Dara Calleary
Mayo · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Agriculture is the backbone. We have all been in the Mansion House today, or everyone has said they were anyway. Energy security is key and crucial. Everybody wants energy security but nobody wants wind energy. We have to strike a balance and get a real discussion, but food security is most important.”
“While we have gaps there, we are addressing them. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has announced the minor injury units, which will take the pressure off major hospitals and ensure services are available.”
“Recent figures from the CSO show that there is a 5.8% increase in the number of people living in rural areas between 2016 and 2022. In areas classified as highly rural and remote, the increase was 6.4%.”
“Enterprise Ireland is investing in Irish-owned, Irish-founded companies. Similarly, 59% of IDA investments were located outside the Dublin region. We will continue to work, looking at the progress we can make through the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and, as Senator O'Loughlin said, through supporting our local enterprise offices.”
“That is something we do daily and they are used where is necessary. The plan will be supported by ambitious, clear, practical and measurable actions. I have spoken to some of the funding programmes available within my Department.”
“Táim tar éis cuairt a thabhairt ar gach ceantar Gaeltachta chun plé fairsing a dhéanamh leis na pobail sin chun a fháil amach uathu féin cén cineál tacaíochta ar féidir a chur ar fáil dóibh chun cabhrú leo. Táim chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair sin sa bhuiséad le teacht agus na buiséid eile.”
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“Implementation is to be informed by a stakeholder engagement group made up of key stakeholders. The membership of this group will be announced shortly. It is an area I will be very interested in working in, alongside the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer. I had many meetings with the CEO of Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland, Mr. John Logue, during my time at the Department of enterprise. There is massive potential here. We also need to support existing social enterprises.”
“A series of bilateral meetings were held with key stakeholders, including Departments and sectoral representative bodies and networks, which included the local development companies, and the Local Development Companies Network, LDCN, formerly known as the ILDN. There were a number of regional stakeholder events. Finally, a public consultation took place and 43 submissions were received from stakeholders. In addition, my Department commissioned two major pieces of research to underpin the development of Trading for Impact. The first was a baseline data collation exercise on the scale and scope of social enterprise in Ireland and the second was an OECD in-depth policy review of the social enterprise and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ireland. Trading for Impact details 57 policy actions under five key objectives.”
“I thank the Deputy. Having just transferred from the Department of enterprise, I understand the rationale for his question. The Department of Rural and Community Development has had policy responsibility for social enterprise since the Department was established in 2017. Trading for Impact: National Social Enterprise Policy 2024-2027 was launched in July 2024. This policy was the successor to the first national social enterprise policy, which was published in 2019. The development of Trading for Impact was carried out in partnership with the social enterprise sector to which the Deputy referred.”
“I could not agree more with the Deputy. Parents are very busy, but it is not the job of the Department either. We have put the funding initiatives in place and the local authorities can engage with us on them. They are best suited to that role in such developments given their skills and knowledge of what is needed in each area. Under CLÁR alone, we funded 17 projects in Cork in 2023. In 2024 we funded 23 projects. The two tranches amount to almost €2 million between them. We have the funding for facilities. We engage through the local authorities because they are the best mechanism. They have the on-the-ground expertise. I gave the Deputy a good example of a development yesterday using both programmes. The funding is there under different streams.”
“I welcome the fact that the initiative has been taken locally. The funding options are available to Cork County Council to support and fund that work. I direct the Deputy to the town and village renewal scheme, which is currently open. As it has funded playgrounds, skate parks, MUGAs, etc. in the past, it is definitely worth having a look at that. I encourage the Deputy to engage with Cork County Council on that. He can also engage with me on it.”
“Through the community recognition fund, €50,000 was allocated to Cork County Council in 2023 for upgrade works to the playground in Midleton. A range of options is available to communities that want to work in tandem with local authorities to develop playground facilities. Yesterday, I was in Ballyogan, Dún Laoghaire, where I opened a library. The council developed the library with a playground as part of the outdoor space around it. You can walk straight from the library into the playground. It is a fantastic use of resources and a great example of what can be done with a little bit of thinking outside the box.”
“For many years, LEADER has supported playgrounds once they are compatible with the local development strategy for the relevant LEADER area. LEADER is now open for applications in many areas. The community recognition fund recognises the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Since 2023, €100 million has been allocated to support community facilities, including for gaming areas and playgrounds. The local enhancement programme provides funding to community groups in disadvantaged areas. It does support playgrounds. The programme is administered by local community development committees across the country, and co-ordinated by local authorities. We also have the town and village renewal scheme, for which the window is now open.”
