means of encouraging development in the Gaeltacht, but it is important to realise that since the group did its work we have become full members of the EEC and that this will have an influence on measures which are possible and the situation in the Gaeltacht areas. Our experience within the EEC will indicate to us the possible grants, loans and regional aid that will be available in practice. We knew previously theoretically what might be available in the early seventies but we now have much greater knowledge in practice of the operation of the EEC and how it can be used beneficially for particular groups of people.
In this connection it is important that An tÚdarás be recognised as a training authority especially so as to benefit from the EEC Social Fund. Section 11 gives power to transfer certain functions from an tÚdarás to An Chomhairle Oiliúna. It says that the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Labour, arrange for the transfer to An Chomhairle Oiliúna of some or all of the functions of An tÚdarás in relation to training, including retraining, of workers. This provision is desirable, but I think An tÚdarás should develop and promote its own training programme in association with AnCO and ensure that it gets maximum benefit from the EEC Social Fund which has been of tremendous benefit to industry generally. I should certainly like to see the Gaeltacht areas getting the maximum possible benefit from these training funds.
I was also impressed by the fact that there is a novel approach in the Bill. It provides for seven representatives to be elected democratically from these areas. This differs from the original recommendations in "Gníomh don Gaeltacht". This is an interesting development. It certainly involves the people directly in the future development of their own area. It could have parallels in other activities. I have always been very keen on the concept of community enterprise and I shall be interested to see the effect of this provision in the Gaeltacht areas. It brings responsibility directly to the people themselves to make proposals for their own areas.
The Bill makes it clear that the Minister is giving the Gaeltacht community a much greater say regarding An tÚdarás than was previously envisaged. Consequently, they will be able to exert considerable influence on the affairs of An tÚdarás. This is a novel feature in such development and the Minister is to be complimented on this step. I shall be very interested to see how this is used in practice subsequently. It could have lessons for us in many other aspects of community life in particular.
It would not be right to discuss the Bill and move on to An tÚdarás without paying due respect to the work done by Gaeltarra Éireann and congratulating its staff on their achievements in the Gaeltacht areas in the years since that body was founded. The functions, liabilities and staff of Gaeltarra will be transferred to An tÚdarás under this Bill. Some years ago Gaeltarra Éireann took a major step in decentralisation, in moving to Galway as the centre of their activities. I see this step as a further development of democratisation and development of subsidiary functions within the Gaeltacht. I am sure it will present no problems for them because this is the direction in which they have been going in recent years.
An additional power is included in this Bill. It is the power to guarantee repayment of loans received by persons for whom Údarás na Gaeltachta have supplied financial assistance. This power should be used particularly to sponsor development schemes for young people within Gaeltacht areas to assist them to get off the ground in establishing enterprises and working within the Gaeltacht. I welcome this provision and I hope it will be successful.
I have noted the Land Settlement Association in England under whom very many small enterprises have been established and continue to be established. They have been considered, discussed and debated by many people as to their relevance to our situation here. In recent years this Land Settlement Association in England have continued to expand and develop mostly small enterprises and to provide the kind of guarantees mentioned in this Bill. I look forward to seeing some of this sort of development within the Gaeltacht areas. I am aware that in some areas, particularly in Bally-ferriter in County Kerry, there are some developments of this nature on a larger scale taking place, but on an individual holding basis there is still considerable scope for that sort of operation.
I have listened to speakers from the Opposition claiming that there is nothing new or exciting in the Bill and that it is very much the same old hat with a dif-ferent name. I cannot see it that way; the facts are somewhat different. Section 9, which, as the Minister said, is perhaps the most interesting section of the Bill, gives the powers which may be conferred by Government order. That indicates very clearly the intention of the Government and the Minister to meet by whatever means are necessary the requirements for development on the most comprehensive basis within the Gaeltacht areas. This is a very novel and interesting feature of this Bill and I welcome it. We may consider in future how far this kind of provision should extend to other areas and other people. I say to the Minister: "Well done so far." This is a comprehensive and very major enabling Bill for the Gaeltacht areas and I hope that the Bill, which offers a great deal of opportunity, will be followed by similar novel actions to support a very novel Bill.
We are meeting here today to perform the annual ritual of paying homage to the Irish language. In some years it is in the form of a motion and in other years it is in the form of a Bill, but it all adds up to the same thing. I have yet to see any concrete, definite progress as a result of all our debates despite all the enthusiasm, be it genuine or otherwise. A sad fact of the matter is that as things stand Irish is a dying language and that need not be the case. I do not wish to be contentious politically on this matter, but over the years Fianna Fáil have used the Irish language not as a medium of expression but as a political weapon. For 50 years we have been listening to them talking about the proposed revival of the Irish language. They have professed to cherish the language as no other Irish person does or is entitled to do for that matter, according to Fianna Fáil. They do not cherish it, but they nurse it. They leave it virtually to die out and then they come along and make, or pretend to make, a major spurt and pretend to nurse it back to good health. If there was an ounce of sincerity in their intentions we probably would have made some progress by this stage, but unfortunately there has been none. This Bill is merely whitewash by another name. We have heard and seen it all before.
What is needed is the will to bring back Irish as a spoken language. Where there is a will there is a way. Deceit and dishonesty will not revive the language one iota. How many people in this country can speak Irish fluently? How many speak Irish in the course of their work and in their homes? I venture to say that the percentage is somewhere around two, or maybe less. If we had the will as a nation I have no doubt that within a matter of days—not even a week—about 22 per cent of the population could speak Irish fluently in the course of their work and of their daily lives. We have the basis. All, or virtually all of us, have been educated in the fundamentals of the Irish language to a reasonable degree which would enable us, if we so wished, to speak it fluently within a matter of days if we got down to it. But the will is lacking.
I would dearly love to see somebody motivate the Irish race to use Irish in the normal course of their lives. Unfortunately, that will is lacking. It is lacking primarily because of the hypocrisy which has accompanied the so-called revival attempts over the years. Unless we are honest with ourselves we cannot hope to go forward in this regard. There has not been a bit of honesty; there has been hypocrisy. I would like to see some individual or group of individuals coming forward and stirring up the Irish nation, getting us on the right road to a genuine Irish language revival. That 22 per cent who I contend could speak the language within a matter of days could be raised to 52 per cent within a few months. It can be done if we adopt the right approach, but I do not see any evidence of the right approach coming about.
Deputy O'Donnell made more progress in his term of office as Minister for the Gaeltacht than did all the previous Ministers for the Gaeltacht in the preceding 15 years. He engendered enthusiasm and got people to sit up and think. That enthusiasm was quite infectious. Since he left office it seems to have waned.
It is all right for me to use words. Talk is cheap. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. As Minister, Deputy O'Donnell took practical steps to build up the Gaeltachtaí and to promote the Irish language. When the National Coalition Government took office in 1973, 1,835 people were employed in Gaeltarra Éireann projects. When he left office in 1977, that figure had increased to 4,200. That is what I call practical patriotism, and not just lip service to the language. He more than doubled the number of people employed in industries in the Gaeltachtaí. It is sad to relate that, since Deputy O'Donnell left office, the employment figure has remained stagnant, or decreased if anything.
