The appointment of two Ministers with responsibility for the Gaeltacht who do not have functioning Irish is a backward step. I make no criticism of either Minister. I have worked with the Minister of State, an Teachta McHugh, who has played a very positive role as Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. I am sure that both he and an tAire, an Teachta Heather Humphreys, are very capable representatives. Mar sin, nílim ag tabhairt amach faoi na Teachtaí seo go pearsanta.

However, the appointments and the manner in which the Department has been reorganised provide further evidence of the downgrading of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht that has been the mark of this Government. Dhá bhliain ó shin, bhrúigh an Rialtas an Bille Gaeltachta tríd an Dáil, cé nach raibh aon duine sásta leis. An cuimhin leis an Taoiseach gur shiúl an Freasúra amach as an Dáil nuair a chuaigh an Bille tríd. Freisin, bhí na grúpaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta thar a bheith míshásta leis an mBille.

Gaeltacht communities have been stripped of their right to democratic representation on Údarás na Gaeltachta. There is another quango which is not representative of the people of the Gaeltacht areas.

I Mí na Nollag seo caite, d'éirigh an Coimisinéir Teanga ag an am, Seán Ó Cuirreáin, as a phost. Dúirt sé ag an am sin go raibh sin déanta aige mar nach raibh sé sásta le polasaí teanga an Rialtais. Dúirt sé go raibh an Stát ag obair in éadan na ndualgas a bhí air faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.

The Taoiseach's decisions have increased the marginalisation of the Irish language and the public administrative system. The decision to merge the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga with the Office of the Ombudsman and the insufficient resources are further evidence of the disregard the Government has for the Irish language.

Tá grúpaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta dearg le fearg faoi seo. Labhair mé leis an Taoiseach cúpla uair cheana faoi na daoine óga agus aosta atá ag iarraidh a ngnáth saol a mhaireachtáil trí Ghaeilge. Tá a fhios ag an Rialtas gurb ionann tír le teanga agus tír le hanam. In light of the criticism of the Taoiseach's appointments, will he now reconsider the allocation of these posts and ensure that at least one of the two Ministers with responsibility for the Gaeltacht areas has working Irish?

I will respond in English so that everybody will understand this. What the Deputy has just said is typical of the reasons that we are not as bilingual as we should be. The Deputy is suggesting that neither the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, nor the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, is capable of learning our native tongue or relearning it as the case may be. I think it is an insult from the Deputy, as leader of his party, to make that kind of suggestion. I strongly believe that-----

Cá bhfuil na hAirí?

-----the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, by their example of immersing themselves in the language to be conversationally fluent will demonstrate to a great number of people throughout the country that it is quite easy to learn the Irish language. Beidh an líofacht acu tar éis tamaillín bhig. I advised the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, to go and take a refresher course in Oideas Gael in Gleann Cholm Cille, because he has the language inside him, but it is rusty.

Like the Taoiseach, himself.

Is it not a good thing to say, "I am as Irish as anybody else, but my líofacht in my native tongue is not at the proficiency that it should be, but I'm going to learn it"?

I remember the former Minister of State, Mr. Carey, from County Clare, whose Irish was long gone, went back and relearnt it. I remember the former Minister of State and Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the late lamented Jim Tunney, answering a question from that seat from the former Deputy, Jim White from Donegal. Jim White had no Irish and he was of a different religion. There was a row in this House about religious discrimination and the Irish language, which Deputy Adams is not suggesting now.

I know the Deputy's interest in the language and he knows mine. I want him to understand that the Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, will prove and demonstrate that he will be able to come into this House or anywhere else and engage conversationally as Gaeilge with the líofacht that it deserves.

That is the most novel scheme for learning Irish I have ever heard.

Sorry. This is a serious issue.

It is a great scheme: become a Minister and learn Irish.

Deputy Adams said that the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga has been absorbed into another entity. I make the point to him that the Government reversed that decision and left the office of An Coimisinéir Teanga with its neamhspleáchas, with adequate staff and adequate funding because of the extraordinary work done by an t-iar-Aire Stáit, an Teachta Donncha Mac Fhionnlaoich. Níor chuir an Teachta ceist ar sin as Ghaeilge.

I think the Taoiseach missed the point quite deliberately.

Will you all stay quiet please-----

Where did Deputy Adams learn his Irish?

-----including Deputy Mattie McGrath, who consistently interrupts?

If you cannot stay quiet, please leave the Chamber.

