Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Jul 1982

Vol. 337 No. 5

Private Members' Business. - Údarás na Gaeltachta: Tairiscint.

Tairgim:

Go n-iarrann Dáil Éireann ar an Rialtas fiosrúchán breithniúnach a bhunú, mar ábhar práinne, maidir leis an modh ina ndearna Údarás na Gaeltachta agus a fhoireann a fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh faoi fhorálacha an Achta um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 1979.

I move:

That Dáil Éireann calls upon the Government to establish as a matter of urgency, a judicial inquiry into the manner in which Údarás na Gaeltachta and its staff have carried out its functions under the provisions of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act, 1979.

Is é seo ceann de na díospóireachtaí is tábhachtaí a tháinig os comhair an Tí le déanaí. Brathann an tÚdarás agus na tionscail faoi leith atá sna Gaeltachtaí ar an toradh a thiocfaidh as an díospóireacht seo. Mar sin, sílim go bhfuil sé antábhachtach ar fad. Tá sé sách deacair orm labhairt amach anseo go rí-láidir agus Aire na Gaeltachta as mo bhaile féin agus mo dháil cheantar féin agus mo chontae féin i láthair. Má bhíonn gearán agam faoi seo, ba mhaith liom a rá nach gearán pearsanta atá ann; nílim ag lochtadh an Aire.

One of the principal reasons put forward in the Minister's amendment is that the Joint Committee on State-Sponsored Bodies could properly assess this case. I would point out that the committee became defunct in May 1981 and have not sat since. The committee was not reconstituted. Although the members worked effectively up to that time, they had not debated any aspect of government or of the State-Sponsored Bodies which were referred to the committee initially.

If the committee was reconstituted now it would probably be next October before its first meeting and it would probably be at least six months before any result would issue from its deliberations. It could well be 18 months or two years before any conclusive findings were published. Because of that I consider the suggestion of referring this matter to the Joint Committee on State-Sponsored Bodies is not relevant in view of the serious allegations and the deep cloud of suspicion that has descended over Údarás na Gaeltachta, not through the fault of any of their hard-working people. I wish to debate those issues this evening.

Ritheadh an tAcht i 1979 faoi chúram Aire as mo chontae féin, an Teachta Gallagher agus bhí díospóireachtaí ar siúl anseo ar feadh seachtainí. Bhí mé ag léamh na ndíospóireachtaí sin an lá cheana agus ní fhaca mé óráid ar bith ón Aire atá ann faoi láthair i dtaobh Údarás na Gaeltachta nó faoin mBille a bhí ag dul tríd an Teach ag an am sin. Feicim anois go bhfuil grá íontach faighte aige don teanga agus don Údarás.

Ba é cuspóir an Achta nuair a ritheadh é go ndéanfadh an tUdarás caomhnú agus leathnú na Gaeilge mar príomhmheánchumarsáide sa Ghaeltacht a spreagadh, agus go gcinnteodh sé gurb í an Ghaeilge a úsáidfí nuair a bheadh an tÚdarás ag comhlíonadh a n-aidhmeanna. Sílim go ndéantar é sin agus go bhfuil muintir na nGaeltachtaí agus lucht Údarás na Gaeltachta ag plé a nithe as Gaeilge chomh maith agus is féidir. Cuspóir eile an Achta, in alt 10:

Chun tionscail agus scéimeanna táirgiúla fostaíochta a bhunú, a fhorbairt nó a chothabháil sa Ghaeltacht, beidh cumhacht ag an Údarás, faoi réir an ailt seo, cúnamh airgid a thabhairt (lena n-áirítear deontais a thabhairt, scaireanna a cheannach agus caiteachas a thabhú ar fhoirgnimh nó eile) ar cibé téarmaí agus faoi réir cibé coinníollacha is cuí leis.

Cuspóir eile an Achta ná go ndéanfadh Údarás na Gaeltachta faoi alt 10 nationscail agus na scéimeanna táirgiúla fostaíochta a bheadh ar siúl a rialadh nó a bhainistí agus, díreach nó indíreach go gcuirfí ainm Ghaeltarra Éireann isteach san Údarás. Bhí toghcháin le bheith ann de réir mar a fhorordófar le rialacháin ón Aire.

The Act provided for the establishment of a body for the purpose of promoting the linguistic, cultural, social, physical and economic development of the Gaeltacht, an tÚdarás shall have, in addition to the functions specified in this Act, apart from this section, such powers as are conferred on it by order made by the Government, agus mar sin, bhí an áis ann go mbeadh cumhachtaí eile ag an Údarás dá mba rud é go raibh siad ag teastáil. Bhí nithe eile acu freisin chun a gcuspóir agus a n-aidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh.

Since the first day the Údarás na Gaeltachta Bill was circulated and since the Údarás came into being, it has been dogged at different intervals by a spate of very bad publicity emanating from different sources. This has culminated in a series of events that have precipitated this motion and resulted in the public perception of the Údarás as being under deep suspicion, which warrants looking into.

Since the introduction of the Údarás in 1979 and since díospóireachtaí took place on it in this House, one of the principal allegations of the Fianna Fáil Government is that the Fine Gael Party, at different intervals, have not been the guardian of the Irish language and have tried to do away with the Údarás by the introduction of some other board which would take its place and introduce a different type of development for the Gaeltacht regions. That is not true and, as party spokesman for the Gaeltacht, I wish to state categorically that I respect Údarás na Gaeltachta, its members, workers and people of the Gaeltacht. We want to see the Gaeltacht developed in the fullest way possible. We want to see a love generated for the Irish language, ár dteanga dhúchais, in a realistic manner, and not just lip service paid to it by adopting the hypocritical attitude that has been shown to it down through the years by different people in the Government. It is a very serious issue. The survival of the Gaeltacht rests upon the shoulders of the Minister and he must take action accordingly.

The Commission for the Gaeltacht was set up by Mr. Cosgrave in 1926 with the late Deputy Mulcahy as its head. From that until 1956, when the Department of the Gaeltacht was founded, nothing of real advantage or progress took place in Gaeltacht areas. It was not until 1973 that the Coalition Government saw fit to appoint a full Minister for the Gaeltacht, an t-iar Aire Tomás O'Donnell a bhí in a Aire le ceithre bliain go leith, an téarma is faide a bhí ag Aire na Gaeltachta ar bith. When he was appointed Minister he brought a new image to the Ministry of the Gaeltacht, increased its workforce approximately from 1,800 to 4,000. There were industries set up which were not successful but, by and large, he brought a new awareness of the Gaeltacht areas and the Irish language to our people. He fostered an insight and a love of things Irish that has not been in evidence since. The 55,800 residents of the different Gaeltachtaí went to the polls in December and the election that took place was democratic in so far as the members of the Údarás going forward for election were returned to their various positions. The Minister of the day made appointments, and some of these people were very hard working and had a genuine awareness of the needs and problems of the different Gaeltachtaí throughout the country.

When iar Aire na Gaeltachta, an Teachta Geoghegan-Quinn, took over on 15 December 1979The Irish Times editorial said that the authority must not become an organisation of wranglers with area representatives fighting for the maximum benefits for their parties, a glorified county council in fact. Silim féin go dtárla sé sin ó shin agus go bhfuil cuid de na baill tofa ag troid in aghaidh a chéile i gcóir na gceantar as a dtagann siad féin.

