Tairgim:
Go dtugann Seanad Éireann dá aire an Tuarascáil ón gComhchoiste don Ghaeilge: An Chéad Tuarascáil i dtaobh úsáid na Gaeilge a leathadh in imeachtaí na Dála agus an tSeanaid agus i dtimpeallacht na dTithe.
Ag éirí as an tuarascáil sin tá orainn an cheist a phlé as Gaeilge, as breac-Ghaeilge, nó as leath-Ghaeilge agus as Béarla chun go leanfaimid an moladh atá sa tuarascáil ag úsáid níos mó Gaeilge, cé nach bhfuil ach cúpla focal againn, agus an Ghaeilge sa Teach seo a mhealladh. Mar sin, ní amháin do na Gaeilgeoirí an díospóireacht seo — díospóireacht gach Ball den Seanad atá i gceist. Tá an moladh seo le fáil in alt a 3 (a) ar leathanach a 5 den tuarascáil atá os ár gcomhair, agus seo sliocht as an tuarascáil féin:
Is teanga beo í an Ghaeilge agus caithfear í a labhairt i dtreo is go mairfidh sí. Tuigtear go bhfuil go leor ball den dá Theach go bhfuil cumas maith Gaeilge orthu. D'fhéadfadh na Baill sin agus foireann na dTithe ar ndóigh i bhfad níos mó Gaeilge a labhairt sna Tithe agus lasmuigh dóibh. Is gá daoine a bhfuil Gaeilge ar a dtoil acu a mhealladh chun í a labhairt agus d'fhéadfaí é sin a dhéanamh tri atmaisféar níos Gaelaí a chothú sa dá Theach. Dá gcruthófaí atmaisféar ar an nós sin ní bheadh leisce ar a lán daoine mar atá faoi láthair, is cosúil, an méid Gaeilge atá acu a úsáid. Tá se rí-thábhachtach go dtuigfí ón tús go bhféadfadh gach ball a bhfuil Gaeilge ar bith aige nó aici a chur leis an iarracht chun an tatmaisféar sin a chruthú, tríd an méid atá acu a úsáid oiread agus is féidir.
Tá an tuarascáil seo os ár gcomhair ach is sean scéal é bheith ag iarraidh an Ghaeilge a mhealladh agus athbheochan na Gaeilge a chur ar siúl. Sna fichidí bhí Coimisiún na Gaeltachta ann agus Ristéard Ó Maolcatha ina chathaoirleach ar an gcoimisiún sin. Níos luaithe, in ar n-aimsir féin, is dócha, bhí an Coimisiún um Athbheochan na Gaeilge curtha ar siúl agus bhí tuarascáil deiridh den choimisiún sin curtha faoi bhráid na Dála agus an tSeanaid i 1963. Tá morán moltaí san tuarascáil sin a bhaineann leis an Oireachtas agus an méid ba cheart don Oireachtas a dhéanamh chun an Ghaeilge a athbheochan. Na moltaí atá ann, is dócha gur ceart tagairt a dhéanamh dóibh sa tuarascáil seo.
Since I have said this debate should not be merely for those interested in Irish I am going to break now for a short time into English and to read the recommendations of that commission in English so that it will be clear to all Members of this House what the basic recommendations of that very important commission were. The first eight recommendations made by the commission for the restoration of the Irish language related to the work of the Houses of the Oireachtas. I am quoting from the English summary of the Report of the Commission on the Restoration of the Irish Language placed before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 13 July 1963. It is No. PR7256. On page 21 we read the recommendations which are made to all Members of the House and to all political parties. Recommendation No. 1 states:
That the Government and the various political parties should request the newspapers to appoint Irish speaking reporters to cover Dáil and Seanad debates.
This is an important recommendation and one that would affect very much the tendency of Members of the House to use the Irish they have. Before we had our present recording system here our internal reporting system was deficient in regard to the reporting of speeches in Irish. I will always remember that the first time I spoke in Irish in this House I spoke on a Bill relative to the Gaeltacht. I took great care in the preparation of that speech. I took a good deal of care particularly with my opening paragraph dealing with the general principles. I went to the trouble of introducing a few cora cainte. I also tried to make sure that my Irish was idiomatic, but apparently, when I rose to speak, the reporters who were on duty at the time had no notion what I was saying. Of course, my speech was reconstructed afterwards by one of the senior editors from a purely phonetic attempt to reconstruct it but all the polish of those opening paragraphs, to which I had devoted so much time in preparation, was lost. We got a completely bland opening to a speech. This was no encouragement for me to continue to speak in Irish in Seanad Éireann. That difficulty does not arise now with our recording system because, of course, the tapes can be examined afterwards. I think it is symtomatic of the problem.
It exists also in regard to public reporting. Senators and Deputies who have ambitions to be returned at the next election are interested in being reported and being reported accurately. Let me put it this way. If it is easier to be reported in English and if it is easier to get publicity speaking in English, then of course, this is a temptation to speak always in English, which is hard for an elected representative to resist. I would say that recommendation No. 1 now made over 20 years ago, I am quite sure has improved the position in regard to the question of reporting. I am quite sure that our newspapers have taken account of this but I would not say that the problem has been completely removed.