“I thank Deputy Quaide for the question. There is no doubting the importance of playground facilities in communities. That is the reason my Department supports such facilities through the CLÁR programme, the local enhancement programme, the LEADER programme, the community recognition fund and the town and village renewal scheme. The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The programme provides funding for community recreation facilities and amenities, including playgrounds. We are announcing the 2025 programme in the coming weeks. The LEADER programme provides support to rural communities under a range of themes, including rural infrastructure and social inclusion.”
“We agree on a lot. I also point out that, as the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, has just said, the RRDF is helping in terms of building community revitalisation to assist in housing as well. We announced 30 RRDF projects last year, worth €164 million. A total of €20 million was spent under the town and village renewal scheme. That window is open again this year. We are looking at how we build infrastructure to encourage people. Under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the vacant properties grant is assisting in a lot of rural areas. I see houses opening up that have perhaps not been opened in my lifetime or at least for many decades. We will continue to promote that grant. We will see what changes need to be made to make it more flexible, to get people to revitalise existing properties.”
“What do we need to do to promote that or do we need to consider what impact it is having? There are many areas such as climate and the impact of climate change on rural communities will have to be part of this policy document as well. I look forward to engaging in debate on it. What is most important is that we get out and about and debate these matters.”
“I am anxious to get the views of younger people in rural areas. Part of the consultation will be specifically focused on them and getting them to engage with the review. Housing is a major issue. Táimid ag plé cúrsaí tithíochta i gcomhthéacs cúrsaí Gaeltachta freisin ach ní fadhb Ghaeltachta amháin í. Is fadhb í i ngach ceantar agus i ngach baile, rural agus urban. We will be looking at that. The outgoing strategy has exceeded many expectations. We now have the biggest budget in the history of the State within the Department of €472 million, which is being spent in communities right across the country. I want to see what Our Rural Future looks like in 2026 - in housing but also in infrastructure and facilities. We are much more online now than we were in 2021.”
“The survey findings will inform a series of in-person events that will take place across the country from May onwards, and there will also be an opportunity for parties to make submissions about the new policy later in the year. This level of consultation is designed to ensure that the experience of people living in our rural communities is absolutely central to the development of a successor policy programme.”
“The review began in earnest under the former Minister, Heather Humphreys, last year and the OECD review group has now met with more than 500 officials and stakeholders across a variety of in-person and online engagements as part of its work. The OECD is currently drafting a report based on this work, which will be published later this year and which I have no doubt will make a strong contribution to the development of the Our Rural Future policy. I look forward to engaging parties across the floor on that report. I also want to engage directly with the public and stakeholders on the new policy. A comprehensive public consultation process has been designed in this regard. The process started with an online survey which is open until Wednesday, 2 April. I encourage all Deputies to help to promote that.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta McGuinness as a bheannachtaí. Táim ag tnúth le hobair leis ar chúrsaí a bhaineann leis an Roinn seo agus leis an nGaeltacht. Our Rural Future was launched in 2021 and over its five year duration has provided vital investment and support, strengthened local economies and improved the lives of many people across rural Ireland. The programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new rural future policy from 2026. In order to ensure that the development of the new policy is informed by an independent evaluation of the current policy, my Department has commissioned an OECD review. This review will examine not just Our Rural Future, but will also focus on the rural policy framework more generally for Ireland.”
“To build on the previous figures regarding SICAP, we delivered funding of approximately €51 million, which supported 2,500 community groups and 27,000 individuals in 2024. I have already spoken about the community services programme. As LEADER relaunches this year, 46,000 people have completed LEADER-funded training, which allowed 16,000 jobs to be sustained in rural areas. We provided €7.5 million to the Dublin north-east inner city, NEIC, programme, with a particular focus on it being led from within the community. We have also provided €3 million in the empowering communities programme. I want to ensure that they continue to work, and working with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, we will ensure they are focused. I am more than happy to discuss what a target might look like in that context.”
“Therefore, my focus on community centre funding is how we continue to make sure they provide a specific need in the specific community. Similarly, as we relaunch LEADER in 2025, it is community-focused and community-led. What I want to do is strengthen the structures to enable a community-led response in association with a partnership with the Department. It has to be community-led, however.”