Today's report published by Gaeltarra Éireann for 1977 makes sad reading. I am sure the Minister and other Deputies present have seen references to it in the newspapers. The heading in the Irish Independent reads: “Gaeltarra's frantic appeal to Government”.
That is the heading in the Irish Independent. The message to the Government from Gaeltarra Éireann is summed up in the following words: “Do something quickly or it will be impossible for us to attract further investment to Gaeltacht areas”.
Where is that in the report?
It is in the Irish Independent.
Where is it in the report? The Deputy should quote from the report.
I am quoting from the Irish Independent.
Of course.
I stated that.
Quote from the report where that is stated.
I will not do what the Minister wishes me to do. I am stating what is written here in front of me. I will quote from The Irish Times:
The incentives offered to industry in the Gaeltacht are equalled or sur-passed elsewhere in Ireland and abroad so that the slight advantage formerly offered in the Gaeltacht has decreased. As the board's powers have been eroded by inflation, it is becoming more difficult to attract industrialists and investors.
"Erosion" is the word which crops up. At one time the incentives available to people setting up industries in the Gaeltacht were more attractive and considerably greater than those available in non-Gaeltacht areas. That has changed. The Government have done nothing to improve the incentives for Gaeltacht industries to enable them to keep in line with grants available from the IDA for industries in non-Gaeltacht areas. Unless those incentive grants are increased shortly and soon, we will have a drastic fall in the employment which Deputy O'Donnell built up when he was Minister.
Overall that report makes sad reading. The Minister should ask himself what is going wrong. Why does he not put a new injection of capital into the industrial projects in the Gaeltachtaí. I believe—I am open to contradiction on it—that the money voted for Gaeltacht industries in the Estimate last year was reduced. I should like to hear the Minister's view on that. I was told there was a reduction in the region of £2 million. If that is true, it is pretty awful. I turst that it is not true. Sometimes people juggle with figures and I hope my information is incorrect.
Recently I have been asking people to define the word "Gaeltacht". I am not a very proficient speaker of the language and I wanted to find out what that word meant. I am told it means all things in Irish. Our concept of the Gaeltacht is far too narrow. Should our encouragement of all things Irish extend beyond the present boundaries of the Gaeltachtaí? I believe it should. The phrase "all things Irish" does not just mean the language. It means traditional music, folklore, culture, step dancing, singing and so on. A number of other aspects of Irish culture should be taken into consideration.
West Clare leads the country in traditional Irish music and should be classified as an area which deserves special attention. It should be incorporated in the meaning of the word "Gaeltacht". There are similar areas in County Cavan, and there is an area called Sliabh gCua in my own county, Waterford, where all these traditional customs are practised and where people take great delight in their ability to play traditional music or perform Irish dances. These people are promoting Irish traditional culture to a greater extent than is being done in many areas which are designated as Gaeltachtaí. We all know some Gaeltachtí are merely Gaeltachtaí in name, a bit of a sham. The whole concept should be broadened and the very word itself encourages that expansion.
That would cut out the Wexford mummers.
They have a sort of Welsh background. What length of time does the word "traditional" cover? Does it go back ten, 50 or 500 years? Any native cultural activity should be covered by the word "Gaeltacht".
I should like to dwell on the type of industries that have been located in Gaeltacht areas. The primary function of Gaeltarra Éireann or of any other industrial promotion body within the Gaeltacht should be to use the available local resources. We have had far too much of the situation in which imported industries come and go. There are ample natural resources available. With the exception of a few Gaeltacht areas such as Ballyvourney in Cork and Rath Cairn in Meath, the Gaeltacht areas are generally on the seaboard. It is unfortunate that our fishing industry is perhaps our most underdeveloped natural asset. Would it not be logical to promote the processing of fish as a major industrial concern in these Gaeltacht areas? For every Irish fisherman there is merely one person engaged on-shore in a processing industry whereas in the other EEC countries the ratio varies from 1:5 up to 1:10 in Denmark. In other words, for every fisherman in Denmark there are ten people employed on-shore in allied industries. We should endeavour to build up that type of national industry and there would be no better place to make a start than in Gaeltacht areas. If the Minister restores the incentive grants to their former level compared with the IDA grants he might boost the processing sector of the fishing industry.
Although the Gaeltacht areas are generally rather rough and wild they have considerable possibilities for forestry. That is another native industry that could be explored to its full potential in those areas. During the next 15 years we will have a tremendous supply of mature timber but we do not have sufficient processing industries to deal with this situation. This area alone could provide tens of thousands of jobs. Textiles, too, are an obvious natural resource. This industry has been fostered considerably by Gaeltarra Éireann, especially in County Donegal.
Tourism is another industry which has great potential in the Gaeltacht areas because of their scenic attraction. This is an industry that is being promoted very well by Bord Fáilte in these areas but primarily the two industries which could and should be built up are in a sad state. These are the fish-processing and timber-processing in-dustries.
Although I began on a rather pessimistic note regarding the Irish language. I am very sincere when I say that the language could be spoken by at least half the population if there was even a slight effort to bring about that situation. In recent years there was tremendous interest in the revival of the language, but that interest appears to have waned. However, the elimination of compulsory Irish for the intermediate and leaving certificates was a tremendous step forward and generated a great amount of goodwill towards the language. There is a Shakespearean quotation which says that there is a tide in the affairs of men which, if taken at its flood, leads to fortune but which if missed leaves all life's voyage laid in shallows and in misery. If we had taken the immense amount of goodwill towards the language in its flood, Irish would be in a much healthier state today. It should be a priority of the Minister to ensure that the goodwill that exists is harnessed and to ensure that those people who are potential Irish speakers become Irish speakers. It is sad that the position has not improved. To remedy the situation it is necessary to increase to a large extent the amount of Irish being taught at school. Unfortunately, the Irish that is being taught at the various levels of education day after day is not being manifested in terms of the language being spoken either at work or in the home.
I welcome the Bill and congratulate the Minister on its production. It is a Bill that will have the effect of developing the culture of our country and which in particular will help to develop the Gaeltacht areas.
Our number one priority should be to ensure the spread of the Irish language. In this context the Bill is very important and should prove very beneficial to Irish-speaking communities in particular. I come from a county in which the language is very strong, as I am sure the Minister will agree from his experience of frequent visits to the area. Since the foundation of the State various boards and organisations have been set up for the purpose of ensuring that the language would live, and while all of these bodies did very good work the impact on the language revival movement has not been great. Despite all the efforts that have been made the Irish-speaking areas are shrinking fast. In many parts of Donegal that are native speaking one finds that English is used all too often. I appreciate that English is very often necessary for reasons of commerce and so on, but it is unfortunate that it is used so much in some Gaeltacht areas. Those people who can speak Irish should make every effort to transact their business and to hold conversations in that medium.
