Patrick O'Donovan
Limerick County · Fine Gael · Ireland
“I agree with the Deputy. If anyone who has experienced any difficulties and has contacted the Deputy, I encourage him to pass any specifics on to me. We want to try to make it work.”
“To go back to a previous question, Coimisiún na Meán is self-financed in terms of the regulation. Regulation costs money and that is why levies are imposed. People do not like that, and the previous Deputy said she did not like it. That is a separate issue, however.”
“Failure by a platform to comply can also lead to significant sanctions. However, the developing nature of digital services requires continuing vigilance. The protection of children and young people in the online world remains of the utmost importance to the Government.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an ábhair tábhachtaigh seo a chur os comhair na Dála ar maidin. Ireland's online safety framework includes the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022, the EU Digital Services Act and the online safety code.”
“I do not disagree with the Deputy at all. He gave a good synopsis there as to why the investment in rural broadband is so important. I do not know whether any political party bar my own at the time actually advocated for it, but it has been transformative.”
“It is expected shortly. As I said in my reply, I will bring the report to the Government and then publish it. I do not disagree with anything the Deputy has said. Restitution cannot be a one-way street. We need to see if there is anything in Irish institutions that is connected to, funded by or associated with colonial plundering.”
The complete record
Every one of 684 lines we hold for Patrick O'Donovan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 11 of 14.
“While the research phase of the scheme is still ongoing, it is clear from the evidence collected to date by the Department on the scheme that it is having a positive impact on participants. This data shows that the BIA payment is having a consistent, positive impact across almost all indicators, affecting practice development, sectoral retention, well-being and deprivation. In terms of ongoing evaluation of the scheme, work has recently begun with an external independent economic consultancy to prepare a full cost-benefit analysis of the BIA. The aim of a cost-benefit analysis is to compare the benefits and costs arising from a specific policy, in order to determine its net value.”
“Evaluation of the pilot is and has been continuous, with participants completing a detailed survey every six months. The Department has undertaken a broad research programme, including two papers based on the baseline survey, that is, information about participants' lives before they received the first BIA payment and two impact assessments that have been published to date. The Department is preparing a report examining the first 24 months of the scheme, which is due to be published over the summer months. An interview research paper written by an independent researcher was also published recently. This paper collects the experiences of 50 recipients, who have been interviewed by a sociologist.”
“The control group provides the same survey data as those in receipt of the payment and, although that cohort does not get the payment, individuals are paid €650 per year to participate. The differences in outcomes for the treatment group and control group illustrates the impact of the basic income for the arts payment to those in receipt of it. The control group data shows that they suffer more from the precarious and inconsistent nature of their income. It is important to note that even those in receipt of the payment fare worse than the general population in terms of deprivation and depression. This is the first large-scale randomised control test undertaken by a Department and represents one of the leading impact evaluations under way in the public sector.”
“The rate being paid to recipients is €325 per week and this allows for 2,000 people to receive the payment within the current pilot scheme, which costs €35 million per year for 2,000 recipients. The current scheme costs €105 million for its three-year duration. The full cost of the six-month extension is €16.7 million. The net overall cost of the pilot is likely to be less, given the number of recipients who were previously on social welfare supports prior to entering the scheme. The scheme's research pilot is designed as a randomised control trial in order to make it possible to identify causality and has benefited from the involvement of external researchers. This randomised control trial includes a treatment group of 2,000, that is, recipients of the payment, and a control group of 1,000 who are not in receipt of the payment.”
“This will also give sufficient time to engage in stakeholder consultation. I am aware there is broad-based support for the scheme across the sector, and I have met the National Campaign for the Arts to discuss this. I intend to bring proposals for a permanent intervention to Cabinet as part of budget 2026, using the evidence arising from the research programme and stakeholder engagement. The programme for Government and the Government’s research and innovation strategy note the importance of incorporating the use of evidence into the policy development process and of improving links between policymakers and researchers. This is a key programme to bring research and data to provide an evidence base for Government to make decisions on future policy for the arts.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 138 and 141 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the programme for Government commits to assessing the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. The scheme has now been operating for almost three years and is underpinned by a robust research programme collecting data about all aspects of the lives of the artists and creative arts workers who are participating in the scheme. There is clearly broad support for the scheme, as is evident from the numerous representations from colleagues to me on behalf of their constituents. Last week, I announced that Cabinet agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months, to February 2026, to allow for further evaluation of the pilot data, which will provide the evidence base for Government to make decisions on the next steps.”