“To give the Deputy an example regarding the community services programme, we are working with various companies around the country. We are contributing wage contribution to fund more than 2,000 positions in 430 community organisations. With regard to community centres, we have just finalised funding announcements for community centre refurbishments. That was community-led, rather than us setting a target, and that was important. We have just funded €22 million for proposals that came from across the country for specific needs and specific communities. I am worried, that if we set a target, the communities' response will not be a community-led response, whereas this has been driven from the community up regarding the specific service provided by the specific centre. We saw recently during Storm Éowyn how some centres were able to stand up.”
“My Department works closely with local authorities, local development companies and community organisations in delivering on these social inclusion measures. My Department regularly engages with rural and urban stakeholders to identify issues. This engagement is ongoing, and we are currently developing successor policies to the Our Rural Future and Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities strategies. In the whole area of urban intervention, however, it is an area on which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are both focused. We want to work with Deputy O'Reilly and those across the House. It is an area on which we are spending a lot of money, but I am not convinced that we are getting the kind of returns we need. I want to progress that area a lot, not just in 2025, but during the lifetime of this Government.”
“The social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and the community services programme, CSP, are key programmes within the community development area. SICAP is currently Ireland’s primary social inclusion funding intervention, and is designed to help those individuals in the greatest need to access supports and to enable participation in communities. The CSP provides employment opportunities for people in disadvantaged areas, and those most distant from the labour market, while also ensuring the provision of vital community services throughout the country. Work by our Department in the areas of social enterprise and social innovation will also help address inequality in our communities. I am due to answer a question later on social enterprise in particular.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a ceist. Working to address economic and social inequality in urban and rural areas is a core part of the work of our Department. The Department’s budget for 2025 is €472 million. Of this, €212 million is allocated to the rural development programme, supporting our rural areas to thrive socially and economically. The funding supports a wide range of schemes that can help the rural economy and promote social inclusion. These schemes include the rural regeneration and development fund, the LEADER programme, town and village renewal agus an coiste CLÁR. The remaining €260 million is allocated to the community development area, supporting the economic and social development of communities in both rural and urban areas.”
“Mar fhreagra ar an leasú sin, mar gheall go bhfuil na baill sin páirteach agus tofa go dtí an údarás nó an chomhairle áitiúil, beidh taithí acu maidir leis na cúrsaí áitiúla le haghaidh Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tuigim go mór gur rud maith é go mbeidh deis acu agus níl barántas ann go dtoghfar iad mar gheall gur comhairleoirí iad. B'fhéidir gur míbhuntáiste é agus ag éisteacht leis an Teachta Gallagher, ní dhéantar daoine cosúil leis a thuilleadh - bhí sé ina Aire, ina chomhairleoir contae agus ina Theachta ag an am céanna - mar go bhfuil an lá sin imithe. Tuigim go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go mbeidh deis ag comhairleoirí contae a bheith páirteach freisin.”
“Ní deirimid le comhairleoirí áitiúla nach bhfuil siad in ann dul go dtí an t-údarás sláinte le haghaidh na réigiún. Tá siad ag tabhairt a gcuid taithí go dtí an t-údarás sláinte agus ní ceart go ndeirimid nach bhfuil siad in ann seasamh do thoghchán Údarás na Gaeltachta freisin.”
“Tá mé ag ceapadh go ndéanfaimid dochar do na deiseanna atá againn leis an údarás agus le toghchán an údaráis má deirimid le comhairleoirí áitiúla nach bhfuil siad in ann cur isteach ar na toghcháin sin díreach toisc gur comhairleoirí áitiúla iad. Tuigim an méid a dúirt an Teachta Connolly faoin dá thaobh. Tá dhá thaobh ann ach tá an taobh atá le réiteach taobh amuigh den díospóireacht seo agus taobh amuigh den údarás. Caithfimid, agus muid ag tabhairt na dtoghchán ar ais, an deis a thabhairt do gach duine a bhfuil suim acu sa Ghaeilge - agus a bhfuil Gaeilge acu, a bhfuil taithí saoil acu, agus b'fhéidir a bhfuil contacts acu - ionas go mbeidh an t-údarás is fearr againn. Nuair atá an deis ar fáil údarás nua a bheith againn, ba cheart go mbeadh muid ag iarraidh an t-údarás is fearr a bheith againn.”