While work in schools is efficiently done, there is little carry over to later life. Young people with a good knowledge of the Irish language leaving secondary and third level institutions either do not have any scope to use the language or are not prepared to bother with it. A great responsibility lies on the teaching profession to encourage their students, irrespective of whether they live in the Gaeltacht or elsewhere, to develop their use of the language in every way. This should be instilled into all pupils. They should be given a sense of pride and a sense of duty to hold on to the Irish language and to speak it as much as possible.
I do not agree with the last speaker who said that the policy of the last Government in no longer making Irish obligatory in examinations was a good move. I consider it was a grave mistake. We all agree that compulsion is not the best way to gain an objective but nevertheless Irish should be compulsory in examinations. If it were reintroduced it would encourage people to be more aware and more concerned about the necessity to develop and try to revive Irish as our spoken tongue.
This Bill winds up Gaeltarra Éireann. I want to pay tribute to the fine work they have done down the years in the Gaeltacht district in Donegal. They have helped to revitalise our weak economy and provided employment for our young people. One need only go to the Gweedore estate and look over the industries there, which give employment to many people living in that native speaking area, to see that this is true.
It has been said that the incentives being given to industry are not enough. This may be, but I hope this new body will see ways and means of developing once again many of our native industries in the Gaeltacht areas which have long since died. The Gaeltacht areas have great potential but they are underdeveloped. The fishing industry in Donegal, which comprises a fair amount of the Gaeltacht territory, is also underdeveloped.
If the small ports and harbours in these areas got proper attention, the people engaged in fishing would have the necessary means of securing their boats and they would have harbours in which to land their catches. This is one aspect that has been badly neglected and many of our small essential ports are in a very run down condition.
Another industry which has developed in the Gaeltacht areas over the years is the tourist industry. Great strides have been made in this industry and I hope An tÚdarás will encourage more tourism for these areas. I am sure the development of our bogs and of the forest industry will also get due attention under this Bill.
One aspect of this Bill in which I am disappointed relates to the number of representatives on an tÚdarás who will be elected by the people of the Gaeltacht. This is a major step and will give the people living in the Gaeltacht the right to put on the board the people they consider best qualified to serve their interests and to see that the Gaeltacht areas are properly developed. There are three seats in Connacht-Meath, two in Munster and two only for Donegal. I consider that we in the Donegal Gaeltacht, which is on a par with the Galway Gaeltacht, merit three representatives. We took as a yardstick for determining the number of representatives for each Gaeltacht area the number of Irish speakers who received the £10 deontas. The Galway and Donegal Gaeltachtaí would have 2,000 in each and on this alone it could be argued very strongly that Donegal is not receiving proper representation. I do not mean that the Minister should take a seat from one area and give it to Donegal. I ask him to have another look as this and judge it on the arguments I have made. I am sure that as a result he will give the Donegal Gaeltacht three representatives. It was agreed when the commission was set up in 1926 that there should be three representatives from the Donegal Gaeltacht and I cannot see any reason for changing that. I hope the Minister will accede to this request.
One of the most important aspects of the Bill is that it will enable people to elect members of the Údarás. This is right because these elected representatives will be most familiar with the needs of Gaeltacht areas. I may be argued that the Bill does not go far enough but we must accept that it is a step forward and it contains provisions whereby at a later stage wider powers may be given to the board.
Some Gaeltacht areas are fragmented and when one crosses from a Gaeltacht parish to a non-Gaeltacht parish one finds that the difference is non-existent. There may be some way in which special aid could be provided to help such areas which have very few resources. It is just as difficult to live in many non-Gaeltacht areas in Donegal as it is to live in Gaeltacht areas there.
Various attempts have been made to give the Gaeltacht a fair deal. However, despite good intentions and no lack of effort and finance, the end product is not very significant. This Bill contains the elements for success; and the Minister, who is a native of the Gaeltacht, understands what is needed. While in Opposition he did not lose any opportunity to criticise Government policy and to point out what should be done. Now he has the chance to do something himself and I am confident he will go a good job. He does not want to see the Gaeltacht wither and die but to see it thrive and prosper. Action must be taken immediately. Economic conditions in many parts of the Donegal Gaeltacht are substandard. More industries and better social and recreational facilities are needed. If these can be provided, the Gaeltacht, already severely eroded, can be saved. A constructive development policy and generous finances are needed immediately. These are the important ingredients of success in Gaeltacht areas. Since the Minister took up office he has done much for these areas and he will not be to blame if conditions are not created for the development of the Gaeltacht and the retention of its population.
It is important that the Údarás should have as their first priority the retention of the national tongue as the first language in Gaeltacht areas. While Governments over the years have given extra funds for the development of the Gaeltacht, it would be sad if the prime objective, namely, the development of the national tongue, should not be achieved. In many parts of the Donegal Gaeltacht Irish is not as frequently used as it should be. The new board must give priority to the development of the language. People today are not fully aware of what the national tongue should mean to the nation. This is due to many factors, including outside influences which have had a substantial impact on the failure to promote our native tongue. Many people have a fair knowledge of Irish but for some reason they do not use it. Proper emphasis must be laid on the importance of keeping alive our national language. I wish the Minister well. He comes, as I said, from a Gaeltacht area and he will ensure that everything possible will be done to foster and develop that part of our country.
I welcome the Bill. It is welcomed by the people of the Gaeltacht, a people who in the past have had many promises made to them, promises that were unfortunately not followed up by any performance. Naturally the people of the Gaeltacht give the present Minister great credit for what he is doing for them. This is a first step. More powers will be needed but the Bill makes provision for those and I am sure that when the time comes all the necessary powers will be given to them. The people are grateful for the Minister showing such faith in them as to give them a majority on the board. Is this, I wonder, the first time a majority of elected representatives have been appointed to such a board? I hope the Minister will, in his wisdom, look at those Gaeltacht areas where there is no chance of an elected representative. I am thinking of the Muskerry Gaeltacht in my own constituency. Where there are two places available the smaller area would not, on balance, have an opportunity of having an elected representative. Perhaps an additional area could be created or possibly someone from the area could be appointed.
We have seven islands and I would advocate the appointment of a representative of those islands. Nobody knows the hardships and the difficulties islanders experience better than an inhabitant of those islands.
The nominees should have an industrial flair. As well as dealing with the preservation and expansion of the language the Bill also deals with industry, the provision of jobs and a better standard of living for all those in these areas. That is why I feel an industrial flair is very important coupled with a love of the language both in public and in private. We have on occasions seen people putting on a show for the public but not putting the language into practice in their daily lives.
Section 8 deals with the promotion of industry. It is a flexible section. Should the need arise to provide additional functions or modify some already there the Minister and the Government should act quickly. Industries in the Gaeltacht have had a poor history. Some have been set up for grant purposes and they have not always been the type of industry most suitable to the Gaeltacht. Many of them may have influenced people to leave good jobs in other areas and set up homes in the Gaeltacht in an effort to provide a livelihood for themselves and their families and these people have in their own way helped to promote the language. Industries should be established only on the strongest foundations so that they will be successful in the long term. They should blend with the local environment. Where possible they should be based on local resources. I am thinking of cottage industries, craft industries, food growing and processing, fishing and fish farming. The latter is becoming very popular. We should spare no effort in providing incentives to the people in the Gaeltacht where these particular enterprises can be carried on.