The article went on to say that the Gaeltacht authorities should be a step in the right direction and that it would be watched with extreme interest in other parts of the country in that it was the first occasion when development could take place by elected people from the Gaeltacht itself.

On 24 December 1979 an article in The Irish Times questioned whether the Údarás would protect the unique character of the Gaeltacht and went on to describe the various problems arising in relation to planning permissions, factories, despoliation of high amenity areas and the necessity for caution and care in consideration of planning permissions going before it.

On 5 January 1980 a supplement to The Irish Times stated that the new Gaeltacht authority had held its first meeting. At that meeting the Minister said that with the commencement of the eighties we relied on An tÚdarás to provide full employment for Irish speakers as soon as possible. He said that the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act, 1979, contained all the powers held by Gaeltarra, and more. He also said that stronger emphasis than ever was placed on the Irish language in the new Act. Those aspirations have not been fulfilled and could not be fulfilled as the Údarás only came into operation shortly after that date. The Minister went on to state that if Údarás na Gaeltachta requested further powers or further authorities for itself she would be quite willing to consider those and would sympathetically consider how she might satisfy the Government in having these powers granted to Údarás na Gaeltachta.

On 7 January 1980 in the same newspaper the headline read "Gaeltacht Authority Picketed". Ceart na nGael, a pressure group down there, called for further powers for Údarás na Gaeltachta similar to those of the Highlands and Islands Board in Scotland which has extensive powers which the present Údarás does not have. On 24 April 1980 in the same newspaper a headline read "Lack of Údarás Activity Claimed". Questions were asked in the Dáil by Deputy Begley who objected to foreign people buying land in rural areas who were often fronted for by Irish people and there was a series of other questions asked by him.

On 6 June 1980 in the same paper the question was asked again by Deputy Begley in relation to the appointment of the chairman of the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The then Minister, Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn, said that she had appointed him on a temporary, whole-time basis to give him more time to understand the complexities of the job. I want to say in defence of the chairman of Údarás na Gaeltachta that he is my county manager; he is also a director of the Connaught Regional Airport and in fairness to him, it has been bandied about by different people that he was a purely political appointment by Fianna Fáil. I have no such complication in my mind in relation to his appointment. The appointment of the chairman initially was on the understanding that there would be approximately two meetings per month. But the events that have taken place within the Údarás since have passed out the ability of any single person to manage effectively all of the meetings that are involved between being manager of a county council and all the commitments that that involves and the very onerous tasks of having to chair the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta when allegations and bad publicity and criticism abound throughout the country. I want to say that in his defence. It is not easy for him to make up his mind at this stage what the position really is. Again, in fairness to him, he has not made any public comment, good, bad or indifferent to the media about the events that have taken place in recent times and nobody would know better than he of these events.

On 14 August 1980 a headline in the same newspaper read "Údarás Criticised over Layoffs". Údarás na Gaeltachta was criticised on that occasion by the Labour Court for the way in which it had laid off nine building workers in the Connemara Gaeltacht. The story of that was given in the paper.

On 2 October 1980 a newspaper headline read "Údarás Faced with £800,000 Loss". This referred to the Sinteis Éire Teoranta factory in Carraig in County Donegal and the then chief executive officer said that it was one of the worst collapses that the Authority had ever had to face and involved a large number of jobs in an area that had been starved of employment and ravaged by emigration. The fact that it depended upon the sales ability abroad has similar connotations today. The chief executive officer was clearly upset by the action and indicated the concern of the Údarás at the time to make some amends and to take shares in the operation but the then industrial chiefs wanted the Údarás to take full shares in the industry and it was not felt feasible to do that and so it closed down with the loss of £800,000.

On 21 October the Minister for the Gaeltacht announced new jobs for the Gaeltacht with seven new industrial projects having a potential of 300 jobs in different areas in Gaeltachtaí throughout the country. That was very welcome news indeed.

On 16 December in an article, again in The Irish Times, the new Authority was referred to. The article stated that it was the first move to involved the people of those shrinking areas in Galetacht politics and would be watched with fascination by everybody who believed that local people should be able to play an important role in what emerged as a whole. It went on to say that the western areas had suffered on for years and that the last thing they needed now was unfulfilled promises, that this had been the stock in trade for years but now at least we had national official recognition of the existence of the Gaeltacht. Údarás na Gaeltachta has not been given the opportunity to function as effectively as it can. With a little more inspection of its structure, with a little more recognition by the Government of the need for proper public relations within the Údarás and the Department of the Gaeltacht and its effectiveness, it could be made into a very important and very real body respected by people throughout the length and breadth of the country.

On 1 March 1979 when the Bill was circulated all of these matters were debated and different speakers indicated that the Údarás did not have the necessary powers to do its job, that it was merely a fulfilment of a promise given by the Government prior to that in the 1977 manifesto, that it merely retained the functions of Gaeltarra Éireann under a different guise. Údarás na Gaeltachta has never been allowed to flourish effectively and in so far as I represent the interests of this party I want to see that it gets that chance. As time goes by I hope that we will be able to implement that.

In an article on about 11 April — I do not have the exact date — the chief executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta attacked mischievous people who were trying to do down the Gaeltacht. This was at the formal launching by the Minister, Deputy Geoghegan-Quinn, of the Údarás na Gaeltachta foundation for linguistic and cultural development which had come about after an anonymous individual had donated £25,000 to the Údarás to be used in the fostering, development and protection of the language and culture of the Gaeltacht and the enterprises assisted or operated by the Údarás. This allocation of £25,000 by an anonymous individual for such a laudable scheme was very welcome. Údarás na Gaeltachta have not really concentrated on that aspect of their work and the cultural, linguistic and social development of the Gaeltachts have never been advanced either. The Údarás has become bogged down in the competition with the IDA to bring industrial development into the Gaeltacht in an attempt to provide suitable employment based on either foreign or local raw materials for the young people of the Gaeltacht areas.

On 11 April 1981 the then chief executive officer of the Údarás resigned and took up a position with a Japanese machinery firm. At that time rumours abounded about this firm and as to how machinery had become available to different co-operatives and factories along the western seaboard. The resignation of the chief executive officer was greeted with dismay by everybody and he was duly congratulated for the 15 years of dedicated service he had given to the building of the Gaeltacht areas as the head of Gaeltarra Éireann. I say in his defence, that the people now working in factories and industries set up by Gaeltarra Éireann have to be thankful for his energy and devotion to duty at that time.

