Irish language and Gaeltacht policy
Senator Ó Clochartaigh asks for a debate with the Minister of State on Irish-language and Gaeltacht policy during the current Government term.
Ba mhaith liom i dtosach báire moladh a thabhairt do na Seanadóirí atá i láthair a bhfuil cúpla focal acu na focail sin a úsáid. Tuigim go bhfuil roinnt Gaeilge ag an gcuid is mó den dream atá anseo agus tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeadh muid ag tabhairt ceannródaíochta ó thaobh na Gaeilge de i dTithe an Oireachtais. Chomh maith leis sin, ba mhaith liom iarraidh ar an gCeannaire go mbeadh díospóireacht againn leis an Aire Stáit Gaeltachta maidir le cúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta agus na pleananna atá aige ins an tréimhse Rialtais seo. I am encouraging any Senator who does have a cúpla focal to try to use them. It is important that we show ceannródaíocht and that we use it in the Seanad. The amount of Irish used in recent years has been very positive.
Will the Leader also clarify the time slots allotted to different speakers in dealing with Private Members' business? It is not clear how much time will be allotted in the various slots.
We are often accused in the Seanad of speaking rubbish. I think we need a Minister to come here and talk rubbish to us because there is a huge issue with the final act of the Labour Party and Deputy Alan Kelly in government to allow private companies to increase refuse collection charges. There is a plethora of companies providing these services and no regulation of what is happening.
There is a situation in Connemara where companies are trying to charge people a €224 standing charge without ever picking up a bin or a bag. I am told that the same company is running the exact same service in County Leitrim, but it is only charging a standing charge of €80. Fair play to those involved in County Leitrim. I am not sure how they pulled that one off, but certainly we in Connemara and Galway will not take it sitting down. It illustrates how this bin tax which is being imposed on people is totally unacceptable. It comes from the privatisation of the refuse collection system which was ill-thought out and which, in our opinion, should not have been put forward. It needs to be reviewed. We need the Minister for rubbish - I am not certain whether it is the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government who is dealing with the matter or if it is has been passed over to the new Minister - to discuss this isue immediately. The measure is to start in July and has been ill-thought out. There are families who cannot afford to pay their water charges, the property tax and so forth and they see this as another tax being piled upon them with very little choice and very little consultation. There are questions about where the money is going, where the data are being collected and how they are being used. I urge the Leader to have that debate next week, if possible. It is a very pressing issue.