An industry associated with Gaeltarra Éireann is the production of Aran sweaters. This is a simple garment with a worldwide market. It can be made by anybody who has the necessary skill. It can be exported to any part of the world. We have all the requisites. We have the wool. We have the people and we have the market. Unfortunately we cannot fill the market. These are things that should be looked into because they could provide a high standard of living for the people in the Gaeltacht.
Section 11 is an excellent example of the type of co-operation that should exist between the Údarás and other Government agencies. No effort should be spared to train the people in these areas in new or old skills. We should be very conscious of some of the old skills that have been lost. Many of these skills survive only in the Gaeltacht. The Údarás, with the help of an Chomhairle Oiliúna, should encourage and revive these rare skills, they should help to make them profitable, so as to give valuable employment and provide craft items of which we would be proud. During the summer tourists are anxious to buy Irish-made souvenirs and surely this is a market we should be able to supply. Many tourists have been disappointed and annoyed not to have been able to acquire Irish-made souvenirs. This should be promoted in the Gaeltacht areas.
We should also encourage fruit and vegetable growing in the Gaeltacht areas because there is a very lucrative market for these foods, a lot of which we import at present. The Údarás should give every training incentive and encouragement to those who would grow fruit and vegetables in Gaeltacht areas. This is an area where there is a very high labour content and such enterprise would make a valuable contribution to the economy of the Gaeltacht.
In relation to executives, we should ensure that all these project the Gaeltacht, the language and the culture. I compliment the Minister on introducing this Bill. The Minister is an example to all of us of the sort of person that should come from the Gaeltacht. Not alone does the Minister speak the language but he sings Irish songs, plays Irish music and projects Irish culture wherever he goes.
This Bill represents another commitment being fulfilled by Fianna Fáil. I wish the Údarás well and hope they will involve themselves actively in the continuing development of the Gaeltacht. I look forward to them coming back in the near future looking for additional powers which will be made available to them.
I would remind the Minister of the situation in the smaller Gaeltacht areas, especially the Gaeltacht in Muskerry in mid-Cork, who are looking for and are deserving of a representative on the board. I wish the people of the Gaeltacht well and ask them and all of us to take pride in ourselves, in our language and in our culture.
Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghlacadh leis na Teachtaí a thug a gcuid tuairimí faoin mBille. Is cuma cé acu a bhí siad ar thaobh an Bhille nó ina aghaidh, ba bhreá an rud go raibh an oiread daoine anseo a raibh suim acu ann agus go dtáinig siad isteach chun a dtuairimí a chur os ár gcomhair.
Mar a dúirt mé cheana go poiblí, nílimse ag iarraidh a chur ina luí ar mhuintir na Gaeltachta go bhfuil na cumhachtaí ar fad a mba mhaith leo a fheiceáil ag an Údarás ar fáil sa Bhille seo. Ba mhaith liom an méid seo a rá: tá Bille an Údaráis tugtha os comhair na Dála, rud a gheallamar agus rud a bhfuil brod ormsa anois a bheith in ann é a chur os comhair na Dála. Beidh deis ag chuile dhuine sna blianta atá romhainn an Bille a fheabhsú agus a neartú ar mhaithe le muintir na Gaeltachta.
Ag éisteacht leis na Teachtaí ón Fhreasúra, go háirithe Teachtaí Fhine Gael, cheapfá go ndearna siad fhéin cat agus dhá dhrioball, ach bhíodar anseo ar feadh 4½ bliana agus mí i ndiaidh míosa, bliain i ndiaidh bliana, chuir mé cheist orthu, "Cén uair a bheidh an t-Údarás ar fáil?" agus fuair mé an freagra céanna i gcónaí, go raibh sé réidh le tabhairt os comhair na Dála. Ach níor tháinig sé, agus ins an díospóireacht a bhí againn anseo ar feadh cúpla lá, ní fhacamar cruthúnas ar bith go raibh Bille ar bith réidh acu le cur os comhair na Dála.
Nuair a thosaigh an Teachta O'Donnell ag labhairt dúirt sé go raibh súil aige go mbeadh níos mó cumhachtaí sa Bhille. San taobh don tír a bhfuil baint agamsa leis ní bhainfinn úsáid as an abairt "ag súil". Tá seanfhocal againn a deireann: "Ag dúil le Dia, agus nár fhealla Sé". Bhuel, d'fheall an Teachta O'Donnell. I mBille mar seo tá sé íon-tach deacair mion-rudaí mar sin a chur isteach. Ní raibh sé sásta leis na ceantair thoghcháin agus shíl sé go mba cheart go mbeadh níos mó daoine tofa do chúige Mumhan. Sílim go bhfuil muintir chúige Mumhan ag fáil a gcion féin sna toghcháin agus dá mbeimis ag brath ar uimhreacha amháin nach mbeadh beirt le fáil acu i dtoghcháin an Údaráis.
Shíl an Teachta go mba cheart duine amháin a cheapadh do na hoileáin. Ní shílim go bhfuil sé sin ró-phraiticiúil. Conas a d'fhéadfadh fear amháin freastal ar Oileán Thóraí, ar Árainn Mhóir, Oileáin Árann, na trí cinn acu, agus ar Oileán Chléire, duine amháin bheith freagrach do no hoileáin ar fad ag tosú thuas i dToraígh agus ag síneadh síos go hOileán Chléire. Ní bheadh sé ró-éasca toghchán ar leith a chur ar bun le haghaidh duine a dhéanfadh freastal ar na hoileáin. Tuigimid go maith cúrsaí na n-oileán agus tuigeann chuile dhuine go bhfuil fadhbanna faoi leith ag muintir na n-oileán ach sílim go bhfuil siad féin ag fáil an lámh in uachtar ar chúrsaí le blianta beaga anuas agus gur fearr an dul chun cinn atá sna hoileáin anois ná mar a bhí scaitheamh maith de bhlianta ó shin.
Tá rud amháin adúirt an Teachta Begley nach n-aontaím leis, agus sin an masla a chaith sé le muintir na Gaeltachta—na dreamanna balbha a thug sé orthu, na comharchumainn, na cearta sibhíalta, daoine eile nár tháinig amach agus nár labhair in aghaidh an Bhille seo. D'fháiltigh muintir na Gaeltachta roimh an mBille, mar bhí siad ag éisteacht chomh fada leis an chaint i gcaitheamh na mblianta atá caite faoi Údarás gur shíl siad nach bhfeicfeadh siad Údarás ar bith. Tá bród orthu anois go bhfuil an tÚdarás ag teacht agus is beag an mhaise don Teachta Begley é, fear atá ina chónaí i nGaeltacht, masla den chineál sin a chaitheamh le muintir na Gaeltachta.