The new executive of the Údarás took over on 23 June 1981. Since then the queries and the rumours and the allegations have flourished. I have no doubt that that chief executive officer and his staff were faced with enormous problems on taking over the new Údarás because of the effects of the oil recession, international competition and the IDA being unable to bring in the necessary amount of industry to the Gaeltacht areas. They were faced with enormous problems. Looking at the lame ducks which had previously been brought into the Gaeltacht areas, sooner or later a decision had to be taken either to close down these factories or make an effort to keep them going even under half steam. When the change of Government came and the Coalition Government were appointed, queries came before the then Minister for the Gaeltacht, Deputy O'Toole, for tuille airgid, he in his turn began to raise questions as to why this so often should be the case. On 26 January 1982 subsequent to an announcement by the Coalition Government on 8 December 1981 that a public inquiry would be held into the affairs of Údarás na Gaeltachta, a headline appeared in the newspapers concerning the fraud squad being sent in to examine the books and accounts of certain companies under the auspices of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The announcement of an investigation was greeted with dismay in many quarters and questions about it were raised in this House. When the present Aire na Gaeltachta came into office to Roinn na Gaeltachta, dúirt sé nach raibh téarmaí tagartha ar bith le fáil aige, agus nach raibh fhios aige cén caoi a ndeárna an iar-Chomhrialtas an earáid sin go mbéadh fiosrúchán i dtaobh an Údarás.

On 26 January, The Irish Times had a headline that the inquiry must clear doubts on Údarás Fianna Fáil. It continued:

The Fianna Fáil spokeswoman on the Gaeltacht, Mrs. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, said yesterday that if there was a hint of fraud involving Údarás na Gaeltachta, then any investigation of that body should be handled by the gardaí. "Who else would be capable of investigating alleged fraudulent activities in the Údarás" she asked. The government called in the Fraud Squad in the Érin Foods case after allegations were made.

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn sharply criticised the proposal by the Government to investigate the activities of the Údarás, though now that doubts had been sown, the investigation must go ahead, she said.

The point that the investigations must go ahead is the important point of my argument. A cloud of suspicion has descended on Údarás na Gaeltachta which has stulted and impeded its effectiveness and has not allowed its executive board or its members to function properly, or even the Minister himself. Of all the Ministers for the Gaeltacht who have ever come into this House, the Minister sitting opposite me has surely the most subtle verbal skills of the lot. He is the most vociferous exponent of the art of verbal self-defence when necessity arises. The Irish language supporters can be proud that they have somebody who can talk his way out of any corner if put to it, and often as he has proved in the past, he does not even need a microphone.

Quite clearly, Údarás is potentially very effective, but has not been allowed to do its duty as it should and no member of that board could even attempt to bring an industrialist into a Gaeltacht area to set up because of the trouble with banking loans and so forth. Once allegations, rumours, or even doubts are heard by potential industrialists, they are gone like the wind. It is difficult enough even for the IDA to bring industrialists into the country at present, but faced with the geographical locations of most of our Gaeltacht areas, with their very poor infrastructures, their road systems, power system and water system it is immensely more difficult. The effectiveness of the Údarás is not being helped by the clouds of doubts which have descended on it.

That article went on to state that the criticism of the Údarás had begun with allegations made concerning land deals and innuendoes of fraud against a Gaeltacht newspaper. Since then these issues have been raised on different occasions and they are causing a great deal of concern.

On 27 January, nuair tháinig sí isteach anseo, chuir sí ceist ar an iar-Aire, an Teachta O'Toole, faoin fiosrúcán a bhí le cur ar bun ag an iar-Chomhrialtas, dúirt sí "If the Government believed that there was fiddling going on, the sooner the inquiry got under way the better." Bhí a lán ceisteanna eile aici le cur ar an iar-Aire faoi na téarmaí tagartha a bhí ag an fiosrúchán, faoí na cumhachtaí a bheadh aige agus na baill a bheadh ag freastail air. D'iarr sí freagra ionnas go mbeadh an Teach in ann é seo a phlé.

On 9 and 10 April of this year, The Irish Times again gave a headline that the fraud squad were investigating four Údarás companies. These companies were named and one in particular was dealt with in some detail. The question of the former Minister for the Gaeltacht modifying his stance on the original Government proposal was also dealt with there, as was the fact that the present Minister for the Gaeltacht had given no indication that he would go ahead and a statement has been made by the present Taoiseach that no public inquiry was necessary and as such, that he would not see fit to conduct one.

Ar 18 Aibreán i mbliana chuir an Teachta Begley ceist ar Aire na Gaeltachta faoi na monarchana sna Gaeltachtaí atá follamh. San freagra, tugadh an t-eolas go bhfuil 26 ann.

Most of those factories could not really be called factories as they are quite small. Others have potential projects in view and there are at least ten or 12 which are empty. In that context, the Minister's recent announcement that he intends to curtail the building of advance factories is welcome.

In the Amárach issue of 4 June under the tideal “Cúl Caint” there was the gratuitous defamation of a former Minister of this House, Paddy Lindsay, and on 25 June there was a complete retraction and total withdrawal of the remarks made about this former Minister. Is it in order for a publication receiving some State assistance to participate in that kind of defamation of former Ministers and then issue full-scale apologies?

Deputy John Bruton on 15 February 1979 asked the Minister the action taken in respect of shortcomings and disparities in the accounts of semi-State bodies and recommendations for their improvements, agus tugadh an freagra go raibh áird tugtha orthu sin.

A letter to a Rights Commissioner from Beirtreach Teo. dated 31 May, mentions that the Government have not given the redundancy payments recommended by the Rights Commissioner. This was for the first time. The letter states:

I would like to point out that Beirtreach Teo. is a subsidiary company of Údarás na Gaeltachta and as such depends on the Údarás for finance. The Údarás in turn is funded by the Government and consequently any finance granted to Beirtreach must have prior Government approval.

We had been directed by the Government at the time of the Beirtreach redundancies not to offer monies in excess of the statutory obligation in respect of redundancy payments where such monies would have to be provided by the State. Consequently, I must advise you that the company is not in a position to comply with your recommendation.

The Irish Times on 30 June indicated that the former Minister for the Gaeltacht sat for months on a file which he produced in this House some time ago with reterence to allegations of break-ins and so forth. The former Minister was well able to answer for himself in that instance.

The Sunday Independent of 4 July had a headline “Balance Sheet gap of £8 million Puts Ministers on the Rack”. It refers to Údarás na Gaeltachta's first annual accounts published some 18 weeks ago which showed a discrepancy of approximately £8 million and asked the question: are there others yet to be revealed? It went on to question the fact that again Deputy Begley wanted to know whether the liability was £41,791,000, as contained in the finance accounts, or was this reduced by £6.954 million according to the Údarás Annual Report. It went on to query the methods used by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

As I have said, public perception of Údarás na Gaeltachta has really been sharpened and brought to light by the recent RTE "Today Tonight" programme which dealt with the history of the Gaeltachtaí, the history of the Údarás and went into detail on some land speculative deals particularly in the south of Ireland. Questions were asked of people who had served as Ministers, as members of the Údarás, people who had been involved in co-operative movements and development societies for the Gaeltacht and so on. The fact that over £100 million had been spent by Gaeltarra Éireann over the last 20 years in attempting to industrialise the Gaeltacht is a source of concern. The kernel of this programme seemed to circle around the buying of a portion of land in the south of Ireland for £150,000; whether this was a method of paying individuals to keep liquidity in companies is something I am not quite sure of. The allegations and rumours that abound about this particular land deal need to be clarified by the Minister whose responsibility this is.