“It has grown quite large over the past number of years under successive Ministers and we hope to be able to continue that trajectory during the lifetime of the Government.”
“I will take the last part first. Once I have had an opportunity to digest the material - the Deputy would accept that is not unreasonable - it will give me an opportunity to make further decisions. As regards the result of the analysis and the possible publication, we want to be sensitive to people's individual identities, etc. I do not want to compromise people one way or another. I also am conscious, as I stated, that there are a number of people who did not get to participate on the scheme. It is important to point out that even outside of the scheme there is significant support being provided by my Department, indirectly or directly, to the arts. The total budget for the Arts Council is of the order of €140 million. This is not insignificant.”
“We will also have to have consideration, as the Deputy rightly said, for those who would have loved to be part of the initial scheme but who, unfortunately, for one reason or another, were not. There is a bit to roll on this yet but the most important thing is that the Government, the Department and I, as Minister, are committed to it.”
“I agree with the Deputy, to be honest about it. It has shone a light on the precarious nature of the income, which was the initial overriding consideration my predecessor had when this scheme was brought in. Not everybody was enthusiastic about this scheme when it was brought in but, qualitatively and quantitatively, when we have the research concluded, it will demonstrate in a clear way that this is a good scheme. Ultimately, I would love to be able to broaden it, but it will be resource dependent in the context of the budget. First of all, I will have to get Cabinet approval for its continuation as a scheme. The amount of funding that will be made available to it will obviously be a determining factor in respect of the number of people we will be able to support.”
“The net overall cost of the pilot scheme to the Exchequer is likely to be less, given the high number of recipients who were previously on social welfare supports prior to the scheme. A cost-benefit analysis currently under way should bring further clarity to the overall costs. While the research phase of the pilot scheme is still ongoing, it is clear from evidence collected to date under the scheme that it is having a positive impact on participants. The scheme support is hugely valued by artists in receipt of it. It has been the subject of much positive commentary both at home and abroad and makes an important statement about the value that the Government and Ireland place on the arts. A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme once the research is concluded.”
“Evaluation of the pilot is and has been continuous, with participants completing a detailed survey every six months. The Department has been undertaking a comprehensive research programme based on this data. I am aware that there is broad-based support for the scheme, and I recently met with the National Campaign for the Arts to discuss the scheme. I intend to bring proposals for a permanent intervention to Cabinet as part of budget 2026 based on the evidence arising from the research programme and stakeholder engagement. The current scheme costs just under €35 million per year to provide the payment to 2,000 recipients. The cost of a six-month extension is €16.7 million.”
“I thank the Deputy for the question and for his remarks at the start of his contribution. The programme for Government commits to assessing the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I appreciate the importance of the basic income support for artists, which is why last week I announced that the Cabinet had agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months to allow further evaluation of the pilot data. This will also give sufficient time to engage in stakeholder consultation and to evaluate the data which will provide the evidence base for Government to make decisions on the next steps. The primary objective of the scheme is to help artists deal with the precarious incomes and to prevent talent from leaving the sector for economic reasons.”
“The Deputy has form in this space. He does not want to pay for anything. He feels that everybody else should pay for something else other than him. He is entitled to start whatever campaign it is he wants to start to undermine another public service. I do not wish him the best of luck with it. Most people do not either. When he does get an opportunity to sit on this side of the House, with whoever it is that will actually have him as a partner in government, he will then see there is more to running a public service than a megaphone.”
“The Deputy is no stranger to RTÉ and he gets a fair crack of the whip there. Of course, he never uses the opportunity to express his thanks for the unbridled coverage he seems to get from RTÉ on a day in, day out basis. Those of us on this side of the House might have something to complain about if there was a fairness test. I do not, however, because it is a public service broadcaster and I am not going to interfere in editorial coverage.”
“In the real world of a constitutional democracy, that is not the way things work. If he ever gets the opportunity to spend a day in government, maybe he will realise that.”
