Oireachtas Matters
Monitoring Government Policy
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge monitors and scrutinises the proceedings of the Oireachtas as part of its remit. By doing this, An Chomhdháil hopes to protect the interests of the Irish speaking public, promote the Irish language issues in the political arena and to ensure the language remains a central part of Irish society.
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge is a central contributor to policy development in areas which affect the Irish language voluntary sector and the Irish speaking public and as a result An Chomhdháil is constantly engaged in discussing policy issues with its member organisations and on a more extensive basis with the Irish language community through its website www.gaelport.com and the fortnightly newsletter EOLAS!
Bills which are currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas and which impact on the areas of Education, Broadcasting, Planning and Development, An Ghaeltacht and the Irish language are examined on a regular basis.
An Chomhdháil makes representations about the content of relevant Bills to the members of Dáil and Seanad Éireann, to political parties and other interested parties. In the case of a provision which will have a major impact on the Irish language An Chomhdháil engages in a public consultation process.
In recent years Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge was a central force in the development and enactment of the Official Languages Act, 2003. More recently An Chomhdháil was involved in consultation on the Charities Bill, 2007 , The Broadcasting Bill, 2008 and The Language Practitioners (Irish Language) Bill, 2007 and the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language.
An Chomhdháil regularly monitors Dáil Debates and examines Committee reports and in this way monitors policies which are in an early stage of development.
Parliamentary Questions
Parliamentary Questions give T.D.’s the opportunity to ask Government Ministers about matters concerning their brief or about political matters of interest to the public.
Oral Questions are questions put to the Minister which are answered orally during Question Time. Both questions and answers are published in book form in the Official Report of Parliamentary Debates in Dáil Éireann and are also published on the website of the Houses of the Oireachtas within 24 hours. Ministers answer oral PQs approximately every five weeks while the Dáil is in session.
Written Questions are questions put to the Minister which are answered in a written reply on most days that the Dáil is sitting. The questions and answers are published on the Oireachtas website.From time to time, Dáil Deputies are requested to ask certain Ministers questions concerning the Irish language.
Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge broadly welcomes any suggestions for questions which it could put forward for oral or written answer.
The latest news about Oireachtas Affairs is posted in our Fortnightly electronic e-zine EOLAS!