The introduction by the Minister last evening of a special preas agallamh i gContae na Gaillimhe, áit a raibh plean an-tábhachtach leagtha amach aige do fhorbairt na Gaeltachtaí sna bliana atá le teacht, was nothing short of really trying to pre-empt discussion in this House. I felt he could have waited 24 more hours to announce his plans for the Gaeltachtaí for the eighties and bring it into this forum where it should be announced by any Minister. The fact that a speedy press conference was called in County Galway and this development announced — which is really a continuation of what was said before with some slight changes — makes one wonder whether the Minister is going back on his initial defence of his position. Indeed it brings into question his reason for putting down an amendment to the motion at all.

I also want clarification from the Minister on whether he is entitled to do this with Údarás na Gaeltachta as, under the Act as laid down, I feel that the Údarás is somewhat independent of the Minister in its activities. One could query the ability of the Údarás to function effectively, whether it is reasonable to have the Secretary of Roinn na Gaeltachta serving as a member of the Údarás itself. It may be worth bearing in mind that the Industrial Development Authority function in a different manner, that they have an executive body, the chairman of the board of which is a member of the executive and the executive is responsible to the board for overall decisions. I want absolute clarification from the Minister on this in his reply.

On the RTE 1 programme "This Week" on 27 June, when asked about the concern about financial malpractices within the Údarás the Minister said that it did concern him a great deal that publicity had been given to it and that he believed that certain aspects warranted investigation by the fraud squad. The Minister's defence of the judicial inquiry call was that it would cause at least two years paralysis of the Údarás, that there would be resultant job losses, and that it would be of enormous cost to the State. The Minister is right in one aspect of that. The Government would do well to look at some sort of interim judicial inquiry in respect of this. The depth of concern of people throughout the length and breadth of the country, their feeling and perception of the Údarás is such that nothing short of a judicial inquiry, with very strict terms of reference, time and cost limits, would be effective.

I want to see Údarás na Gaeltachta as an effective body able to promote the cultural, social and linguistic development of our Gaeltacht areas as is envisaged in the motion put to the European Parliament this morning by the former Minister for the Gaeltacht, Deputy Tom O'Donnell, indicating an action plan for the Gaeltacht which I certainly should like to see implemented and which I should like to see Údarás na Gaeltachta being able to implement. However, they cannot do so under present circumstances. It is simply not fair for any member of the Údarás to have to bear the burden of suspicion, doubt and personal innuendo cast against him in a very competitive area while trying to provide jobs for young people in our Gaeltacht areas.

The Minister for the Gaeltacht challenged the former Minister as to the dates of certain documents, whether he was going to do something about them. I will leave the former Minister to answer that for himself. The Minister then went on to say that the whole thing was double-dealing and double standards as far as Deputy O'Toole was concerned. Beidh an tiar Aire ag caint leis an Aire faoi sin. The Minister said that new regulations have been drawn up which would mean that in effect there would be no unauthorised purchases or sales of land. Does that mean that there was unauthorised purchase or sale of land previously? Does it mean that there was political jobbery to some extent involved in land dealings and transactions by Údarás na Gaeltachta? Does it mean that, on the whole, there were unethical practices carried out by the Údarás on behalf of some people?

I want to remind the Minister that the survival of the Gaeltacht and the language is his responsibility. Accordingly he must respond in defence of himself, in defence of the workers and the people of the Gaeltacht and in defence of the Údarás body which can prove in time to be a really effective body.

I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom an leasú im ainm atá os comhair na Dála a mholadh. Tairgim:

Go ndearbhaíonn Dáil Éireann, mar gur léir di gur gá leanacht le tacaíocht a thabhairt do na Gaeltachtaí agus lena bhforbairt agus gur cás léi an phoiblíocht le gairid faoi oibriú Údarás na Gaeltachta, go bhfuil sé caothúil go ndeánfadh an Comhchoiste um Chomhlachtaí Stát-Tionscanta scrúdú ar ghnóthaí Údarás na Gaeltachta mar ábhar práinne agus go ndéanfadh sé moltaí chun feabhas a chur ar fheidhmiú Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Is amhlaidh a ghlacaimse leis go bhfuil dualgas orm féin mar Aire na Gaeltachta féachaint chuige go mbeidh Údarás na Gaeltachta ag feidhmiú chomh héifeachtach agus is féidir agus nílim ag iarraidh éalú ó aon dualgas atá orm. Lena chinntiú gur mar sin a bheidh an tÚdarás ag feidhmiú ní foláir na beartais, na treoirlínte agus cuid de na modhanna oibre a scrúdú go mion chun feabhas a chur orthu más gá agus, ó ceapadh mar Aire mé, tá scrúdú mar sin ar siúl agam. Bím i gcomhairle go rialta le hardoifigigh an Údaráis agus táim sásta go bhfuil dul chun cinn á dhéanamh againn agus go bhfuil ceachtanna foghlamtha ónar tharla roimhe seo.

Dá mheasfainn go gcabhródh fiosrúchán breithiúnach liom chun an dualgas atá orm a chomhlíonadh chuirfinn fáilte roimhe. Ach is deacair dom a shamhlú go bhféadfadh fiosrúchán dá leithéid an cuspóir atá romhainn a bhaint amach go tapaidh. Mar shampla, d'fhéadfadh amhras éigin a bheith ann faoina mbeadh le déanamh ag an Údarás i gcúinsí áirithe agus, i dtreo go dtiocfaí ar an réiteach is fearr, is ormsa a bheadh an cúram pointí a shoiléiriú — le cabhair ó mo Roinn féin agus ó fhoinsí oifigiúla eile. Níltear ag iarraidh a chruthú go raibh oifigeach éigin "ciontach" toisc go raibh dearcadh ró-dhóchasach aige nuair a rinne sé moladh áirithe.

Is maith is eol dúinn cheana gurb iad géarchéim an fhuinnimh agus an cúlú eacnamaíochta ar fud an domhain — rudaí nach bhféadfaí a chur san áireamh roimh ré — ba chúis le dúnadh na dtionscal ní amháin sa Ghaeltacht ach in áiteanna eile chomh maith: d'fhéadfaí tionscal a fuair a lán poiblíochta sa Teach seo seachtain ó shin a lua mar shampla.

Cén chiall a bheadh le fiosrúchán breithiúnach chun nithe atá ar eolas againn cheana féin a léiriú dúinn? Ina theannta sin nach mbeadh ar ardoifigigh san Údarás agus i mo Roinnse a lán ama a chaitheamh ag ullmhú don fhiosrúchán agus ag freastal air — am arbh fhearr é a bheith á chaitheamh go díreach ar mhaithe leis an nGaeltacht? Ní foláir dúinn bheith sásta glacadh leis go dteipfidh ar thionscal anois agus arís. Is amhlaidh nach mbeidh forbairt tionsclaíochta saor ón bhfiontar nó on bpriacal go deo mar ní féidir bheith lánchinnte roimh ré go n-éireoidh go maith le tionscal áirithe. Ach tig linn a chinntiú go mbeidh caighdeán chomh hard agus is féidir ag baint leis na modhanna ina ndéanfar scrúdú ar thogra sula gceadófar é: is é sin atá ar siúl agamsa mar ghnó práinneach agus is ar éigean a bheadh cúnamh le fáil go luath agam ó fhiosrúchán breithiúnach dá mbunófaí é le téarmaí tagartha a bhainfeadh leis an modh ina ndearnadh feidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh le 24 bliana anuas — mar a bheadh i gceist faoin tairiscint agus an leasú atá molta ag Teachtaí eile. Dála an scéil, ní dóigh liom go bhféadfaí teorainn sé mhí a chur leis an bhfiosrúchán sin mar atá sa leasú.