“Ní hé sin an freagra le go mbeadh údarás den chéad scoth againn. Beidh daoine nua agus daoine nach bhfuil tofa roimhe seo á gcur iad féin chun tosaigh mar go bhfuil suim acu ann, mar a tharlaíonn i ngach toghchán. Seasann daoine nua. Is dócha gur tharla sé do gach éinne anseo. Seasann daoine nua i gcoinne na ndaoine atá ina suí agus buann siad an suíochán de bharr an fheachtais nó mar gheall ar an obair atá déanta acu sa cheantar. Tá sé sin taobh amuigh den díospóireacht seo. Caithfimid seasamh suas le haghaidh na gcomhairleoirí i ngach páirtí agus na comhairleoirí neamhspleácha. Caithfimid resources breise a thabhairt dóibh chun an post a dhéanamh. Ní freagra na faidhbe sin a rá nach bhfuil daoine in ann seasamh le haghaidh toghcháin an údaráis. Tá freagraí i bhfad níos tábhachtaí eile chun an fhadhb sin a réiteach.”
“Tá an ceart ag an Teachta Ó Snodaigh. Muna bhfuil tú ag déanamh na hoibre mar ionadaí poiblí, beidh tú imithe as do phost. Tá sé tábhachtach go dtugaimid an seans an obair a dhéanamh. Tá díospóireacht eile le bheith ann, ní hamháin an ceann seo, faoin obair atá á cur ar chomhairleoirí chontae nó ar chomhairleoirí áitiúla ag an bpointe seo. Caithfimid seasamh leo chun cuidiú leo san obair sin. Ní cheapaim go bhfuil sé ceart mar gheall go bhfuil an iomarca oibre le déanamh, agus nach bhfuil an cuidiú ann, go bhfuilimid ag rá nach bhfuil ceart ag duine seasamh do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá mé ag ceapadh freisin go bhfuil a lán comhairleoirí áitiúla le taithí agus le suim i gceantair Ghaeltachta agus táimid ag rá nach mbeidh siad in ann bheith tofa d’Údarás na Gaeltachta mar gur comhairleoirí contae iad.”
“Maidir le comhaltaí de na húdaráis áitiúla, sílim gur cheart go mbeadh baill de na comhairlí contae san áireamh le haghaidh ballraíocht de bhord an údaráis. Tá siad san áireamh ar an mbord reatha mar a bhí roimhe seo. Chomh maith leis sin, sílím nach mbeadh sé indéanta comhalta nua bheith roghnaithe lastigh de sheachtain. Ní dóigh liom go mbeadh a dhóthain ama i gceist ansin le comhalta nua incáilithe a roghnú. Teastaíonn solúbthacht áirithe le haghaidh rudaí mar seo. Ós rud é go bhfuil sé seo tógtha san áireamh agam, ní féidir liom glacadh leis an leasú seo.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle agus gabhaim buíochas leis na daoine agus leis na Teachtaí as an leasú seo. Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom a nótáil ag an bpointe seo go bhfuil leasú le déanamh ag alt 5(c)(2F) sa Bhille mar go bhfuil botún curtha i gcló le lúibíní ann agus beidh sé seo le leasú ar Chéim na Tuarascála. Ní bheidh an fhoráil seo ag teastáil mar go bhfuil sé clúdaithe sa phríomh-Acht cheana féin ó thaobh Comhaltaí den Dáil, den Seanad agus de Pharlaimint na hEorpa. Maidir le comhalta de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta, i gcás go n-ainmneofar é nó í mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann, go dtoghfar é nó í mar Chomhalta de cheachtar Teach an Oireachtais, nó go n-aimneofar nó go dtoghfar é nó í le bheith ina ionadaí nó ina hionadaí i bParlaimint na hEorpa, scarfaidh sé nó sí de bheith ina comhalta den údarás.”
“Níl aon easaontas eadrainn faoin gcaighdeán. Má tá aon duine ag éisteacht leis an díospóireacht seo a bhfuil suim acu a bheith mar iarrthóir don chéad bhord eile san údarás, is cóir dóibh é sin a chloisteáil. Níl aon easaontas ansin. Tá easaontas faoi cathain a fhoilseoimid an caighdeán. Breathnóidh mé air agus b’fhéidir go mbeimid in ann rud éigin a chur isteach faoi na rialacháin chun deadline cúpla mí a chur air sin. Deirim le gach duine atá ag éisteacht áfach, aon duine sa tír seo a bhfuil suim acu a bheith mar iarrthóir sa toghchán do bhord an údaráis, níl aon easaontas faoin B2.”