Recommendation No. 2 states:
That a simultaneous translation service should be provided for the benefit of Deputies and Senators who do not know Irish.
This has been adopted in Dáil Éireann but it has not been adopted in Seanad Éireann. It might be interesting if the Minister could let us know what is his evaluation of the effect of the introduction of that service in Dáil Éireann. Indeed, if it has been a remarkable success, if it has led to the greater use of Irish then, of course, it is a matter that should be seriously considered by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges of this House. I think the committee took the view that the introduction of a translation booth might spoil the appearance of this House. Let us look around us at the present appearance of the House without the booth and it is not very aesthetic. If our Chamber has to be torn asunder for structural purposes perhaps —if this is something which would make a real difference—it could be part of this reconstruction.
Recommendation No. 3 of this committee, which reported in 1963, was:
That the political parties and also the nominating bodies in the cases of elections to Seanad Éireann, should strive to have Irish speakers chosen when new candidates are to be nominated for election.
I do not know if this has had any effect. There are so many factors in regard to the selection of candidates that realistically this will never be a high priority. In the words of the famous phrase "all else being equal", we might at least hope that there would be a larger number of people not only who are Irish speakers but who would be prepared to speak in Irish in Seanad Éireann. I hope this debate will reveal that there are quite a number of Senators capable of discussing these questions in Irish.
Recommendation No. 4 states:
That in order to give their members an opportunity to discuss political questions in Irish, the political parties should organise study courses in politics, economics, sociology, history, law, etc. through the medium of Irish.
One might also say that perhaps they should organise them through the medium of English also in order to improve the grasp that the Members of the Oireachtas have on these particular disciplines which form the background to political decisions. There have been attempts from time to time—I can remember several attempts—to establish discussion groups here within the House, sometimes on a party basis, sometimes on an all-party basis, in order that Deputies and Senators could come together to discuss problems, so that they would become familiar with the vocabulary of discussing these points. I remember, in particular, an effort being made by Deputy Denis Jones several years ago, which was successful for a time; but, like many other things that are started in this House, the sheer pressure on Members of the Dáil and Members of the Seanad caused these discussion groups to decline and wither away.
Recommendation No. 5 states:
That in the allocation of time for political broadcasts on radio and television extra time should be allocated to parties prepared to use it for a programme or programmes in Irish.
I think in recent years the political parties at times of general elections have done more than they used to in regard to the use of Irish. This may be due partly, of course, to the advent of Radio na Gaeltachta, which has resulted in the political parties preparing party political broadcasts for the audience of Raidio na Gaeltachta.
Recommendation No 6 states:
That the grants given to periodicals in Irish should be available also for the publication of periodicals or bulletins wholly in Irish by the political parties.
I do not know if the Minister or any of his predecessors have taken any action in regard to that. I do not know, indeed, if any of our political parties have yet produced any bulletins wholly in Irish, except possibly for policy statements at election time.
Recommendation No. 7 states:
That the preservation and revival of Irish is a primary objective of all the main political parties. It should promote the use of the language in its correspondence, propaganda and internal administration and should instruct its local branches that work for the restoration of the language in their own areas is one of their functions.
This is a reasonable recommendation. All I can say is that the General Secretary of the Fine Gael Party, Mr. Finbar Fitzpatrick, is a fluent Irish speaker and writer and, to my knowledge, uses Irish in internal party communications wherever this is appropriate. I have never come across an occasion, when this was appropriate, that he was not capable of handling it through Irish.
Recommendation No. 8 is adressed to Irish speakers. It states:
That Irish speakers in general should take a more active part in the activities of the political party of their choice.
I think that again this is something which has been attempted from time to time within parties. Those who are interested in the use of Irish have attempted to come together. The Minister with us today, I know, has been active from time to time. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has also taken an interest in attempting to bring together those interested in Irish in order to promote these various activities.
So we have here in this report published in 1963 eight basic recommendations. These recommendations were supported by the Government of the day in the White Paper of January, 1965. Each of these eight recommendations was exhausted.
Tá a lán tuarascálacha eile le fáil. Tá an coiste um Taighde ar dhearcadh an morán tuarascálacha sin atá mar chúl don morán tuarascálacha sin atá mar chúl don cheist atá os ár gcomhair inniu. Agus ina dhiaidh sin bhí Plean Gníomhaíochta don Ghaeilge, 1983 - 1986 agus sa phlean sin tá tagairt freisin do cheist na Gaeilge san Oireachtas. Anois tá moltaí san tuarascáil sin freisin agus léifidh mé sliocht as an tuarascáil, leathanach 43:
An Dáil agus an Seanad: D'fhonn úsáid na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn ar shlí réadach sa Dáil agus sa Seanad, molann Bord na Gaeilge:
(i) sa chás go mbeadh ceisteanna as Gaeilge curtha ar an gclár go dtógfaí ceist amháin ar a laghad as Gaeilge gach lá a mbíonn Tráth na gCeist sa Dáil (1983), agus dhá cheist ar a laghad as Gaeilge (ó 1984 amach); nó, mar mhalairt air sin go leagfaí amach tréimhse áirithe le haghaidh ceisteanna Gaeilge lá amháin gach seachtain.