“I am here to answer questions regarding communications, so I will answer the question on communications. There was not really a question in the Deputy's second contribution. My position remains the same. The television licence is not a tax, by the way. I do not see that reference anywhere in the legislation, so I do not know what hat he drew that rabbit out of. It is an important funding mechanism for RTÉ. The Deputy would be the very first person out in RTÉ protesting if the Government were to in any way reduce funding to it. He wants to have his cake and eat it. On this, I am not going to go down the cul-de-sac where he just wants to erode the tax base of every element of public expenditure and revenue generation. He seems to think there is a phantom entity out there that can pay for everything bar yourself. That is the way he operates.”
“The question is whether I will abolish the television licence and replace it with a tax. No, I will not. That is the end of that. I have no notion of doing it. That fund is in place to support RTÉ and public service broadcasters. It also supports Sound and Vision. I have no intention of replacing it. I also have no intention of going down a cul-de-sac as the Deputy would like us to do, which would be a road to nowhere for RTÉ and everyone associated with broadcasting. The short answer is "No".”
“It has been welcomed by the night-time economy and the venues. Ultimately, there is disappointment. There was going to be disappointment when there was only €500,000 but I hope to be able to allay that disappointment in future. Rather than having a go at the scheme, it might be a more productive use of time to see if there were suggestions the party opposite might propose for the scheme in future.”
“Regarding the previous question Deputy O'Donoghue raised, it will be appreciated by Deputy Ó Snodaigh that a small town like Buncrana has a night-time economy adviser that the Department made provision for. Many towns in Ireland that are much bigger than Buncrana do not have one. This is the basis of pilots. There will always be disappointment but once the pilots are concluded, that will give us an opportunity to take lessons from the scheme. I compared this to the sports capital grant. I know what the Deputy said was a bit tongue-in-cheek and he appreciates I would not ask anybody to divvy out €350 million on a first come, first served basis. This is €500,000. It is a start. It is regrettable that the party opposite is trying to undermine and pick holes in a scheme that, ultimately, I am trying to get into the budget.”
“This was a first stab at it. In fairness to the officials in the Department, they did their best with a very small amount of money.”
“The Deputy will appreciate it was a pilot scheme that had a relatively small amount of money available and attracted considerable interest. The officials in my Department had to ascribe a basis for the allocation of the moneys, as I have outlined. They also had to cut it off at a certain point because there was no point in continuing secula seculorum . We will be doing this again and will have regard to those who were unsuccessful this time around. I hope to build the scheme into the budget for 2026 at a much higher level. We will take account of the findings from the initial tranche of the pilot. Hopefully, it will be put on a much more concrete basis in future, akin to something like the sports capital grants, where it will be done regularly. I want to try to support as many as I can and I want to support the smaller ones in particular.”
“I recognise the value of this scheme to venues across the country and I am committed to considering another phase of this support in the not-too-distant future.”
“Venues were also required to submit evidence, in the form of promotional material, photographic evidence and ticket sales, of a strong track record over two years, 2023 and 2024, of regularly programming grassroots music events. Applications were, as I said, assessed on a first come, first served basis. While regional dispersal of the awards was not considered as part of the assessment process, I am satisfied that the grants awarded demonstrate a good regional spread. In addition, the important feedback and insights gained from this pilot edition of the scheme will help inform us of any future decisions in respect of the scheme. I understand that some people might be disappointed, as I have already said.”
“A total of 96 applications were received by the Department and assessed strictly in accordance with the guidelines of the scheme. In line with the published criteria, applications were processed by my officials strictly by order of date and time of receipt, that is, on a first come, first served basis. In addition, venues had to meet the eligibility criteria in order to qualify for funding. Venues had to demonstrate that they promote themselves and are known in the community as an established live music venue or dance venue with grassroots music performance forming a core part of their programming. The venues had to operate with a capacity of 500 or less.”
“I thank the Deputy. I launched the grassroots music venues support scheme in March this year to support small and established music venues that promote themselves and are known in the community for programming grassroots music artists, in recognition of the contribution they make to the music industry and the wider night-time economy. The support scheme aims to provide employment opportunities for emerging artists and professionals, including production staff and crew, who are dependent on live performances. The scheme operated with a total fund of €500,000 and grants were available of up to a maximum of €15,000 to host events showcasing the talent of emerging grassroots artists performing live music that they have written or created themselves.”
“That is encouraging, although more in that space needs to be done. I see it in my own area. The Government has made significant investments in rural transport. All of that, together with the review of the report once I have finished it and can lay it before the House, will add substantially to the whole night-time economy.”
