Irish-language advocacy groups Conradh na Gaeilge and Guth na Gaeltachta have welcomed an Opposition walk-out in the Dáil yesterday during the debate on the Gaeltacht Bill.
This proposed legislation would abolish elections for the regional development authority of Gaeltachtaí and shrink the size of its governing board.
Gaeltacht residents elect 17 of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s 20 members; the Government’s Bill would invest the Minister for the Gaeltacht with the power to appoint a smaller board of 12.
The Oireachtas Committee on Gaeltacht Affairs “wasn’t given the opportunity to even discuss the Gaeltacht Bill 2012”, Julian de Spáinn, Conradh na Gaeilge general secretary, said yesterday.
“The most important legislation pertaining to the Gaeltacht and the Irish language in almost 60 years was pushed through the . . . Oireachtas before the summer break.”
Opposition TDs withdrew from further debate at Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley’s refusal to accept any of its 150-plus amendments.