David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Staunton and I congratulate him on his very clear, very lucid and hard-hitting critique. It is a critique and that is very welcome. It is not a lot of blather, and I welcome the fact that The Irish Timescontinues to sustain a network of international correspondents around the globe. It has thinned down a bit over the past while, but it is very welcome and I would like Mr. Staunton to pass back to the newspaper that the committee welcomes this continuation. So many newspapers, including The Irish Timessometimes, have gone in the lifestyle direction and they are more about how to get fat or thin, what to cook or how to go skiing and so on. Some people might be interested in that, but I certainly am not.
One of the things that is most important is the question of language training. That is fundamental, even as a question of courtesy. People welcome so much the fact that our diplomats will have taken the opportunity, the time and trouble to learn the language. If diplomats are there for communication, how can they do it efficiently if they do not have the language? It should be a prerequisite. This committee might draft some kind of resolution, if people agree, that we strongly support the Minister if he is looking for extra money and some of the other-----