D'fhonn aon mhíthuiscint a sheachaint is mian liom a dheimhniú gurb iad na bealaí ginearálta ina gcuireann an eagraíocht chun oibre is mó atá i gceist ina bhfuil ráite agam. Dá mbeadh caimiléireacht in áit ar bith san eagraíocht ba mhaith liom go dtabharfaí aon fhianaise don Gharda láithreach i gcaoi go bhféadfaí an dlí a chur i bhfeidhm sa ghnáthshlí. Má tá aon rian den chaimiléireacht ag baint le gnóthaí an Údaráis teastaíonn uaimse go nglanfaí amach gan mhoill é.

Faoi mar a luaigh mé ag an tús, tá scrúdú ar siúl agam, ó ceapadh mar Aire mé, d'fhonn feabhas a chur ar na beartais, na treoirlínte agus modhanna oibre i gcaoi go mbeidh an tÚdarás ag feidhmiú chomh héifeachtach agus is féidir. Tá roint leasuithe déanta cheana féin agus ghlac mé le deis i nGaillimh inné chun iad a fhógairt.

Caithfidh mé a chur in iúl don urlabhrai ar an dtaobh eile go bhfuil na socruithe nua seo as toradh de chuid mhaith cruinnuithe a bhí agamsa le cúpla mí anuas leis na hardoifigigh ins an Údarás agus seo toradh na sraitheanna cainte a bhí agamsa le tamaillín anuas. B'fhéidir nach raibh na sraitheanna cainte céanna ar siúl ag an iar-Aire nuair a bhí seisean i réim i Roinn na Gaeltachta. Ba mhaith liom na leasuithe seo a lua arís anseo: Maidir leis an Ghaeilge athdheimhneoidh an tÚdarás an dualgas reachtúil atá orthu i leith na Gaeilge trína gclár forbartha teanga a neartú. Ta cúram na hoibre sin curtha ar leas-phríomhfheidhmeannach. Tá treoir tugtha don Údarás freisin úsáid na Gaeilge a leathnú sna tionscáil faoina scáth. Is é an rud atá mí-cheart i gcás na Gaeltachta agus i gcás na Gaeilge chomh maith ná go bhfuil na Ranna Stáit agus na heagraíochtaí Stáit atá ag plé le Gaeilge agus leis an Gaeltacht ag déanamh faillí ar an nGaeilge agus ar an nGaeltacht. Tá sé riachtanach mar sin dualgas soiléir a leagadh ar gach Roinn Stáit agus ar gach eagraíocht Stáit atá ag plé leis an nGaeltacht freastal éifeachtach a dhéanamh ar mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus freastal orthu trí Ghaeilge. Ba chóir go mbeadh rialacha foirmeálta ann a chuireadh iachall ar na húdaráis go léir atá ag plé leis an nGaeltacht a ndualgais a chomhlíonadh agus ba chóir go mbeadh seasamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ar structúr a chuirfeadh na dualgais sin i bhfeidhm. Bheadh sé i bhfad níos eascaí socrú oifigiúil den chinéal sin a chur i bhfeidhm ná cumhachtaí breise a thabhairt don Údaras.

Ta sprioc leagtha síos don Údarás 5,000 post nua a líonadh sna cúig bliana atá romhainn, agus tá géarghá fostaíocht seasmhach fad-téarmach a chur ar fáil dos na daoine a bhfuil sásta fanacht agus oibriú agus a shaol a chaitheamh sna Gaeltachtaí. Sin atá romhamsa agus níor mhaith liom go mbeadh duine ar bith in aghaidh sin. Tá an clár tógála do réamhmhonarchana curtha ar fionraí ach críochnófar oibreacha atá ar siúl agus ní miste dul ar aghaidh le cnuasaigh de mhionmhonarchana in ionaid le seirbhísí oiriúnacha. Sin atá i gceist agamsa. Tá líon maith monarchana folamha sna Gaeltachtaí agus an líon iomlán atá ann ná 148 monarchana. Tá cuid acu folamh faoi láthair ach tá cuid acu leagtha ar leataobh do thionscail atá le teacht go luath. Tá díospóireachtaí ar siúl maidir le deich gcinn eile agus mar a dúirt an urlabhraí ar an dtaobh eile, monarchana beaga atá i gceist. Tá mise ag iarraidh leanúint ar aghaidh leis na cainteanna atá ar siúl le tionsclóirí agus na daoine atá sásta infheistíocht a chur ar fáil sna Gaeltachtaí chun na monarchana sin a líonadh. Tá thart ar 600 postanna nua faoi láthair i gceist agus is é fáth nach bhfuil mé in ann na postanna sin a chur ar fáil anois díreach ná gur fhág an t-iar Aire gantannas airgead ann de réir cuntaisí caipitil chun an polasaí sin atá romhamsa anois a chur i gcrích.

Beidh tograí do thionscail mhóra le breithniú ach iad a bheith glanta leis an Aire. Sin an cás atá ann faoi láthair agus tá mé chun leanúint ar aghaidh le sin. Tá treoir tugtha don Údarás díriú go speisialta ar mhiontionscail agus go háirithe orthu siúd a bhfuil baint acu lenár nacmhainní nádúrtha e.g. iascaireacht agus turasóireacht. Ó tharla gur theip go minic ar thionscnaimh inar glacadh leis an gcothromas iomlán seachnófar fothionscail a mbeadh na scaireanna uile ag an Údarás iontu.

Cothófar ceangal níos fearr idir Údarás na Gaeltachta agus an Údarás Forbartha Tionscail, mar shampla trí úsáid níos leithne a bhaint as oifigí eachtracha agus áiseanna forbartha atá ag an UFT.