Blame Mattie again.

Chuir an tAire ceist orm cén áit in ar fhoghlaim mise mo Ghaeilge. Fuair mé mo Ghaeilge i gcampa Cheis Fada, nuair a bhí mé faoi ghlas ag na Gallaibh. Sin an áit in ar fhoghlaim mé mo Ghaeilge. Fuair mé an Ghaeilge fosta nuair a chaith mé tamall gairid sna blocanna H. Ach chaill an Taoiseach an míniú atá leis an gceist.

There has been a whole series of cuts in services to the people of the Gaeltacht areas and to parents and children who want to be educated and live their lives through Irish. Of course, anybody can learn Irish.

Táim ag déanamh mo dhíchill é sin a dhéanamh agus táim i mo sheasamh anseo ag labhairt as Gaeilge achan lá. Táim ag déanamh mo dhíchill. Mar adúirt mé, nílim ag tabhairt amach faoi Theachta Dála Heather Humphreys nó an Teachta McHugh go pearsanta.

There are two Ministers of State in this Department. One has Irish and no responsibility for the Gaeltacht, and one does not have Irish and has responsibility for the Gaeltacht. Here is the rub. When a delegation from the Gaeltacht comes in to meet the Minister, they will not be able to converse with the Minister and have a working meeting with the Minister in their own language.

That is the problem and they have this right. Is cearta sibhialta atá i gceist anseo. Is ceist an-tábhachtach í seo.

Sorry, Deputy, we are over time.

There is a civil right whereby a person who wishes to receive a public service as a citizen of this State and a resident in a Gaeltacht area should be able to do that.

Thank you, Deputy.

However, such people cannot do that. This is one reason the Coimisinéir Teanga resigned.

Thank you, Deputy, we are over time.

It was because the people from the Gaeltacht were denied that right. Is the solution not obvious? There are two Ministers of State in this Department, one with Gaeilge but with no responsibility for the Gaeltachtaí and the other without Gaeilge but with responsibility for the Gaeltachtaí. Tús maith, leath na hoibre.

Táim ag dul go dtí an Bhruiséil inniu. Ní bheidh mé in ann cuid de na teangacha ansin a thuiscint, ach tá córas aistriúcháin ar fáil. Tá córas aistriúcháin againn anseo freisin. Má thagann daoine isteach ón nGaeltacht chun caint leis an Aire, beidh sise in ann úsáid a bhaint as an gcóras sin leis an gcomhrá a thuiscint. Beidh an tAire Stáit i láthair freisin.

Bhí mé ag éisteacht inné leis an méid a bhí le rá ag an Teachta Éamon Ó Cuív. Tháinig sé isteach anseo agus dúirt sé nach bhfuil Gaeilge ar bith ag an Aire agus gur cheart go mbeadh Gaeilge ag an Aire. Bhí a chol ceathrar féin anseo le hocht mbliana mar Aire Gaeltachta, Síle, mo chara mór, de Valera, agus ní raibh focal Gaeilge ar bith aici. Ní dhearna sí iarracht í a fhoghlaim ach an oiread.

S'éard atá mise ag rá, Gerry - gabh mo leithscéal, a Theachta, ná-----

Tá "Gerry" maith go leor.

Nuair a thagann an Dáil thar n-ais tar éis an tsamhraidh, beidh an tAire Stáit go líofa sa Ghaeilge agus beidh tuiscint ag an Aire ar an nGaeilge.

An mbeidh teist déanta aige?

Ná bíodh aon imní ar iad siúd atá ag teacht isteach ón nGaeltacht go dtí an foirgneamh seo. Beidh tuiscint mhór ag an Aire agus ag an Aire Stáit faoi chéard atá i gceist.

Bhí sé mícheart d'Fhianna Fáil é sin a dhéanamh ag an am sin agus tá sé mícheart ag an Rialtas é a dhéanamh anseo arís.

I call Deputy Joan Collins.

Who will set the exam?

Will it be a FÁS course?

Deputy Finian McGrath might do it.

Deputy Collins, please.

Tá an Ghaeilge ag an Teachta Martin-----

A Cheann Comhairle, may I wait until they finish speaking to each other across the Chamber?

Yes, would the Deputies please mind? While I know they are going on their summer break-----

We are all going to the Gaeltacht.

-----they should avoid being giddy for another couple of hours and should allow Deputy Collins to ask a question. They should not worry as they will all get their break.