D'fhógair an Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, inné go bhfuil sé ag éirí as a chuid dualgais i ndiaidh deich mbliana sa phost. Is é seo an chéad uair riamh i stair na tíre seo gur éirigh duine ag an leibhéal seo as a chuid cúraimí ar an dóigh seo. The announcement yesterday by the language commissioner that he could no longer continue in his role due to a lack of commitment from State organisations is a damning indictment of the Government's policy on the Irish language. Thug sé le fios don chomhchoiste go bhfuil trí cheathrú de na scéimeanna teanga a bhaineann le heagraíochtaí éagsúla Stáit, as feidhm. Léirigh sé imní mhór faoi chaighdeán cuid mhaith eile acu. Ba é an rud is tábhachtaí a bhí le rá aige ná go bhfuil eagla air go bhfuil oiread dochar déanta agus easpa muiníne sa chóras nach féidir é a tharrtháil anois. Thug sé le tuiscint nach bhfuil iarracht mar is ceart á dhéanamh seirbhísí Stáit i nGaeilge a chur ar fáil do shaoránaigh na tíre. Theip ar pholasaithe earcaíochta sa Státseirbhís le cinntiú go bhfuil go leor Gaeilge ag na hoibrithe chun freastal ar phobal na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge mar is ceart. D'athraigh an Rialtas na rialacha. Ní dóigh leis an Uasal Ó Cuirreáin go bhfuil bealach ar bith go n-oibreoidh an córas nua. Ní fhaca sé in imeacht 30 bliain an oiread ísle brí agus lagmhisnigh. An nglacann an tAire leis go bhfuil an ceart ag an ombudsman a d'éirigh as inné?

My attention has been drawn to the announcement by the commissioner to resign with effect from 23 February 2014. My attention has also been drawn to the comments he has made on the status of the Irish language and the current attitude of the Government to implementing its strategy. I have been assured by my colleague beside me, the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, who has direct responsibility in this area, that these criticisms by the commissioner are not accepted and that in due course, when his resignation takes effect, a new commissioner will be appointed.

Cuireann sé iontas orm go bhfuil an Rialtas ag cáineadh an méid a bhí le rá ag an gCoimisinéir Teanga. Thug sé sonraí iontach soiléir don chomhchoiste go bhfuil na pleananna as feidhm i gcásanna trí cheathrú de na heagrais Stáit. Tá sé de chúram ar an Roinn agus an Aire a chinntiú go bhfuil na pleananna ar fáil. Thug an coimisinéir an t-eolas seo do Thithe an Oireachtais inné. D'fhógair an Rialtas dhá bhliain ó shin go ndéanfar athbhreithniú ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003, ach níor tharla aon rud go fóill. Tá sé i gceist ag an Rialtas ísliú stádais a ghearradh ar Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga tríd an oifig sin a chónascadh le hOifig an Ombudsman. The commissioner had to take an unprecedented step yesterday in resigning, because the Government is totally undermining the work that he is doing. He told the committee that State organisations are ignoring their legal obligations. In two and a half years in office, the Government has done untold damage to the provision of services and supports for Irish language speakers throughout the State. An aithníonn an tAire gurb é seo an Rialtas is frith-Ghaelaí agus is measa don teanga a bhí sa Stát seo riamh? An aontaíonn sé gur cheart don Rialtas athrú treo a dhéanamh má táimid chun aghaidh a thabhairt ar an bhfianaise a thug an Coimisinéir Teanga inné? Shíl sé go raibh ar a phost a fhágáil mar nach raibh sé i dteideal aon rud a dhéanamh i dtaobh seo sa dá bhliain a chuaigh thart mar gheall ar an dóigh ina mbíonn eagrais Stáit agus an Rialtas ag déileáil le ceist na Gaeilge sa tír seo.

I thank the Deputy for his comments but I do not accept what he said about this Government's attitude to the language. If Deputy Doherty wishes he may table an adjournment debate matter or have a comprehensive debate on the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, where he can respond to all the Irish Language Commissioner's claims.