“Maidir le heisceacht a chur ar fáil do chainteoirí dúchasacha, ní bheidh sé cuí leibhéal amháin a chur isteach sa Bhille nó leibhéal eile a chur isteach do dhaoine áirithe. Bheadh sé an-deacair sainmhíniú a leagan síos dá leithéid chomh maith. Tugann an fhoclaíocht mar atá sé solúbthacht don Aire maidir leis an leibhéal a bheidh ag teastáil. Is dóigh liom gur rud maith é an tsolúbthacht agus nach bhfuil gá díriú isteach ar leibhéal áirithe srianta sa reachtaíocht. Cé nach féidir liom glacadh leis an leasú, tuigim go mór agus aontaím leis an Teachta McGuinness gur rud an-tábhachtach é go mbeidh ardchaighdeán Gaeilge ag baill an údaráis. Tá sé sin leagtha amach sa Bhille. Ní oibreodh an t-údarás go héifeachtach mura mbeadh an Ghaeilge agus ardchaighdeán Ghaeilge ann.”
“Mar chuid den Bhille nua, beidh cumhacht ag an Aire an leibhéal inniúlachta sa Ghaeilge is gá a bheith ag comhalta a fhorordú faoin Chreat Comhchoiteann Tagartha Eorpach. Beidh sé de chumhacht ag an Aire leibhéal B2 faoin Chreat Comhchoiteann Tagartha Eorpach nó níos airde - agus i gcomhthéacs na dtuairimí atá ag an Teachta Ó Snodaigh faoin chathaoirleach, tá an chumhacht sin ann - a fhorordú más gá agus más cuí. Tugann an fhoclaíocht mar a sheasann sé roinnt spáis ar son na solúbthachta de maidir leis an leibhéal a bheidh ag teastáil. Is dóigh liom gur rud maith é an tsolúbthacht seo a sholáthar agus nach bhfuil gá díriú isteach ar leibhéal áirithe srianta sa reachtaíocht.”
“Níl mé ag rá nach mbeidh an chumhacht ag an Aire chun é nó í a cheapadh ach táim ag rá go mb'fhéidir go mbeimid in ann leagan amach an saghas cáilíochtaí a bheidh aige nó aici a phlé le go mbeimid soiléir faoi sin.”
“Chun a bheith soiléir, táim fós ag rá go mbeidh an cathaoirleach ceaptha ag an Aire ach b'fhéidir go mbeimid in ann na cáilíochtaí, the qualifications, a bheidh ag an gcathaoirleach chun an jab a dhéanamh a shoiléiriú ionas go mbeidh cosaint ann maidir le haon neamhspleáchas. Le cuidiú liom, ar mhiste leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh agus an Teachta Ní Chonghaile freisin é sin a dhéanamh? Tugaim cuireadh d’aon Teachta eile atá ag éisteacht a dtuairimí faoi na cáilíochtaí a bheidh ag cathaoirleach an údaráis a thabhairt ar ais dom. Dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh gur poist dhifriúla iad. Is bord Stáit é ach is bord an údaráis é freisin agus iarraim ar an Teachta a mheas a thabhairt ar na cáilíochtaí, ina thuairim agus ina thaithí féin, gur chóir go mbeadh ag an gcathaoirleach.”
“Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh an t-údarás neamhspleách ón Rialtas agus go mbeadh sé in ann teacht amach le cúrsaí a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht. Ag an bpointe seo, níl muid ag glacadh leis an leasú seo ach b’fhéidir go mbeidh muid in ann obair a dhéanamh chun cáilíochtaí do ról an chathaoirligh a leagan amach le go mbeidh cosaint ann do neamhspleáchas an chathaoirligh agus neamhspleáchas an údaráis.”
“Beidh sé ar chumas an chathaoirligh ról lárnach a chomhlíonadh i dtaca le stocaireacht, ceannaireacht agus rialachas corparáideach na heagraíochta agus caidreamh a chothú le príomhfheidhmeannach na heagraíochta don Rialtas a éascú. Leis an méid sin san áireamh, ní féidir liom a ghlacadh leis an leasú seo. Beidh mé sásta, áfach, breathnú ar an chéad chéim eile agus cáilíochtaí riachtanacha an chathaoirligh a leagan amach. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh an cathaoirleach agus an t-údarás neamhspleách agus go mbeadh an neamhspleáchas sin ann. Níl aon fhaitíos agam nach mbeidh an neamhspleáchas ann. Ní bheidh aon Aire chun aon duine a chur ar an mbord nó cathaoirleach a phiocadh le haghaidh bord Stáit chun obair an Rialtais a dhéanamh.”
