Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh na toscairí. Ní rachaidh mé siar ar an méid atá ráite ach tréaslaím leo as ucht na hoibre atá déanta acu. Ba mhaith liom tréaslú le Liam O'Neill go pearsanta as ucht an jab atá déanta aige ó thaobh cur chun cinn na Gaeilge le roinnt blianta, fad agus a bhí sé mar uachtarán. Bhí an-áthas orm é a cloisteáil ar Raidió na Gaeltachta maidin Dé Luain agus a cloisteáil go bhfuil gradam faoi leith le bronnadh air. Is maith an aghaidh air é, mar tá an-obair déanta aige ó thaobh cur chun cinn na Gaeilge. Maidir leis na clubanna thar lear, tá cuid mhaith acu as Chonamara, as Tír Chonaill agus as áiteanna eile agus tá Gaeilge acu. Tá na clubanna ar fud na tíre seo ag cur chun cinn na Gaeilge, ach cén deis atá ann ó thaobh cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar fud na cruinne maidir leis an bhforbairt atá dhá dhéanamh?

Although Mr. O'Neill and Mr. Duffy have sold themselves well here, I think they have undersold themselves a little. One benefit I have noticed from visiting some of the clubs abroad is the social benefit. There are two elements to this. One is the social aspect, the music, the culture and the language, while the other relates to emigrants abroad who have found themselves on hard times. They might be out of work and be finding it difficult to adapt to their new lives and their new homes. The GAA plays a central role in this, but does it have a formal role? Is there training available to club and board members to help deal with people who might suffer from depression or feel down? We have heard that some people get into trouble with drugs, alcohol, etc. The GAA has good programmes on these issues here, but are these programmes extended abroad?

I heard a fantastic interview this morning on Raidió na Gaeltachta about liathróid láimhe, handball. This has not been mentioned yet today, but teams will travel from Connemara to Canada in the next couple of weeks to play in international competition. Handball is a more accessible game to be exported. Can our guests tell us more about the success of exporting handball through the clubs as an international sport?

Arís, tréaslaím bhur gcuid oibre libh. Mar urlabhraí Shinn Féin ar an diaspora, tá súil agam oibriú go dlúth libh sna blianta beaga atá romhainn.