Rinne an Teachta Horgan óráid a bhi réasúnta agus stuama agus molaim é dá bharr. Dúirt sé go raibh an baol ann go bhfágfaí chuile shórt faoin Údarás agus gur fúthu a bheadh cúram na Gaeltachta ar fad. Tiocfaidh mé leis gur pointe anmhaith é sin agus nár cheart a bheith ag cuimhniú gur ar an Údarás amháin a bheadh cúram na Gaeltachta. Baineann an cúram sin linn ar fad. Baineann sé le muintir na tíre ar fad, agus tá súil agam nach nglacfar leis ar an gcaoi sin nuair a bhéas an tÚdarás curtha ar bun.
Luaigh sé an gá atá leis an teanga, an cultúr agus cúrsaí eile sa Ghaeltacht a neartú, agus tá sé soiléir go dtuigeann sé nach mbeadh maith ar bith bheith ag caint faoin Ghaeltacht mura mbeimid ag caint faoi dhaoine. Nuair atáimid ag caint faoin nGaeltacht táimid ag caint faoi dhaoine agus is maith liom go raibh an chaint a rinne sé stuama agus go raibh sé ag iarraidh cuidiú linn sna moltaí a chuir sé os ár gcomhair.
Luaigh sé deacrachtaí a bhain leis an Ghaeltacht mar atá sí i láthair na huaire, agus beimid ag dúil nuair a chuirfear an tÚdarás ar bun go mbeidh sé láidir agus go ndéanfar na deacrachtaí atá ann i láthair na huaire a leigheas agus cúrsaí a neartú maidir le cultúr, eacnamaíocht agus chuile shórt eile a bhaineas le dul chun cinn na Gaeltachta.
Maidir lein an mBille féin, tá cosúlacht ann go bhfuil daoine nach dtuigeann go ró-shoiléir an chuid a bhaineann leis na cumhachtaí a bhéas ag an Údarás. Tá sé leagtha amach go soiléir conas a bheidh an tÚdarás in ann na cumhachtaí breise a fháil agus cén chaoi a iarrfaidh an tÚdarás na cumhachtaí sin. An lá a thosaigh an díospóireacht anseo bhí ordú tugtha ós comhair na Dála ag an Aire Iascaigh a bhain leis an rannóg atá faoina chúram, agus ar an chaoi chéanna beidh an tÚdarás in ann a gcuid moltaí a chur os comhair Aire na Gaeltachta agus an Rialtais agus beidh an Rialtas ansin in ann na horduithe sin a thabhairt os com-hair na Dála nuair a bhéas gá leo. Ní rud mór é sin. Tá sé anseo sa Dáil cheana againn. Má bhaineann an tÚdarás feidhm as sin ní bheidh deacracht ar bith acu na cumhachtaí breise seo a fháil am ar bith a thogróidh siad é.
Labhair an Teachta Aherne agus an Teachta Hegarty faoi na Breac-Ghaeltachtaí, agus luadh go mba cheart b'fhéidir níos mó áirde a thabhairt ar áiteanna a bhfuil an Ghaeilge iontu go fóill ach nach bhfuil sí á labhairt mar is ceart. Aontaím go mb'fhéidir go bhfuil gá le dearcadh nios géire ar chúrsaí mar sin agus sílim go mbaineann sé sin leis an Údarás agus le Bord na Gaeilge a n-aghaidheanna a dhíriú ar na Breac-Ghaeltachtaí agus féachaint le teacht i gcabhair ar dhaoine a bhfuil Gaeilge acu anois is atá in ann í a labhairt ach nach bhfuil ag baint an oiread úsáide as an Ghaeilge agus ar chóir dóibh a bheith. Tá sé soiléir i láthair na huaire go bhfuil cuid mhaith de na Breac-Ghaeltachtaí sin ann, áit a raibh Gaeilge, b'fhéidir scór go leith bliain ó shin, agus de bharr imirce nó de bharr faillí agus neamh-shuime i labhairt na Gaeilge go bhfuil sí ag dul i léig sna háiteanna sin. Sílim go dtuigfeadh duine ar bith go bhfuil sé níos fusa an Ghaeilge a thabhairt ar ais in áiteanna mar sin ná in áiteanna eile ar fud na tíre nach bhfuil Gaeilge ar bith iontu i láthair na hauire.
Luaigh an Teachta Hegarty chomh maith na mion-tionscail agus bhí moltaí anmhaith aige maidir le céard ba chóir a dhéanamh leis na miontionscail a scaipeadh thart ar fud na Gaeltachta. Dúirt sé go mba chóir teorainn na Gaeltachta a athrú. Ní ceist ró-fhurasta í seo le réiteach. Tháinig Airí agus d'imigh Airí agus rinne cuid acu teorainn dá gcuid féin, agus níl fhios agam an ar mhaithe leis an Ghaeltacht nó ar mhaithe le polaitíocht a rinneadh cuid acu, ach is doiligh a rá cén chaoi cheart chun an scéal seo a mheas nó a leigheas. Má dhéantar cúlú ar na Gaeltachtaí beimid ag caitheamh droch-mheas ar áiteanna nach bhfuil, b'fhéidir, mórán Gaeilge iontu ach ag an am céanna ní ceart go gcaithfí droch-mheas orthu. Má leathnaíonn muid amach teorainneacha na Gaeltachta mar atá sí i láthair na huaire tá an dainséar ann go mbeimid ag déanamh éagóir ar na fíor-Ghaeltachtaí, áiteacha a bhfuil an Ghaeilge á labhairt go tréan.
Bhí an cheist seo faoi chaibidil ag an Teachta O'Toole agus an Teachta Kenny. Shíl siadsan go mba cheart go mbeadh na buntáistí atá le fáil anois ag muintir na Gaeltachta ag na ceantair imeallacha atá buailte leis an nGaeltacht. Sílim ón méid adúirt siad—séard a thuig mise ón méid adúirt siad—go raibh siad ag caint faoin rud a luadh cúpla bliain ó shin i gContae Mhaigh Eó, sé sin an Western Development Board. Ar ndóigh cosúil leis an Údarás ní raibh ansin ach moladh nach dtáinig tada as agus arís cé go raibh go leor cainte faoi níor tháinig sé chun tosaigh agus níl fhios agam céard atá i gceist acu anseo. Leis an fhírinne a dhéanamh níl fhios agam cén polasaí atá ag Fine Gael ins na cúrsaí seo mar bhí cúpla Teachta eile a tháinig isteach agus a labhair faoin Ghaeltacht agus cén áit ar chóir don Ghaeltacht a bheith. Dúirt an Teachta Deasy, cuirimíd i gcás, gur shíl sé gur cheart go mbeadh áiteachta in Iarthar an Chláir i dteideal a bheith sa Ghaeltacht agus luaigh sé áit eile i gContae an Chabháin. Luaigh an Teachta Keating Gaeilgeoirí Bhaile Átha Cliath agus go mbeadh Gaeltacht dá gcuid féin ag muintir Bhaile Átha Cliath agus go raibh na daoine i mBaile Átha Cliath a bhí ag labhairt na Gaeilge i dteideal an t-aitheantas céanna agus atá á fháil ag muintir na Gaeltachta i láthair na huaire a fháil.