“Tá an socrú seo fós i bhfeidhm agus ní léir go bhfuil gá an cur chuige seo a leasú. Ní bheidh sé ag teacht le dea-chleachtas go mbeidh an bord ag ainmniú cathaoirligh óna mheasc féin. Tá sé i gceist go mbeidh cumhacht ag an Aire an cathaoirleach a ainmniú. Tá scileanna ar leith ag teastáil ón chathaoirleach a bheidh á lorg i rith an phróisis earcaíochta. Ní mór d’iarrthóirí do ról an chathaoirligh fianaise a bheith acu ar thaithí cheannaireachta ag leibhéal sách sinsearach lena n-airítear an cumas cathaoirleachta a dhéanamh ar bhord agus taithí chuí i réimse amháin ar a laghad dóibh seo a leanas: cur chun cinn sa Ghaeilge agus i bpleanáil teanga, forbairt fiontraíochta agus cruthú fostaíochta, forbairt pobail nó cur chun cinn na n-ealaíon, agus rialachas corparáideach.”
“Gan dul ar ais ar an díospóireacht dheireanach, níl mé ag cur aon mhaslú ar na daoine tofa. Mar gheall gur údarás agus bord de chuid an Stáit é, tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeidh an mix sin againn. Bhí go leor díospóireachta againn air sin. Maidir leis an leasú seo, go hiondúil, ní bhíonn leas-chathaoirleach i gceist ar bhord Rialtais nó ar chomhlachtaí Stáit ar nós an údaráis. Tá muid ag díriú isteach ar an gcathaoirleach mar sin. Tá foráil in Acht um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 1979 maidir le ról an chathaoirligh ina bhfuil sé luaite, mura mbeidh, agus fad nach mbeidh, cathaoirleach an údaráis i láthair nó fad is a bhíonn oifig an chathaoirligh folamh, roghnóidh comhaltaí an údaráis a bheidh i láthair duine dá líon chun a bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú.”
“Tá sé sin tábhachtach agus léiríonn an Teachta Ó Snodaigh leis sin go bhfuil sé tábhachtach i mo thuairim go mbeidh guth na Gaeltachta agus guth phobal na Gaeilge ar bhord an údaráis freisin. Tá sé an-tábhachtach go dtuigfeadh muid é seo: is bord Stáit é agus is údarás é freisin. Táimid ag féachaint ar chaiteachas de €32 milliún ar an údarás sa cháinaisnéis sa bhliain seo agus tá sé tábhachtach. Tá freagrachtaí difriúla ag baill bhord an údaráis mar gheall air sin ná mar atá ag comhairleoirí áitiúla, Teachtaí Dála, Seanadóirí nó Baill de Pharlaimint na hEorpa. Tá sé tábhachtach go gcuirfear isteach an teachtaireacht dhíreach go bhfuil an t-údarás difriúil. Is údarás é. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh guth na Gaeltachta ann ach is bord Stáit é freisin.”
“Bheadh bord lán de mhuintir Mhaigh Eo iontach. Tá tuairim dhifriúil agam faoi ról an údaráis. Tá cúpla ról ann. Is údarás áitiúil é agus is údarás don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht é, ach is bord Stáit é freisin. Caithfear a bheith díreach faoi sin. Beidh freagrachtaí difriúla i gceist nach bhfuil ag comhairleoir áitiúil, Teachta Dála, Seanadóir nó feisire aon pharlaimint mar gheall gur bord Stáit é. Beidh freagrachtaí difriúla ar na daoine a bheidh ar an mbord. Mar sin, tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh deis againn, b’fhéidir tar éis an toghcháin, saineolaithe a fháil chun é sin a dhéanamh. Ní bheidh aon Aire chomh daft nach gceapfadh sé nó sí daoine ón nGaeltacht agus pobal na Gaeilge chuig bord an údaráis.”