Sin moladh (i). Moladh (ii):
go labhróidh cainteoir amháin ar a laghad as gach páirtí as Gaeilge den chuid is mó de, ar an Dara Céim de gach Bille a thógfaí sa Dáil nó sa Seanad agus go mbeadh mír as Gaeilge in oráidí scríofa an Dara Céim (Second Reading speeches) ón Rialtas agus ón bhFreasúra.
Agus uimhir (iii):
Go molfaidh an Rialtas do gach Aire ar ócáidí oiriunacha a mbeadh tuairisc ghinearálta ar obair a Roinne á tabhairt aige don Dáil nó don Seanad (mar shampla nuair a bhionn Meastacháin na Roinne á bple):
(a) go dtabharfadh sé cúntas ar fheidhmiú pholasaí na Gaeilge sa Roinn, agus
(b) go mbeadh an mhír sin nó mír shubstaintiúil eile dá óráid i nGaeilge.
I ndiaidh an phlean sin, tá tuarascálacha bhliantúla le fáil ó Bhord Gaeilge. Faoi dheireadh cuireadh ar siúl i mí na Samhna, 1984, an Comhchoiste Don Ghaeilge—teideal simplí atá ann — agus na haidhmeanna a bhí ann ná go ndéanfadh an comhchoiste athbhreithniú agus moltaí ó am go ham i dtaobh úsáid na Gaeilge a leath in imeachtaí na Dála agus an tSeanaid agus i dtimpeallacht an dá Theach chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. Anois tá an chéad tuarascáil ón chomhchoiste sin againn.
Tháinig an comhchoiste le chéile mí na Bealtaine anuraidh agus do bhí orthu tuarascáil a thabhairt isteach chomh luath agus ab fhéidir. Do rinneadar a leithéid. Ní raibh dhá mhí caite nuair a bhí an tuarascáil seo bailithe agus sínithe acu. B'fhéidir gurb í sin an chúis nach bhfuil mórán ann. B'fhéidir go mbeadh sé níos fearr sé mhí nó mar sin a chaitheamh ar an obair agus tuarascáil níos láidre a bheith againn chun an cheist a phlé sa Seanad anois. Níl mórán ann. Níl mórán ann nach raibh sna tuarascálacha cheana féin go rinne mé tagairt dóibh. Is deacair an méid atá déanta acu a luachtáil mar sin. Ba mhaith liom a chloisint ó na Seanadóirí atá mar bhaill sa chomhchoiste níos mó ar an gceist seo mar níl sé sa tuarascáil atá againn.
Tá lochtanna beaga le fáil ar an tuarascáil. Sa réamhrá, alt a haon, tá tagairt do thuarascáil dheiridh an Choimisiúin ar Athbheochan na Gaeilge a leagadh faoi bhráid na Dála i mí Eanáir 1965. Ní ceart é sin, is dócha. Bhí sé curtha faoi bhráid na Dála agus an tSeanaid bliain go leith roimhe sin. Sin é an dáta ar cuireadh faoi bhráid na Dála an Páipéar Bán ón Rialtas. Sin mar atá an scéal, is dócha. Ba mhaith liomsa freagra ón Aire mar gheall air sin. Sílim gur locht atá ann agus ní ceart locht mar sin a bheith i dtuarascáil ó chomhchoiste an Oireachtais.
Locht beag eile: níl an leagan amach atá sa tuarascáil ró-shuimiúil; níl se rófhuarasta na moltaí atá ann in alt 3 a léamh. Más mian liom tagairt a dhéanamh do cheist Riar na hOibre — Order of Business — caithfidh mé tagairt a dhéanamh do 3 (a) nó trí Arabaic, lúibín (a) dún an lúibín lúibín (iii) beag Románach, dún an lúibín lúibin (a); dún an lúibín. Níl an leagan sin oiriúnach do thuarascáil mar seo. Foirm dheachuíl — bheadh sé sin i bhfad niós fearr. Bheadh an fhoirm nua mar seo: 3.2; 3.1. Tá sé ar fad meascaithe trí chéile. Is locht beag é sin — agus sin rud ba cheart dúinn a dhéanamh, lochtanna a fháil ar an gchomhchoiste, nuair a bhíonn lochtanna ann ach is maith an rud go bhfuil an comhchoiste ann. Is maith an rud go bhfuil an tuarascáil ann agus go bhfuil an díospóireacht againn sa Seanad inniu. Molaim an rún atá os ár gcomhair.