Tá cúram curtha ar leas-phríomhfheidhmeannach de chuid an Údaráis comhoibriú níos dlúithe a bhaint amach idir an Údarás agus gluaiseacht na comharaíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Caithfidh mé a chur in iúl freisin taobh amuigh den phríomh-chuspóir, caomhnú agus cothú na teanga, a bheith ar an Údarás tá sé mar chuspóir freisin i gcónaí ag an Údarás forbairt eacnamaíochta na gceantar Gaeltachta trí bhunú tionscal nua. Táimid ag iarraidh comhoibriú a fháil ón IDA i leith na gceantar Gaeltachta, na ceantair is deacra sa tír ó thaobh forbartha. Tuigeann gach duine é sin. Tuigeann muintir an eagrais sin; tuigeann muintir na Gaeltachta é; tuigeann muintir lucht tionscail é sin agus caithfimid iarracht faoi leith a dhéanamh leis na heagrais sin chun tionsclaíocht a mhealladh go dtí na Gaeltachtaí. Is gá structúr eagraíochta a chothú a chuireann ceangal foirmeálta ar an IDA faoi thograí a mhealladh dos na ceantair Ghaeltachta. Chomh maith is cóir cóid údarú tograí a chur ar bhun a crothóidh do phobal go bhfuil an caighdeán céanna i gceist sa Ghaeltacht agus atá taobh amuigh de na Gaeltachtaí. Tá mé cinnte go bhfuil an tÚdarás ar a laghad chomh cúramach agus chomh coinsiasach agus atá aon eagras forbartha eile. Ach an deacracht atá ann ná nach gcreideann an pobal é sin. Tabharfaidh an leasú atá ar intinn agamsa an seans don phobal féachaint díreach chomh héifeachtúil is a ndéanann siad a gcuid oibre. Déanfar athstruchtúrú cuí freisin ar thionscail atá i mbaol ach a bhféadfar iad a chur ar bhonn slán ach dúnfar fothionscail nach bhfuil seans réasúnach go n-éireoidh leo. Tá freagracht ar leith curtha ar leas-phríomhfheidhmeannach chun tionscail atá i mbaol a aithint go luath d'fhonn iad a tharrtháil. Bainfidh sé feidhm as comhairleoirí mar is gá.

Tá a lán tagairt déanta do cheannacht agus díol talún agus faoi nós imeachta nua atá tugtha isteach maidir le talamh agus maoin eile a cheannach. Beidh an fhreagracht ar an gcathaoirleach agus ar an bpríomhfheidhmeannach tar éis luacháil neamh-spleách a fháil agus beidh toiliú an Aire le lorg. Beidh an nós imeachta i gcoitinne cosúil lena bhfuil i bhfeidhm ag an Údarás Forbartha Tionscail agus eagraíochtaí eile. Bunóidh an tÚdarás oifigí réigiúnacha mar is gá sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Tá pleananna sonracha á n-ullmhú do na ceantair ar leith. Caithfidh mé rud éigin a chur in iúl do chuile dhuine maidir leis an méid talún atá i gceist ag an Údarás. Tá sé ráite mar fhreagra ar Cheist Dála dom le déanaí go bhfuil 3,884 acra ag an Údarás, ach portaigh ar chuid is mó des na hacraí atá i gceist agus níl ach 544 acra saor do fhorbairt tionscail. Tá an méid acra sin scaipthe in ionad maoin 46 cheantar thar timpeall na tíre seo, agus ceannaíodh an chuid is mó den talamh sin ar luach níos lú ná £30 in aghaidh an acra. Sin an fhírinne maidir leis an scéal sin. Tá gá leis an méid talú atá acu faoi láthair chun forbairt ceart a dhéanamh as seo amach agus creidim nach bhfuil an iomarca talún forbartha acu nuair a chuirtear san áireamh nach bhfuil ach 544 acra acu i 46 ionad thar timpeall na tíre seo. Bunóidh an tÚdarás oifigí réigiúnacha mar is gá. Tá pleananna sonracha á n-ullmhú do na ceantair ar leith. Creidim go bhfuil géarghá leis na hoifigí sin a bhunú.

Tá an-dochar déanta d'obair an Údaráis ag cuid áirithe de na meáin chumarsáide. Déanfar iarracht speisialta, más ea, chun léargas níos fearr a thabhairt ar na deacrachtaí a bhíonn le sárú agus ar an dul chun cinn atá déanta agus á dhéanamh.

Le filleadh ar chúrsaí an Údaráis i gcoitinne, is fíor nár éirigh le roint tionscal sa Ghaeltacht agus gur beag an toradh atá fágtha ar airgead poiblí a caitheadh orthu. Ach níl eolas ar bith á cheilt ina dtaobh: tá sonraí an chaiteachais le fáil sna tuarascálacha agus sna cuntais atá foilsithe. Is féidir teacht ar na híocaíochtaí a rinneadh le gach uile thionscal agus, i gcás na bhfothionscal agus na gcomhthionscal ina mbíonn scaireanna ag an Údarás, luaitear na cinn ina mbíonn infheistíochtaí díscríofa.

Ar 31 Nollaig 1980 bhí na suimeanna seo a leanas a airleacadh faoi Achtanna éagsúla ag dul don Státchiste ón Údarás:

—£41,791,000 a tugadh do Ghaeltarra Éireann roimh 1980 agus

—£10,500,000 a tugadh don Údarás féin i 1980.

Tá an dliteanas sin leagtha amach go soiléir i gclár comhardaithe an Údaráis ar an 31 Nollaig 1980 agus sna cuntais airgeadais a fhoilsíonn an tAire Airgeadais agus níl laghdú déanta ar aon cheann acu. Bíonn an Teachta Begley agus daoine eile ag iarraidh a thabhairt le tuiscint go bhfuil easaontas éigin idir na figiúirí, ach níl bunús ar bith leis sin. Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil amhras á chothú d'aonghnó nó an amhlaidh atá míthuiscint á baint as an tslí ina leagtar amach figiúirí éagsúla — nach mbaineann go díreach lena chéile — sa chlár comhardaithe a bhfuil an tArd-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste féin sásta leis.

Tá feachtas aisteach den chineál céanna ar siúl maidir leis an teorainn £50 milliúin a luaitear in alt 23 (4) den Acht um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 1979. Tá deimhnithe agam arís agus arís eile — agus léigh mé amach comhairle dá réir ón Ard-Aighne sa Teach seo — gur le hairleacain chun an Údaráis amháin a bhaineann an teorainn sin.

Cé go bhfuil mo dhícheall déanta agamsa, ó ceapadh mar Aire mé, lena dheimhniú go mbeidh an tÚdarás ag feidhmiú chomh héifeachtach agus is féidir, is cosúil go bhfuil amhras éigin fós ar Theachtaí áirithe agus ba mhaith liom comhoibriú leo dá bhféadfainn chun an t-aer a ghlanadh i gcaoi go mbeidh deis ag an Údarás luí isteach ar an obair arís le díogras agus le dúthracht ar mhaithe leis an nGaeilge agus leis an nGaeltacht.

Tá sé socraithe agam freisin maidir leis na comharchumainn go bhfuil baint faoi leith agus riachtanas faoi leith ag dul le forbairt na gcomharchumann. Tá cainteanna ar siúl faoi láthair agus beidh an cinneadh déanta agam maidir leis na comharchumainn agus forbairt agus pleananna in aghaidh na comharchumainn agus go mbeidh an plean seo a thabhairt amach agam go lua, agus caithfidh baint a bheith ag an Údarás le forbairt na gcomharchumann freisin. Caithfidh siad seirbhísí bainistíochta a chur ar fáil do chomharchumainn agus do na mion-tionscail freisin. Tá na seirbhísí sin soiléir agus traidisiúnta agus caithfear a chinntiú nach bhfuil seirbhísí bainistíochta an Údaráis ag glacadh freagraíochta as an bainistíocht ach go bhfuil siad ag cuidiú le bainistíocht agus ag cur comhairle ar bhainistíocht, ag tabhairt oiliúna do bhainistíocht agus go bhfuil freagracht agus údarás ag an tionsclóir nó ag an bainisteoir comharchumann.