Níl fhios agam go díreach céard atá i gceist ag na Teachtaí seo ar fad nó cén polasaí atá acu i dtaobh na gcúrsaí seo ar fad. Luaigh an Teachta Deasy rud eile nach dtuigim nuair a bhí sé ag caint faoin Ghaeltacht. Luaigh sé "this sham", adúirt sé. Céard go díreach atá i gceist aige? Níl fhios agam. An é go bhfuil sé ag rá gur "sham" atá sa Ghaeltacht féin—le úsáid a bhaint as na focail a labhair sé féin. Más ea sílim gur cheart dó dul síos go dtí Gaeltacht Phort Láirge agus a mhíniú dóibh céard atá i gceist aige. Níl fhios agamsa céard atá i gceist aige nó cén chiall atá le baint as na rudaí sin adúirt sé.
Luaigh an Teachta O'Toole an cheist faoi eolas a nochtadh faoin alt den Bhille ina ngearrfar nó a bhfuil sé i gceist go ngearrfar pionós ar dhaoine i ngeall ar eolas a nochtadh. Ní rud úr é sin. Baineann sé leis na boird Stáit eile go minic. Ó thárla go mbeidh an tÚdarás ag plé le cúrsaí a bhéas—ar feadh cuid den am ar chuma ar bith—rúnda sílim gur cheart go dtuigfeadh éinne go bhfuil gá le rannóg mar sin a chur sa Bhille. Cuirimíd i gcás nuair a thagann tionsclaí le moltaí chuig Gaeltarra i láthair na h-uaire nó chuig an IDA ní maith leis b'fhéidir go mbeadh fhios ag an saol mór céard atá ar siúl aige ná ní maith leis go mbeadh fhios acu céard iad na moltaí a bheadh os cómhair Gaeltarra nó an IDA aige. Ní gnách go dtugtar poiblíocht do chúrsaí tionscail go mbíonn chuile shórt réidh agus go mbíonn gach rud réidh le tosú. Dá bhrí sin, sin an fáth go bhfuil an rud seo curtha sa Bhille agus ní shílim gur cheart go mbeadh muide ag argóint faoi. Is rud simplí é agus is rud ciallmhar é.
Dúradh nach raibh aon rud á dhéanamh don Ghaeltacht i láthair na huaire agus gur ag dul ar gcúl a bhí cúr-saí maidir leis an gGaeltacht féin. Ní thig linn a bheith sásta go bhfuil chuile shórt chomh maith agus ba mhaith linn go mbeadh sé ins na Gaeltachtaí. Tá deacrachtaí i gcónaí maidir le tionscail a chur ar bun ins na Gaeltachtaí, ach ó bunaíodh an Stát tá sé intuigthe i gcónaí go mbeadh muintir na Gaeltachta ag fáil deontaisí breise agus deontaisí nach raibh le fáil in áiteacha taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Cuirimíd i gcás i láthair na h-uaire má tá duine ag tógáil tí tá deontas de £2,000 le fáil aige. Taobh amuigh den Gaeltacht níl ach £1,000 le fáil aige. Tá deontaisí breise eile maidir le turasóireacht. Má tá duine sásta cúpla seomra a chur lena theach tá deontaisí breise le fáil aige le cuidiú leis na cuairteoirí a mhealladh isteach. Tá scoláireachtaí le fáil ag muintir na Gaeltachta. Ins na coláistí oiliúna, cuirimíd i gcás, tá 10 faoin gcéad de na h-áiteacha atá ag dul do mhúinteoirí le fáil ag muintir na Gaeltachta. Tá go leor leor buntáisí eile ag muintir na Gaeltachta nach bhfuil ag daoine atá ag maireachtáil taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht. Sílim go dtuigeann pobal na tíre uilig go bhfuil gá leis na cúrsaí seo agus ní chuireann siad ina n-aghaidh.
Beidh na cúrsaí seo ar fad faoi chúram an Údaráis ins na blianta atá rómhainn agus beidh deis ag na baill a thoghfar agus na baill a bhéas tofa ag an Aire na cúrsaí seo a phlé ar mhaithe le muintir na Gaeltachta. Ó thárla den chéad uair go mbeidh deis ag muintir na Gaeltachta iad féin na daoine seo a thoghadh beimíd ag dúil go mbeidh daoine ar an Údarás a thuigfeas níos fearr ná mar a tuigeadh go dtí seo céard iad na rudaí is fearr atá i ndán don Ghaeltacht agus cén chaoi is fearr a dtig freastal a dhéanamh ar mhuintir na Gaeltachta i ngach áit san nGaeltacht.
Bhí go leor Teachtaí a tháinig isteach anseo agus nach raibh an Ghaeilge ar a ndeis acu agus labhair siad i mBéarla. Sílim gur breá an rud gur tháinig na Teachtaí sin isteach anseo agus gur labhair siad faoí chúrsaí na Gaeltachta agus faoin mBille fhéin. B'fhéidir go raibh cuid mhaith acu a bhí ag plé le Gaeilge níos mó ná Gaeltacht agus nár fhan siad leis an mBille. Níl aon locht agamsa orthu mar gheall air sin. Nocht siad a gcuid tuairimí go breá, bríomhar, agus sílim go bhfuil sé soiléir nach bhfuil aon easaontas i measc Teachtaí faoi céard is fearr a dhéanamh maidir leis an Ghaeilge a neartú agus a leathnú amach.
Ach tá rud amháin a chaithimid a thuiscint, agus sin nach mbeidh Gaeilge ann muna mbeidh an Ghaeltacht ann, agus sin é an fáth go bhfuil sé chomh tábhachtach sin go bhfuil an Bille seo os ár gcomhair anois agus go mbeidh muin-tir an Údaráis ag obair ar son na Gaeltachta sna blianta atá rnmhainn.
Labhair an Teachta O'Donnell tréimhse fhada, agus ó thárla go raibh sé ina Aire ar feadh 4½ bliana, tá tuiscint mhaith aige ar chúrsaí na Gaeltachta agus ar na rudaí is gá a dhéanamh ar mhaithe leis an Ghaeltacht. Luaigh sé na comharchumainn agus an pháirt atá acu maidir le leas na Gaeltachta ó bhunaíodh iad. Sílim go dtuigeann na daoine anseo a bhí freagrach don Ghaeltacht san am atá caite na buntáistí atá sna comharchumainn. Níl amhras ar bith ná gur thug siad misneach faoi leith do mhuintir na Gaeltachta obair a dhéanamh ar a son féin, agus ó tugadh isteach na deontasaí don chéad uair i 1965, deontasaí bainistíochta do na comharchumainn, tuigeadh na buntáistí a bhí sna comharchumainn le cúrsaí a chur chun cinn. Is breá a fheiceáil anois go bhfuil na comharchumainn seo scaipthe thart ar fud na Gaeltachtaí, beagnach i ngach Gaeltacht, agus go bhfuil siad ag baint feidhme as na buntáistí atá ar fáil ó Roinn na Gaeltachta, go bhfuil siad ag glacadh leis na deon-tasaí bainistíochta le daoine a chur i mbun cúrsaí ins na Gaeltachtaí le cuidiú le muintir na Gaeltachta. Tá rian a gcuid oibre go soiléir ins na Gaeltachtaí ar fad.