“I thank the Deputy. The Oireachtas broadcasting unit, as the Deputy knows, is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. All parties are represented at that commission. Those are ultimately the people who have responsibility for the operation and running of the Oireachtas. It would not be appropriate for me to cut across the Ceann Comhairle and members of the Oireachtas commission. In response to the comments the Deputy made about the night-time economy, much progress has been made in this space. During the week, for instance, the Government made a decision to establish a Dublin task force. This is not just a Dublin issue. It is an issue that relates to small towns and villages and other regional centres. I was glad to hear the Deputy reference the improvements that have been made to public transport.”
“I understand that the review of the pilots has now concluded and the subsequent report is due to be finalised very shortly. The report will detail a set of recommendations in respect of the future of the pilots. I have not seen the report yet as it is not finalised and, therefore, I am not in a position to comment about what the findings are likely to be. Once the report is received, we will undertake a consultation exercise with the County and City Management Association and the wider night-time economy implementation group about the recommendations on the future roll-out, prior to publication. I expect publication to take place soon after that.”
“They also work collaboratively on larger projects, which have included a late-night transport campaign in partnership with the National Transport Authority and a late-night safety campaign. Each is responsible for developing specific action plans for their own areas. The Department has detailed service level agreements with each local authority setting out key objectives and deliverables. Following a competitive tendering process in 2024, Communiqué International was appointed to conduct a review of the nine night-time economy pilots to look critically at the structures involved in supporting the advisers, the visibility and impact of each in their respective areas, the future roll-out of the pilots, whether a further roll-out is warranted and what needs to be put in place.”
“I thank the Deputy. In support of action 19 in the report of the night-time economy task force and as part of the Department's key role in driving the night-time economy in Ireland, we are funding nine night-time economy advisers in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny, Sligo, Longford, Buncrana and Drogheda. The night-time economy pilots are a significant project within the night-time economy policy area and arguably one of the most impactful. This year, I have allocated just under €1.4 million in funding to support these pilots to cover salary costs and a funding package to roll out their plans, including support for Culture Night Late and Cruinniú Late. The advisers are helping to drive and support a more sustainable night-time economy in their local areas. The Department engages with them regularly and supports their development.”
“I see no reason the Oireachtas committee would have to delay it. If the Deputy wishes to progress it further through pre-legislative scrutiny, we would welcome that. I look forward to working with the committee and the Deputies to bring the general scheme through that pre-legislative scrutiny. For these reasons, I consider that this Private Members' Bill should be declined a Second Reading.”
“This means that any funding recommendation sent to Government by Coimisiún na Meán will set out the net cost to RTÉ and TG4 of fulfilling their public service remit but not more than this. As I said in the media, this is more far-reaching than the Bill before the House. Ultimately, the objective of the general scheme is to create a public service media that is trusted and trustworthy, holds power to account and is accountable. The Bill features one important component of the measures necessary to achieve this. However, as I have set out, we must approach the reform of our public service media in a far more comprehensive and cohesive manner, not through piecemeal reform measures. The general scheme currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny in an Oireachtas committee will achieve that.”
“To enhance accountability and ensure value for money can be assessed, the general scheme provides that Coimisiún na Mean will ultimately identify the performance commitments of RTÉ and TG4. This will augment and strengthen public trust in our public service media providers. This also is not covered by the Bill. Coimisiún na Meán will also continue to assess the funding needs of RTÉ and TG4, but will do this every three years instead of every five. To enhance the transparency of this process, it will carry out its work in accordance with a published methodology. As part of this, the regulator will identify performance commitments and outputs and associated financial inputs. It will also ensure that state aid rules are observed to prevent overcompensation of our public service media providers.”
“These changes are not happening in a vacuum; they are designed to copper-fasten and underpin the reforms being implemented by the new leadership in RTÉ, both at board and executive level. In terms of value for money, the assessment of the Comptroller and Auditor General is, as set out in law, ex post and focused primarily on financial procedures and the economy and efficiency of processes and procedures. That is why the general scheme also significantly strengthens the role of Coimisiún na Mean as the independent regulator of our public service media providers, something the Bill before the House does not do. Currently, RTÉ and TG4 set their own performance commitments on an annual basis.”