“Ní hamháin go bhfuil sé tábhachtach, caithfimid bord a chur le chéile trí thoghchán agus trí cheapachán a mbeidh na saineolaithe ann ionas go mbeidh an bord sin in ann bainistíocht a dhéanamh ar an bhfoireann san údarás agus ar cháinaisnéis an údaráis mar gheall gur bord Stáit agus údarás é. Is bord Stáit agus údarás é, nó údarás agus bord Stáit. Tá mé freagrach go dtí an Teach agus go dtí an Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí maidir le cáinaisnéis an údaráis, agus tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh mé in ann breathnú ar gach scil ar an mbord faoi na cúrsaí sin. Beimid in ann é seo a phlé, ach tá tuiscint dhifriúil agam faoi bhord Stáit agus obair na mbord Stáit.”
“Ní dúirt mé go bhfuil aon rud mór mí-éifeachtach. Chuir mé amach mar chuid den díospóireacht é. Luaigh an Teachta Connolly an Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí. Is é ról an bhoird nua go mbeidh bainistíocht an údaráis freagrach dó maidir le cúrsaí cuntasacha agus cúrsaí dlí. Luaigh an Teachta go mbeimid in ann é a thabhairt isteach agus íocaíochtaí a thabhairt isteach, ach nuair a íocfar é, ní bheidh sé neamhspleách. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeimid in ann mix a fháil ar an mbord idir saineolaithe agus daoine arb as an nGaeltacht dóibh freisin. Nílim ag déanamh masla ar aon duine a bheidh ag dul os comhair an phobail, ach is bord Stáit é. Tá freagrachtaí ag baint le gach bord Stáit. Tá freagrachtaí maidir le cúrsaí airgid agus cáinaisnéis ag an údarás.”
“Beidh seans againn filleadh air sin ar ball. Maidir leis na scileanna, caithfimid cuimhneamh gur bord Stáit atá ann freisin. Tá obair le déanamh mar gheall gur bord Stáit atá ann. Tá gá go mbeidh scileanna áirithe ar an mbord chun an obair sin a dhéanamh. Freisin is gá Gaeilge a bheith ag iarrthóirí agus fonn don Ghaeilge freisin. Beimid ag teacht ar ais go dtí cúrsaí tithíochta. Tá sé tábhachtach cuimhneamh ar na scileanna agus go mbeidh deis ag an Aire ag an am, ní amháin mise ach cibé duine a bheidh mar Aire ag an am, daoine a phiocadh le tabhairt ní amháin go dtí an Ghaeltacht ach go dtí pobal na Gaeilge freisin.”
“Go pearsanta, ní aontaím go gcaithfidh sé a bheith tabhartha ionas go mbeidh sé éifeachtach agus le cothromaíocht a fháil chun go mbeidh éifeachtacht ann agus go mbeidh guth ann, ní hamháin do gach ceantar, ach do na Gaeltachtaí ar fad. D'fhéadfaí déileáil go cuí le saincheisteanna ionadaíochta ar son na n-oileán trí na coistí réigiúnacha, mar go rachaidh na coistí seo i ngleic le míbhuntáistí tíreolaíochta a fheictear laistigh de chontaetha nach mbaineann le muintir na n-oileán a mhaolú. Bhí leasú Uimh. 3 ag díriú ach go háirithe ar chúrsaí na n-oileán. Leagann na coistí réigiúnacha tábhacht ar deis a thabhairt do mhuintir na n-oileán bheith ann. Tugann daoine ceaptha deis chomh maith do dhaoine as na n-oileán. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh deis agam caint faoi cé chomh tábhachtach is a bheidh na réigiúin freisin.”
“Bhí cáilíochtaí i réimse bainistíochta le boird Stáit cosúil le gnó, bainistíocht, bainistíocht airgeadais nó cuntasaíochta, pleanáil teanga nó forbairt pobail san áireamh chomh maith mar scileanna inmhianaithe. Ní bealach gur féidir na scileanna sin a chinntiú is ea comhlachtaí a bheith ceaptha ag an Aire. Mar gheall ar cé chomh tábhachtach is atá na scileanna sin, ní féidir liom glacadh leis an leasú seo. Tá cúpla rud le rá agam faoi na leasuithe atá curtha ar leataobh. Beidh deis ag éirí as gach ceantar Gaeltachta dul san iomaíocht maidir le toghchán agus comórtas poiblí mar a bhaineann sin le bord an údaráis. Aontaím go mór leis an Teachta Ó Muirí go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go mbeadh bord ann agus gur rud tábhachtach é go mbeadh toghchán ann.”