Chuir an Teachta O'Donnell ceist díreach orm: ba mhaith leis a fháil amach céard a shíl mise faoina comhar-chumainn. An bealach is fearr chun an freagra sin a thabhairt dó ná a rá go raibh mé im rúnaí ar chomharchumann sa Ghaeltacht sular tháinig mé isteach sa Dáil, nó sular phléigh mé leis an bpolaitíocht. Sílim go gcruthaíonn se sin an tsuim atá agam sna comharchumainn agus go dtuigim go rí-mhaith an obair is féidir leo a dhéanamh agus atá dá dhéanamh acu i láthair na huaire maidir leis na Gaeltachtaí a chur chun cinn.
Ní raibh mórán tagairt pholaitíochta sa díospóireacht seachas ag cúpla Teachta a bhí ag cur i leith Fhianna Fáil go rabhdar ag ligint orthu nach raibh suim ag éinne eile i gcúrsaí Gaeilge nó Gaeltachta ach iad fhéin. Nuair atá daoine ag plé le polaitíocht tá deis acu rud ar bith is maith leo a rá i ndíospóireachtaí mar seo. Caithfidh siad seo a admháil: ó bunaíodh an Stát bhí tuiscint ag gach Rialtas faoi thábhacht na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta. B'fhéidir nach raibh na módhanna nó na bealaí cearta ann le leas a bhaint as na cumhachtai a bhí ag Rialtais san am atá caite ar mhaithe le Gaeilge agus leis an nGaeltacht, ach tá rud amháin a gcaithfimid a rá: rinneadh iarrachtaí, agus má theip ar na hiarrachtaí sin, sílim nach ceart dúinn bheith ag tromaíocht ar aon Rialtas mar gheall air sin.
Maidir leis an Ghaeilge féin agus le hathbheochan na Gaeilge, cuireadh an t-ualach ar fad ar na scoileanna agus cheap chuile dhuine gur ag na scoileanna agus ag na múinteoirí ba cheart slánú na Gaeilge a fhágáil. Is faoi sin a deineadh an dearmad—níor thuig daoine go raibh i bhfad níos mó le déanamh ná bheith ag dúil go mbeadh muid in ann an Ghaeilge a athbheochan trí na scoileanna amháin. I láthair na huaire sílim go bhfuil tuiscint nios fearr ar chúrsaí mar sin—go dtuigeann daoine nach féidir leis na múinteoirí nó na scoileanna an Ghaeilge a thabhairt ar ais muna mbíonn muintir na tíre ar fad taobh thiar den iarracht.
Luaigh an Teachta O'Donnell chomh maith na hoileáin agus polasaí i leith na n-oileán. Aris, is féidir a rá go fírinneach go ndeachaigh Roinn na Gaeltachta i gcabhair na n-oileán i gcuid mhaith bealaí. Thug siad deontas 100 faoin gcéad le solas aibhléise a chur ar fáil, chuir siad aerstraící ar fáil dóibh. Bhí deis i gcónaí ag páistí na n-oileán iarbhunoideachas a fháil, i meán-scoileanna agus in ollscoileanna. Níor deineadh an fhaillí ar na hoileáin a deirtear go minic.
Tá fhios againn ar fad go bhfuil saol cruaidh achrannach ag muintir na n-oileán agus go dteastaíonn cabhair uathu, ach sa chaoi a bhfuil cúrsaí ag dul ar aghaidh i láthair na huaire i gcuid de na hoileáin, in Inis Mór, Inis Meáin, ar Oileán Árainn Mhór i dTír Chonaill, tig linn bheith bródúil go bhfuil saol níos fearr ag bunadh na n-oileán sin anois de bharr an chuidiú sin. Tá siad in ann buntáiste a bhaint as na coláistí samhraidh le micléinn a thógáil isteach. Tá siad in ann níos mó a shaothrú ó thurasóireacht agus tá, sílim, ó bunaíodh Radio na Gaeltachta ceangal níos fearr acu leis an mórthír agus leis na Gaeltachtaí ar fad. Tá an saol athraithe ar fad le cúpla blian ins na hoileáin sin agus ní ceart a bheith go siorraí ag baint úsáide as an mbéal bocht agus ag iarraidh a bheith ag cur ina luí ar dhaoine nach bhfuil tada á dhéanamh i gcúrsaí mar sin.
Luaigh an Teachta O'Donnell eagraíocht nó eagras.
Lár eagras.
Más breá leat. Luaigh sé eagras de chomharchumainn —sé sin, comharchumainn Ghael-tachta—go raibh eagras ann sul ar fhág sé an Aireacht agus go raibh duine le toghadh a bheadh ina bhainisteoir ar an eagras sin. Níl fhios agam an bhfuil sé sin fíor nó bréagach—níl mé ag dul ag cáineadh an rud adúirt sé—ach ón eolas atá agamsa níor bunaíodh an t-eagras sin go foirmiúil. Tháinig na comharchumainn le chéile go minic—tá fhios agam é sin—ó tháinig mise isteach mar Aire fiú amháin. Tá fhios agam go dtáinig siad le chéile agus go raibh cruinnithe dá gcuid féin acu ach ní shílim gur bunaíodh an t-eagras a bhfuil sé ar caint air go foirmiúil.
Luaigh an Teachta O'Donnell Tuarascáil Ghaeltarra atá foilsithe le scaitheamh agus a raibh trácht air ins na nuachtáin inniu. Shílfeá ón méid adúirt sé agus ón méid adúirt Teachtaí eile go raibh éagóir éigin á dhéanamh ar Ghaeltarra, go raibh na deontaisí a bhí le fáil acu á ngearradh anuas agus dá bhri sin go raibh faillí á dhéanamh maidir le tionsclaíocht a leathnú amach ins na Gaeltachtaí. Ó bunaíodh Gaeltarra ní shílim go ndearnadh aon athrú ar chúrsaí maidir leis na deontaisí atá dhá n-íoc acu. Tugadh cumhachtaí breise dhóibh ó am go ham ó bunaíodh Gaeltarra féin ach níor laghdaíodh ar bhealach ar bith ar dheontaisí ná níor baineadh cúmhachtaí ar bith díobh maidir le tionscail a bhunú ins na Gaeltachtaí.
Luaigh sé—agus bhí sé ag léamh as ceann de na páipéir, sílim an Irish Independent, luaigh sé go bhfuil ul-timatum fáighte ag an Rialtas ó Ghaeltarra maidir le cúrsaí ins na Gaeltachtaí. Mar a thuigeann an Teachta é féin go rí-mhaith, sa gcéad áit—agus ba cheart go dtuigfeadh pobal na tíre seo chomh maith é—is ar éigean go mbeadh bord Stáit ar bith ag tabhairt ultimatum do Aire ná ag tabhairt ultimatum do Rialtas agus is aisteach an chaoi mar a dtig le páipéar nuachta rud a chasadh agus rudaí a rá i gcaoi go dtarraingeoidh siad súil an phobail orthu féin.