“In this context, trust in public service media as a reliable source of information is more important than ever. Trust, as we know, must be earned and maintained. While the assignment of the Comptroller and Auditor General is certainly one mechanism that will build trust, it will not in itself build and restore public trust in RTÉ. That is why I have brought forward a general scheme which contains a comprehensive set of reforms to improve transparency, accountability and value for money in the public service media providers. I have already mentioned the changes to the legislative basis for corporate governance in RTÉ and TG4, including the strengthened role and duties of the board and accountability of the directors general to the board.”
“The expert advisory committee on governance and culture in RTÉ emphasised that the Comptroller and Auditor General has a more expansive role than a regulated private sector auditor. In particular, the expert advisory committee referred to value-for-money considerations. The special reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General have been vital in recent years in focusing on issues ranging from individual property transactions and procurement to financial governance and reporting standards. The reports continue to drive change and reform across in a number of public bodies. The national counter-disinformation strategy, published last month, emphasised the importance of a trustworthy information environment in the context of growing disinformation, both in Ireland and internationally.”
“In particular, it is highly likely that RTÉ's subsidiary which manages the transmission network, 2RN, will continue to require a regulated private sector auditor in the coming years given its size. The Bill throws up a clear anomaly in that this would not be allowed and there would be effectively no audit of 2RN. The key similarity between the general scheme and the proposed Bill is that both appoint the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ. This will have two effects. First, the Comptroller and Auditor General will carry out an audit of RTÉ’s annual accounts and, second, the Comptroller and Auditor General will have the discretion to carry out value-for-money examinations of RTÉ.”
“The second substantive difference between the general scheme and this Bill is that the Bill will remove the discretion of RTÉ's board to appoint a regulated private sector auditor. In contrast, the general scheme provides the RTÉ board with the authority to appoint a regulated private sector audit firm to carry out an annual audit, in addition to the mandatory annual audit to be carried out by the Comptroller and Auditor General. This practice has been adopted in the university sector and in respect of the only other commercial State body subject to a Comptroller and Auditor General audit, Uisce Éireann. In this context, it is also important to note that, under the Companies Act 2014, at least one of RTÉ's active trading subsidiaries will continue to require an audit by a regulated private sector audit firm.”
“Let us recall that the Committee of Public Accounts required a specific motion of Dáil Éireann in July 2023 to enable it to examine the presenter payment issues and related governance failings that arose in RTÉ. It is absolutely necessary that the director general of RTÉ be directly accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts. That is not part of the Deputy's Bill, however. While an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General has significant teeth, accountability to the Committee of Public Accounts adds a further level of transparency and ensures that the people's elected representatives can scrutinise the chief executive officers of public bodies which are, after all, ultimately owned by the people.”
“First, the Bill does not provide for the accountability of the director general of RTÉ to the Committee of Public Accounts for RTE’s accounts, value-for-money matters or any other matters that may be addressed in a special report prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General. This is a standard but nonetheless necessary provision in legislation governing State bodies, as it identifies the officer in the body accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts and the nature of that accountability. The general scheme also provides expressly for the accountability of the directors general of both RTÉ and TG4 to the Committee of Public Accounts. In doing so, it is extending that accountability to the director general of RTÉ and expanding the current provisions relating to the accountability of the director general of TG4.”
“That is not the case, as was spelled out to the committee yesterday. Given that the general scheme, including the provisions relating to the Comptroller and Auditor General, is currently before the Oireachtas committee, I propose that this Private Members' Bill be declined a Second Reading by the House. I do not see the merit in bringing forward separate elements of the reforms contained in the general scheme in stand-alone Bills. Were this Private Members' Bill to pass Second Stage, it would be referred to the same Oireachtas committee now considering the general scheme for scrutiny before it could progress to Committee Stage. This would appear to be duplicative in the extreme. There are two substantive differences between the Bill being considered today and the general scheme undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny.”
“Earlier this month, I referred the general scheme for pre-legislative scrutiny to the Oireachtas committee with responsibility for media policy. I understand that the matter was considered at the first meeting of the Oireachtas committee on 14 May and that officials from my Department briefed the committee yesterday on the general scheme. It will be entirely at the discretion of the committee to decide how long it spends on that. If there is any great sense of urgency, there is no reason it should take two years. It is entirely in the hands of the committee to deal with this. The committee can sit as many times a week as it wants. If it wants to discuss any issue, however many meetings it wants to hold, there will be no hindrance. It is unfair to my officials to suggest my Department will somehow hamper other investigations.”
