Mr. Francie Molloy:

I am the MP for the area. I have visited the site which is a very important one and in which very good work is going on. It is an example of how work can be developed. The point raised about EU funding is very important. If there is work to be done to deal with and reconcile the issues, this body should be used to do that in addition to supporting the project so that it is sustainable and a good example of the development of the Irish language.

I go back to the question Mr. Aodán Mac Póilin raised in regard to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. I find it a little strange that the only Department in the Assembly which has done anything to promote this is the one which is criticised. I am not speaking on behalf of the Department but the Act was voted down by the Assembly because of the hostility and reaction of Unionists to it. The only way to bring it in was through the Department and try to move as far as possible. That is something for which it should get credit and not criticism.

We should not give up too quickly because to say that it is most likely it will not be passed is the best way to defeat it. The St. Andrews Agreement is part of the Good Friday Agreement and all the parties signed up to it. The British Government gave a commitment under it. This committee's role is to secure the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement. We should say it is up to the British Government to implement it and ensure the Act is enacted because it could do so. The St. Andrews Agreement is a binding agreement. I do not think we should give up at this early stage and let any Government off the hook in regard to the agreements made.