Nach dtugann ceárd-chumainn agus chuile shórt eile ultimatum do Rialtais agus go ngéilleann na Rialtais rompu?
Má tá gá leis b'fhéidir. Níl cúis ar bith náníl fáth ar bith go mbeadh Gaeltarra ag bagairt ar an Rialtas mar nuair a tháinig mise isteach mar Aire ceann de na céad rudaí a rinne mé ná Bille a thabhairt isteach, leasú ar Bhille a bhí ann cheana i gcaoi go mbeadh siad in ann suas le £50 mil-liún a chaitheamh le tionscail a chur ar bun agus le fostaíocht a chur ar fáil. Chuir an Teachta Deasy ceist chomh maith faoi laghdú na ndeontaisí do Ghaeltarra. Anuraidh don bhliain seo caite bhí méadú £1,259,000 ar an gcaipiteal a fuair siad an bhliain roimhe sin. Dá bhrí sin tá sé soiléir nach bhfuil an Rialtas ag déanamh faillí ar bith maidir le airgead a chur ar fáil do Ghaeltarra le tionscail a bhunú sna Gaeltachtaí. Caithimíd a bheith fírinneach agus an méid seo a rá agus sílim gurb é seo an rud atá á rá ag Gaeltarra chomh maith ins an tuarascáil maidir leis na cúrsaí seo: go bhfuil deacracht acu tionscail a mhealladh isteach.
Bhí an deacracht sin ann i gcónaí ar ndóigh—deacracht acu oiread tionscal agus ba mhaith leo a mhealladh chuig na Gaeltachtaí. Ba mhaith linn ar ndóigh, chuile dhuine againn, go mbeadh lánfhostaíocht ins na Gaeltachtaí. Sin an aidhm atá againn agus mura mbeimid in ann an fhostaíocht a chur ar fáil ins na Gaeltachtaí ní bheidh muintir na Gaeltachta sásta fanacht ins na Gaeltachtaí. Ní hé amháin fostaíocht ach fostaíocht a bhéas taithneamhach, fostaíocht a mbeidh muintir na Gaeltachta sásta cloí leis agus sásta a dhul ag plé leis.
Tháinig cuid mhaith tionscal chuig na Gaeltachtaí agus cé gur mhaith ann iad bhí cuid acu nár fhan ró-fhada agus b'fhearr dá mbeadh muid in ann cloi leis na hacmhainní nádúrtha, mar adúirt cuid de na Teachtaí, agus rudaí a bheadh buan a chur ar aghaidh ins na Gaeltachtaí in áit a bheith ag brath anmhór ar thionscail a thagann isteach agus nach bhfanann ró-fhada agus a im-íonn leo taréis scaithimh. Thárla sé sin san am atá caite, tá sé ag tárlú anois, agus ní thaithníonn sé sin le duine ar bith nuair atá airgead an Stáit i gceist go mbeadh daoine ag cleasaíocht agus ag greadadh leo nuair atá na deontaisí fáighte acu. Níl sé furast i gcónaí a theacht thart ar na cúrsaí sin ach tá mé cinnte ins an am atá romhainn go mbeidh an tÚdarás níos áirdeallaí i gcúr-sai mar sin agus go bhféachfaidh siad le rudai a chur chun cinn a bhéas níos buaine ná cuid de na tionscail a bhí againn go dtí seo.
Dúradh nach bhfuil chuile dhuine sásta leis na limistéir thoghcháin. Luaigh an Teachta Conaghan agus cúpla Teachtaí eile é seo. Ní thig liom é a thógáil orthu go bhfuil siad ag iarraidh a thuilleadh áiteanna a fháil do Dhún na nGall nó do Chorcaigh nó do Chon-nacht no cibé áit i. Ach rud amháin, níl tairbhe in Údarás a bheith an-mhór, is fearr a oibreoidh coiste nach mbeidh an iomarca ball air. Rinneamar iarracht cothrom na Feinne a thabhairt do gach áit; tá a fhios againn nach dtig linn iad go léir a shásamh ach rinnemar ár ndicheall na suíocháin a roinnt amach chomh cothrom agus a b'fhéidir linn é. Tá argóint i gContae na Mí go bhfuil siad ag dul isteach le Connacht; tá argóint ag muintir Mhaigh Eo gur cheart doibh suiochán da gcuid féin a bheith acu, agus tá an scéal céanna fíor i gCiar-rai, agus dar ndoigh tá na hoileáin, mar a luaigh mé cheana ag dúil le hionadaíocht. B'fhéidir, nuair a bheidh comhaltaí á n-ainmniú, go bhféadfaimid na háiteanna a dháileadh amach i gcaoi is go mbeidh cothromaíocht le fáil ag na Gaeltachtaí go léir ar an Údarás. B'fhéidir nach mbeidh sé sin furasta ar chor ar bith ach sin smaoineamh a rith liom féin, má fheicimid Gaeltacht mhór ar bith nach bhfuil ionadaíocht aici nuair a bheidh na baill á dtoghadh go bhféadfaimid freastal orthu ar a gcaoi sin.
Ní shílim go bhfuil tada eile le rá agam faoi na cúrsaí seo. Sílim go bhfuil athchoimriú réasúnta déanta agam ar an méid a dúradh anseo. Beimid ag súil nach gcuirfear mórán moille ar an mBil-le agus go mbeimid in ann é a chur os comhair na Dála agus an tSeanaid chomh luath agus is féidir é i gcaoi go mbeimid in ann leanúint ar aghaidh leis na toghcháin i gcomhair an Údaráis go luath san bhliain atá romhainn.
Arís ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghlacadh le chuile dhuine a ghlac páirt san díospóireacht, agus tá súil le Dia agam go bhfeicfimid buntáiste agus tairbhe don Ghaeltacht de bharr an Bhille seo.
Tá dha cheist agam ag an Aire. An bhfuil sé beartaithe na cumhachtaí atá ag Roinn na Gaeltachta faoi láthair a aistriú chuig an Údarás agus, má tá, cad iad na cumhachtaí?
Níl siad sa Bhille seo. Faoi fhoráil éigin den Bille beidh deis ag an Údarás na cumhachtaí breise a theastóidh uathu a fháil.
Tá mé ag fiafraigh den Aire an mbeidh cuid den na cumhachtaí atá á feidhmiú ag Roinn na Gaeltachta faoi láthair aistrithe chuig an Údarás? An bhfuil aon rud bearthaithe fós.
Níl.
Cuireadh agus aontaíodh an cheist.
Question put and agreed to.
Cathain a dtógfar an Coiste?
Bhí mé ag caint le urlabhraí an Pháirtí seo inniu agus d'iarr sé orm a fhiafraigh den Aire go socródh sé an Coiste do choicíos ó inniu.
Bhíomar ag súil go mbeimís in ann dul ar aghaidh níos luaithe ná sin ach——
An Coiste coicís ón lá inniu.
Ordaíodh go dtógfaí Céim an Choiste Dé Céadaoin ar an 29 Samhain 1978.
Committee Stage ordered for Wednesday, 29 November 1978.