“The assignment of the Comptroller and Auditor General is a key, but not the only, provision in reforming the legislative underpinning for corporate governance in RTÉ. In line with the recommendations of the expert advisory committee on governance and culture, the general scheme also strengthens the functions and duties of the boards of both RTÉ and TG4 and expands the functions, duties and accountability of both directors general. In particular, the boards of both public service media providers will be required to hold their respective directors general to account for their management of the organisations. This reflects the recommendations and findings of the expert committee on governance and culture in respect of the relationship between the board and executive in the lead-up to the payments scandal.”
“In line with this commitment, last month, the Government approved the publication of a revised general scheme, which retains the totality of the initial general scheme while also providing for additional measures to ensure that the responsibilities of RTÉ as a public service media provider reflect the level of public funding provided to it. The general scheme represents the most comprehensive set of reforms to the governance and regulation of public service media since the Broadcasting Act 2009. It will enhance accountability, transparency and value for money not just in RTÉ but also in TG4, as our public service media providers, and establish a new statutory framework to support the provision of public service content by the wider media sector.”
“It was one of the key recommendations made in the review of governance and culture in RTÉ prepared by the expert advisory committee chaired by Professor Niamh Brennan. In May last year, the Government decided to accept in principle all of the recommendations of that review. In October last year, the general scheme of the broadcasting (amendment) Bill was published so it is not the case that nothing was done. The general scheme gives effect to all of the legislative recommendations of the expert advisory committee, including the assignment of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ. The programme for Government commits to enacting new legislation to ensure that the corporate governance model in RTÉ is open, transparent and appropriate to its public service mandate.”
“I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: "Dáil Éireann declines to give a second reading to the Broadcasting (Oversight of RTÉ Accounts) (Amendment) Bill 2024, on the grounds that a general scheme achieving the same policy objective has been referred to the relevant Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny.". Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis seo labhairt le Dáil Éireann ar an mBille seo. I dtosach báire ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt don méid oibre atá déanta ag an Teachta Ó Snodaigh ar an mBille. I acknowledge the work of Deputy Ó Snodaigh in preparing this Bill and of Deputy Byrne in proposing it today. The reassignment of the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ is something that has broad support across the House.”
“Aontaím leis an méid atá ráite ag an Teachta Ó Snodaigh maidir le cé chomh tábhachtach is atá an t-ábhar sin. Bhí ceist eile aige ar an ábhar sin ach tá an t-am caite againn. Beidh ar an Aire, an Teachta Calleary, déileáil leis an ábhar sin sa Bhille atá os comhair na Dála faoi láthair. Dúirt sé liom go mbeidh sé in ann é sin a phlé le hurlabhraithe Gaeltachta agus Gaelainne na bpáirtithe uile sa Dáil. Beidh sé in ann an obair sin a dhéanamh tar éis cruinnithe a bheith aige le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus leis na húdaráis áitiúla a bhfuil suim acu san ábhar sin, mar shampla, Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus Comhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo, comhairle contae an Aire féin. Beidh sé ar ais arís an tseachtain seo chugainn agus beidh sé ag déileáil leis an ábhar sin.”
“Tuigim an fhadhb. Tá a fhios ag an Teachta, nuair a bhí mé i m’Aire Stáit le cúraimí na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge fúm, rinne mé mo dhícheall an t-ábhar sin a phlé agus a réiteach. Níl aon amhras agam ach gur ceist dheacair í. Tá an-chuid oibre déanta ag an Roinn Gaeltachta agus an Roinn Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta chun an ábhar sin a réiteach. Mar a dúirt mé níos luaithe agus mé ag labhairt leis an Teachta Connolly, tá sé seo ar ceann de na pointí is tábhachtaí don Aire. Tá sé ag iarraidh é seo a phlé amach agus a réiteach le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta agus leis an Roinn nua an tseachtain seo chugainn. B’fhéidir go mbeidh sé in ann teacht ar ais chuig na Teachtaí Farrell agus Connolly, agus chuig na Teachtaí eile a bhfuil suim acu sa Ghaeltacht agus sa Ghaeilge, chun an ábhar sin a phlé.”
“Beidh cruinniú aige leis an údarás agus beidh mé in ann labhairt leis ar an ábhar seo le go mbeidh sé in ann teacht ar ais chuig an Teachta chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé léi.”