Ní fhéadfadh duine réasúnach ar bith cur i gcoinne an leasaithe atá á mholadh anseo. Idir na blianta 1973 go 1977 a rinneadh na fothionscail agus na comhlachtaí a bhí ag déanamh an chaillteanais is mó agus is ag an am sin aistríodh go dtí fothionscail iad. I rith na blianta sin bhí an Comhrialtas i réim. Sin an t-am a cuireadh tús leis na fothionscail atá an caillteanas is mó ag dul leo anois. An amhlaidh an bhfuil siad ar an dtaobh eile anois ag déanamh athbhreithnithe ar an dearcadh a bhí acu féin ag an am sin. Caithfidh mé a chur in iúl daoibh gurb é an Freasúra a chuir suas an infheistíocht chun go mbeadh na comhlachtaí sin ag leanúint ar aghaidh agus anois tá siad ag déanamh clamhsáin nuair atá deireadh leis na fothionscail céanna agus nuair atá gá leis an infheistíocht a dí-scríobh. Sin é an dearcadh diúltach a bhí acu riamh maidir le cúrsaí teanga agus cúrsaí Gaeltachta sa tír seo. Caithfidh mé rud eile a chur in iúl dóibh freisin, agus aontaím leis an méid a dúirt an t-urlabhraí ón dtaobh eile maidir le cúrsaí poiblíochta atá ag dul leis an Údarás le tamaillín anuas. Aontaím leis an Teachta Kenny go gcaithfidh an tÚdarás iad féin a chosaint ar an droch-phoiblíocht agus tá sé ar intinn agamsa freisin córas poiblíochta níos fearr a chur ar fáil don Údarás ionas go mbeidh siad in ann iad féin a chosaint ar an droch-phoiblíocht, na ráflaí agus an cúlchaint atá curtha amach ag daoine éagsúla le tamaillín anuas; agus tá cuid acu anois díreach os mo chomhair. Tá siad ag teacht isteach anseo ag cur amach ráiteasaí go bhfuil rudaí eile le rá acu. Bhí seans acu go minic le déanaí n-intinn a nochtú os comhair na Dála, nó chun ráiteas poiblí a chur amach, ach ní raibh siad sásta fiú amháin ráiteas amháin a chur amach ó thosaigh an rud seo. Tá seans eile acu anois agus beimid go léir ag súil go mbeidh rudaí íontacha le rá ag an Teachta Begley sa díospóireacht seo. Tá áthas orm go n-aontaíon urlabhraí Fhine Gaeil go gcaithfimid seans a thabhairt don Údarás iad féin a chruthú. Is é sin an seans atá mise ag tabhairt dóibh faoin leasú seo atá os comhair an Tí, agus tá mé ag iarraidh ar an Teach tacaíocht a thabhairt dom an rud sin a déanamh. Ón méid atá ráite ag an Teachta Kenny, is léir domsa go n-aontaíonn sé le gach rud atá déanta agam ó tháinig mé i réim. Tuigim ón méid atá ráite aige anocht nach bhfuil sé ag tréaslú, san tairscint atá os ár gcomhair agus a ainm leis, leis na daoine eile sa taobh sin a bhí ag plé leis an cheist seo le tamaillín anuas. Tá a lán litreacha agam i dtaobh seo ón Teachta Begley agus an Teachta O'Toole——

Cén fáth nach ndearna an tAire tagairt dóibh leath uair a chloig ó shin?

Níor chuir mise isteach ar Theachta ar bith.

(Cur isteach.)

Is dócha anois go bhfuil mé ag múscailt a gcoinsias thall ansin——

Léigh iad.

——agus is maith an rud é sin.

(Cur isteach.)

An tAire, gan cur isteach.

Ná bíodh imní ort, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Táim in ann mé féin a chosaint. Is é mo thuairim láidir nach n-oirfeadh fiosrúchán breithiúnach ar chor ar bith don chás seo. Is léir go bhfuil spéis ag Teachtaí sa chás agus, ó tharla go bhfuil Comhchoiste an Oireachtais um Chomhlachtaí Stát-Tionscanta ann — atá comhdhéanta de Theachtaí agus de Sheanadóirí ó gach taobh ten Teach — ritheann sé liomsa go bhféadfadh an comhchoiste sin scrúdú práinneach a dhéanamh ar chúrsaí an Údaráis. Ar an mbealach sin bheadh deis ag Teachtaí ó chuile thaobh ceisteanna a chur ar fheidhmeannaigh an Údaráis agus iad féin a shásamh. D'fhéadfaimis bheith ag súil le moltaí fiúntacha ón gcomhchoiste le féachaint chuige gurb éifeachtaí a bheadh a fheidhmeanna á gcomhlíonadh ag an Údarás feasta. Ba chóir go mbeadh muinín ag Teachtaí ó gach taobh den Teach as an gcomhchoiste sin agus iontaobh acu as cibé moltaí a thiocfadh uathu. Is ar an mbonn sin atá leasú á mholadh agam ar an tairiscint agus tá dóchas agam go nglacfaidh an Dáil leis an leasú sin.

Caithfidh mé a chur in iúl don urlabhraí ar an taobh eile nach mbeidh moill ar bith ag baint le feidhmiú an comhchoiste sin. Tá na socruíthe go léir glanta ag an Teach seo agus ag an Seanad chun an comhchoiste sin a bhunú. Im thuairim, bheadh sé sin i bhfad níos sciopaí ná bheith ag fanacht ar an sort fiosrúcháin atá leagtha amach san tairiscint atá os ár gcomhair, téarmaí tagartha a leagan síos, cásanna a chloisteáil ó dlíodóirí, cursaí dlí a phlé le chuile dhuine, fianaise a ghlacadh, agus rudaí den tsórt sin. Im thuairim, bheadh sé i bhfad níos sásúla an rud go léir a phlé ag Teachtaí agus Seanadóirí san chomhchoiste. Bheadh siad in ann chuile rud a scrúdú go mion. Bheadh siad in ann an fhianaise a fhoilsiú agus chuile mholadh a bheadh ag dul leis an scrúdú sin a chur os ár gcomhair.

Táimse chun an scamall a ghlanú ón Údarás. Gealladh an tacaíocht domsa nuair a cheapadh mé mar Aire na Gaeltachta. Tá an t-am tagtha chun an gheallúint sin a chomhlíonadh. Le cúnamh an Tí, beidh an gníomhíocht déanta, agus déanfaidh mé dul chun cinn go han luath maidir leis an teanga, na Gaeltachtaí agus chuile rud atá faoi chúram an Aire maidir le forbairt na nGaeltachtaí agus Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Ba mhaith liom tagairt do fhocal scoir an Aire i dtosach, faoin Ghaeilge, an Ghaeltacht agus cúrsaí na Gaeltachta agus, dar ndóigh, tacaíocht na Gaeltachta. Bhí suim agam sa Ghaeilge agus sa Ghaeltacht le fada an lá. Tógadh le Gaeilge mé, rinne mé céim i nGaeilge, tá suim agam san teanga féin mar theanga. Níl aon rud pearsanta ag baint le seo. Glacaim leis an méid atá ráite ag an Aire agus tá súil agam go nglacfaidh seisean uaimse nach bhfuil aon rud pearsanta ag baint leis an méid atá le rá agam.