“Tugann meascán de bhaill tofa agus baill ceaptha deis chinntiú go bhfuil meascán ábhartha ar an mbord ó thaobh scileanna, taithí san eolas agus iomaíocht de. Tá daoine ag iarraidh go mbeidh daoine breise ar an mbord, ach leis an gcumhacht sin chun daoine a cheapadh, beimid in ann na fadhbanna sin a réiteach. Ós rud é gur bord Stáit atá ann, tá cúrsaí san eolas agus scileanna an-tábhachtach freisin. An uair dheireanach a reáchtáladh comórtas le haghaidh bhord an t-údarás, bhí scileanna áirithe san áireamh nár mhór d'iarrthóirí taithí a léiriú iontu. Is iad na scileanna a bhíonn san áireamh ná, gan dabht, cur chun cinn sa Ghaeilge agus pleanáil teanga, forbairt fiontraíochta agus cruthú fostaíochta, forbairt pobail agus cur chun cinn na n-ealaíon, agus rialachas corparáideach.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le gach Teachta a bhí páirteach sa díospóireacht. Tá sé iontach, caithfidh mé a rá. Is cuimhin liom nuair a bhí an díospóireacht le haghaidh an tAcht oifigiúil nach raibh ach triúr nó ceathrar ann le hé a spreagadh. Tá na guthanna go léir anseo anocht. Luaigh an Teachta Pat the Cope Gallagher, agus bhí mé ag cuimhneamh ar, an t-iarAire, Donncha Ó Gallchóir, agus an obair a rinne sé ó bunaíodh an t-údarás agus an chéad toghchán ag an am sin. Is laoch mór é domsa go pearsanta agus laoch mór don Ghaeilge. Cuimhnímid air anocht. Maidir leis na leasuithe, tá scileanna áirithe riachtanacha mar a bhaineann sé le boird Stáit agus go deimhin le bord Údarás na Gaeltachta. Ní amháin gur bord toghcháin é nó bord áitiúil, is bord Stáit é freisin. Tá sé tábhachtach cuimhneamh air sin.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta agus tuigim an méid atá á iarraidh ag an Teachta agus go mb'fhéidir go mbeidh leasú eile curtha chun cinn ar an gcéad Chéim eile. Tiocfaidh mé ar ais leis na sonraí amárach nó b'fhéidir dé hAoine.”
“Caithfidh mé teacht ar ais go dtí an Teachta ach rachaimid ar aghaidh leis na leasuithe ach tiocfaidh mé ar ais chuige amárach chun na sonraí sin a sholáthar. Tá brón orm ach caithfimid dul ar aghaidh leis na leasuithe ach tiocfaidh mé ar ais ag an Teachta leis na sonraí sin. Tá brón orm faoi sin.”
“The rules on when entitlement to the payment will permanently cease will be amended to remove entitlement where couples are divorced, enter into a new relationship of qualified cohabitation or two years after the end of the relationship, whether that relationship is based on marriage or cohabitation. This is to address existing anomalies in the scheme cited by the Supreme Court and to avoid a situation whereby surviving cohabitants may have greater rights than married or divorced couples or vice versa . The Bill includes provisions that anyone currently in receipt of a payment, including divorcees, will retain their payment. The same rules for eligibility for cohabitants will be applied to other schemes such as the non-contributory version of the pension and the widowed or surviving civil partner grant.”
“The Bill provides for this as follows: the name of the scheme will change to the bereaved partner’s contributory pension in order to reflect the more inclusive nature of the payment for all bereaved partners, whether spouses, civil partners or qualifying cohabitants; and there will be no time restrictions on when the bereavement of the qualified cohabitant occurred, provided the rules continue to be met. Payments will commence from 22 January 2024, or later if the death is after this date. I am advised that, with respect to backdating payments for deaths prior to the judgment, an issue Deputy O'Reilly raised with me, that this is in line with established legal rules regarding findings of unconstitutionality.”
“The purpose of the Bill is to give legislative effect to extending eligibility for the widow’s, widower's or surviving civil partner contributory pension to surviving qualified cohabitants. In its decision, the Supreme Court noted that the State had already defined cohabitation within the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010. Accordingly, the Bill proposes to extend eligibility to the payment to qualified cohabitants who are in an intimate and committed relationship for a period of two years where there is a child or children of the relationship or five years if otherwise. This reflects the definition in the 2010 Act for qualifying cohabitants. Expanding eligibility for the payment to surviving cohabitants requires several other relevant changes to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.”