The Government, in its proposal, has put forward the exact formula and format that was agreed by the Business Committee in 2017 when Ms Justice Máire Whelan's appointment was questioned. At that time, there was agreement from the Business Committee, from the minority Government and from many Deputies who are now trying to construct this fake anger towards the constructive compromise proposal the Government has put forward. This format was agreed and approved. Many of the parties here who are opposing this proposal …

-----which is to take questions and answers. That is happening tomorrow. That is the proposal that has been put forward. They can ask any questions they like and the Minister will answer them.

That is the factual position and to say otherwise is untrue. It is the exact same format that was agreed in 2017 and is the precedence of the House in relation to the answering of questions relating to the appointment of judges.

No.

No.

No.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the Fifth Report of the Standing Committee of Selection in accordance with Standing Order 34, copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 19th November, 2020, and discharges and appoints members to Select Committees accordingly.

I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 36)(Appointed Day) Order 2020, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 28th October, 2020.

I thank the Deputy for his question. He has raised the issue of step dancing a number of times. The guidance set out in the Government's Plan for Living with Covid-19 specifies that no exercise or dance classes are allowed at levels 3, 4 or 5. This precludes any exercise class, including gymnastics, and any type of dance class, including traditional, step, jazz or ballet. Similarly, the guidance precludes any indoor gathering taking place at levels 3, 4 and 5 and, to date, there are no exemptions. To provide clarit…

I have had a great deal of correspondence and engagement with many constituents that is representative, I am sure, of many of the letters the Deputy received. To be clear, there is no distinction at levels 3, 4 and 5 between indoor activity. That is the context in which the Deputy raised the matter and he compared it to sport, but sport is allowed at level 3 in certain instances, outdoors in pods. There is not, however, any distinction for any type of indoor activity relating to some of the comparative examples the…

I assure the Deputy that the Government is not dancing on anything in respect of UNESCO.

We fully support our cultural activities, including dance, but the most effective way to ensure many of our activities in society can operate is to suppress the virus-----

-----and get back to a scenario where there can be a whole range of activities in society. When we are at level 5 and the virus is out of control, there is a limit and our current message is for people to stay at home-----

I accept and take the point. We want to be constructive about this. The longer that restrictions go on, particularly in levels 3 and 4 - I accept the Deputy's point - it limits important cultural activities and indoor sporting activities. There is engagement between the Department and the groups and associations the Deputy mentioned to try to be helpful in that regard. Nevertheless, the current position is as I have set out. We are engaging to try to ensure we will get the balance right and we are trying to be cons…

Is í an Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas, CATT, a cheadaíonn na buiséid do na forais tras-Teorann uile, An Foras Teanga san áireamh. Tá méadú táscach de €1.779 milliún curtha ar fáil don chomhoibriú Thuaidh Theas i mbuiséad 2021. Cinnteoidh an leithdháileadh maoinithe táscach seo, atá faoi réir breis plé leis an Roinn Pobal i dTuaisceart Éireann, go gcuirfear ar chumas Fhoras na Gaeilge a chláir teanga agus cultúir i leith réimsí nua agus maoiniú a mhéadú, más cuí, do ghrúpaí teanga reatha. I mbliana, íocfaidh mo…

Cé go bhfuil plé fós ag dul ar aghaidh leis an Roinn Pobal ó Thuaidh maidir le síntiús na Roinne sin do bhuiséad an Fhorais Teanga don bhliain seo chugainn, is léir ón maoiniú suntasach breise de €1.779 milliún atá ceadaithe ag an Rialtas ó Dheas cheana féin don chomhoibriú Thuaidh-Theas go mbeidh deis ag Foras na Gaeilge an maoiniú atá á chur ar fáil d'eagrais agus pobail Ghaeilge a mhéadú agus a leathnú amach do ghrúpaí nua in 2021. Tá aitheanta ag Foras na Gaeilge go bhfuil athnuachan shuntasach le déanamh ar an…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist seo a ardú. Tá a fhios agam gur ardaigh Conradh na Gaeilge an cheist ag cruinniú dá choiste le déanaí. Chuireamar feabhas ar an mbuiséad don bhliain seo chugainn. Tá maoiniú breise curtha ar fáil sa bhuiséad. Tá sé sin an-tábhachtach. Mar Rialtas, táimid ag iarraidh tacaíocht a thabhairt don scéim pobal Gaeilge, do na líonraí Gaeilge agus do na bailte seirbhíse Gaeltachta. Tá súil agam go mbeadh réiteach ann d'Fhoras na Gaeilge le gairid. Bhí réamhchruinnithe comhairliú…

The programme for Government acknowledges the importance of the Irish language as the first language of the State, as a living language and as a vital component of the heritage of this island. It commits to increasing the visibility of our native language and its daily use in the community and to a series of measures which will help to achieve these objectives. The Minister, Deputy Martin, and I are working together to achieve these important objectives. These measures will build on existing legislation, policies a…

I share the Deputy's view on this and we have to enhance the regulations and the underpinning legislation. The Minister, Deputy Martin, and I hope to meet the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who has a role in the legislative context, and the Minister for Transport on how guidelines are issued for road signage. It has to be a visible language in our road signage and the Deputy has identified the issues that are there plain and simple with the example of Oola in east Limerick. I share the Deputy'…

I fully share the Deputy's view on this. We need to learn from comparative examples in our close neighbours. The Deputy referenced Wales and Scotland. We will engage with other Ministers who have regulations specifically referenced in this regard. We will also engage with the committee. We should improve this and change the current context, which in my view is not satisfactory if we want to have a living language and if it is our primary language as per the Constitution. It is clear there is a relative inferiority …