Táimid ag caint anseo faoi fhiosrúchán bhreithiúnach, faoi mholadh nach dtagann os comhair na Dála go ro-mhinic. Tá an-tábhacht ag baint leis. Tá deacrachtaí ag baint leis. Tuigim go bhfuil an-tion-char ag moladh dá leithéid, cibé cén eagras go bhfuil sé ag tagairt dó, ach ní thagaim leis an Aire nuair a deireann sé go gcaithfidh chuile rud stopadh fhad is atá a leíthéid ar siúl. Tá an-chás déanta ag an Aire ar son na Gaeltachta agus ar son na Gaeilge, ach níl tada ráite aige faoi na cúiseanna go bhfuil an moladh seo os comhair na Dála anocht. Ní chuireann sé pioc áthais orm bheith ag seasamh anseo ag iarraidh fiosrúcháin dá shaghas i leith Údarás na Gaeltachta. Is é an fáth atáim anseo ag moladh fiosrúchaín mar seo ná go gceapaim go coinsiasach go bhfuil na ráflaí atá ag dul thart faoin tír i mbéal muintir na hÉireann agus is beag áit a dtéann tú, má tá baint agat leis an rud seo, nach bhfuil daoine ag tagairt dó.

Táim ag iarraidh na ráflaí seo a chruthú, más féidir iad a chruthú, nó iad a chaitheamh amach más sin atá le tarlú. Má tá an tAire sasta nach bhfuil tada dá laghad cearr leis an Údarás, má tá sé sásta nach bhfuil caimiléireacht ar bith ag baint leis an Údarás nó le haon ball den Údarás, cén fáth a bhfuil faitíos air a leithéid de fhiosrúchán a ligean faoi lán tseoil? Ba cheart ainm an Údaráis a ghlanadh.

Bhí replay againn anocht de phreasagallamh an Aire i nGaillimh inné, ach níor chuir sé íonadh dá laghad orm bheith ag éisteacht leis an Aire ag insint a chás faoin phreasagallamh, agus céard a bhí ar siúl aige? Bhí sé ag iarraidh, mar a dúirt an Teachta Kenny, an sting a bhaint as díospóireacht na Dála anocht.

The Minister in having a dry run of what he intended to do in the House today in Galway yesterday has pretty well scuttled any element of surprise which might have been in what he had to say. Looking through the proposals it reminds me of somebody on the Titanic rearranging the deck furniture. It will not make one iota of a difference to the actual position that the Údarás unfortunately find themselves in. The Minister has done nothing to allay or dispel the fears or suspicions that beset many minds in the country today.

I was not the one to start the rumour. The Minister in his speech said:

Níltear ag iarraidh a chruthú go raibh oifigeach éigin "ciontach" toisc go raibh dearcadh ró-dhóchasach aige nuair a rinne sé moladh áirithe.

That is the kind of throw-away remark which is put there to confuse the confused. The Minister will blame the media for confusing the public in matters relating to Údarás. As far as I am concerned, nobody on this side of the House has accused anybody of being over-optimistic in relation to an industry or of having lost money. Nobody ever mentioned that and the Minister should not try and pull that red herring in at this stage.

In his speech the Minister also said:

Ní foláir dúinn bheith sásta glacadh leis go dteipfidh ar thionscal anois agus arís. Is amhlaidh nach mbeidh forbairt tionsclaíochta saor ón bhfiontar nó on bpriacal go deo mar ní féidir bheith lánchinnte roimh ré go n-éireoidh go maith le tionscal áirithe.

That is acceptable. The IDA have failures. Every developer and promotion agency in the world has failures. What I set out to do — I say this for the third time in this House — was to ensure that the public would get value for money and that the Údarás would be helped in every way possible to carry out their functions as a promotion agency in the Gaeltacht. What does the Minister say? Major industrial proposals must get ministerial approval. For the Minister's information, this has always been the case.

Dúirt sé é sin.

Dúirt sé é sin. Bhí sé sin ann i gconaí mar atá a fhios ag an Teachta. Dúirt sé é sin ar an radio aréir. Tá sé ag iarraidh a chur trasna go bhfuil rudaí nua á dhéanamh aige. The initial investment was put there in good faith, and the weakest argument I have ever heard from any Minister in this House was, "Well, anyway, they were Fine Gael promotional projects the first day so they failed. You in Fine Gael cannot complain about that". That kind of remark is gratuitous. It gets us nowhere.

Land purchases will now need clearance by the Minister. I hope the Minister will have more success than I had with the Údarás in getting their co-operation. I question the viability of the Minister's proposals because under section 8 of the Act the Údarás are an autonomous body doing things as they think fit and the Minister will find that out if he reads the Act. In other words, the Minister has no right to interfere in the land purchases proposals by the Údarás. Section 8 (7) states:

For the purposes of this section An tÚdarás shall have power to acquire, receive on transfer, hold, sell, mortgage, lease, let, or otherwise dispose of land, buildings, markets, premises or plant and to erect, alter or maintain buildings, markets, premises or plant.

The land referred to previously tonight was bought by the Údarás in west Cork. From the very beginning I expressed my view, in relation to that proposed purchase, to the Údarás, the Department and all the people concerned because of its cost at £15,000 an acre, yet that Údarás bought against my wishes, and they had a perfect right to do so under the Act. I hope the Minister will have more success in getting his ideas across than I had.

They went ahead and purchased that land and in a very short time afterwards the company to whom they were paying this money went into receivership. On the television programme relating to this deal the fact that the company is in receivership and was in receivership when this deal was closed did not come across. I brought this to the notice of the secretary of the Department and to the chief executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta who accepted that in these circumstances the deal should not be closed, yet the deal was closed and the money transferred on 14 March when that company was in receivership. I emphasise that one of the conditions attaching to the closure of this deal was that the money got by the vendor would be invested in a company in the Gaeltacht, in a mill which was under the jurisdiction of the Department and the Minister, yet when in receivership, as the Minister knows, that condition could not be fulfilled. That deal was closed under a Fianna Fáil Minister and the board in principle took the decision despite my best efforts to stop them.

What made me really sad — not mad — last night was that towards the end of the interview the Minister after his press conference made the statement that he would have to revamp the PR aspect of Údarás na Gaeltachta, taking a leaf from his leader's copybook, no doubt. If public relations could win the day, many thousands of pounds have been spent by the Údarás on PR and they have a perfect right to do that. I did not provoke Údarás na Gaeltachta into getting up on my back. I was five weeks in office when in the case of Gael Crann Teo., Ruma, Rí, I met at their request the workers who were about to be laid off in that factory. They put certain proposals to me. I gave them an assurance in the presence of officials from the Department that nothing would happen to them until I got their proposals in writing and these were scrutinised and examined.

Is trua liom go gcaithfidh mé cur isteach ort. Tá sé leath uair tar éis a hocht.

Leath nóiméad.

On the following day I was travelling from Dingle to Tralee and I heard on the half past one news that An tÚdarás had issued a statement closing the factory and that the Minister, Deputy O'Toole, gave assurance to the workers on the night before that the factory would not be closed. That was after five weeks.

Debate adjourned.
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