Tá sé tugtha le fios ag Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta, Joe McHugh, go rachfar i mbun comhairle le muintir Árann as seo go ceann bliana le linn do phróiseas tairisceana nua a bheith ar bun ag Roinn na Gaeltachta agus an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais chun seirbhís aeir a chur ar fáil d’Oileáin Árann sna blianta amach romhainn.
Ag freagairt ceiste i mBéarla sa Seanad inné, thug an tAire Stáit le fios go raibh ceachtanna le foghlaim ón bpróiseas tairisceana conspóideach i dtaobh aersheirbhís Árann ar cuireadh deireadh leis an mhí seo caite.
Dúirt McHugh go rachfaí i mbun próiseas tairisceana nua de réir rialacháin an Aontais Eorpaigh ach go labhrófaí le muintir na n-oileán lena linn sin: “Obviously, a re-engagement with the island communities will happen side-by-side with that process,” a dúirt sé sa Seanad inné.
Dúirt an tAire freisin gur fhág an próiseas nua, faoina nglacann an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais an fhreagracht uile as cinneadh a dhéanamh sna cúrsaí seo, nárbh fhéidir leis aon bhaint mar is ceart a bheith aige leis an gcinneadh agus gur fágadh ar an trá fholamh é dá réir.
D’admhaigh sé gur ‘laige pholaitíochta’ a bhí sa mhéid sin ach gurbh éigean dó géilleadh do chomhairle an Phríomh-Aturnae Stáit agus gan dada a rá le linn an phróisis tairisceana deiridh.
“Where there probably was a political weakness was that I was precluded, as Minister of State, from saying anything during the process,” a dúirt sé.
Ag caint dó faoin gcóras faoinar ghlac an Oifig Um Sholáthar Rialtais stiúir ar an bpróiseas tairisceana, mhínigh sé nár tugadh isteach an córas nua go dtí 2014 agus go raibh ceachtanna le foghlaim ón méid a tharla i gcás aersheirbhís Árann.
“If there are lessons to be learnt, let us look at these lessons in terms of the needs of the community and island. On the other hand, we all have a responsibility and duty to the taxpayer and a responsibility to due process.
“The public is very much of the opinion that politicians should not be involved in that process…If there are lessons to be learnt from the last five to six months, let us look at them and see what we can try to do differently.”
Dúirt sé nach foláir na ceisteanna sin ar fad a chur san áireamh agus próiseas tairisceana nua á phlé ag na páirtithe cuí an chéad uair eile, ach nach ndéanfaí aon chinntí gan dul i gcomhairle le pobail oileán ar dtús.
“Key to any future deliberation around policy or policy change on the islands is that the communities have to be at the heart of it,” a dúirt sé sa Seanad inné.
Mhol sé ‘an cheannaireacht’ a léirigh muintir Árann le linn na conspóide faoin gconradh aersheirbhíse.
“I acknowledge the role of the leadership on the islands. During the recent negotiations on air services to the Aran Islands, a number of public meetings were held and approximately 18 politicians from the mainland attended them. The meetings were very dignified.
“I got feedback from different people who said that the meetings were dignified and well-measured and that there was much leadership shown on the island. I acknowledge that leadership,” a dúirt sé.
Eoin Ó Riain (@ReadoutSignpost)
…agus é a labhairt i mBéarla – Aire Stáit na Gaeltachta “ag tabhairt teachtaireacht thar a bheith simplí maidir le tábhacht na teanga!”