Mr. Shane Ó hEidhin:

I would obviously concur with gach rud atá ráite ag Seán ansin. The need for an Acht na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh is brought into further focus by some of the threats and the difficulties outlined in the context of Brexit. Essentially, our concern is that some of the great progress that has been made in the last 15 to 20 years on a cross-Border, all-island basis could be another example of collateral damage to arise out of the Brexit process. It is something that we need the Government and agencies in the State and in the North to be aware of. There are unintended consequences. Mr. Ó Coinn referred to the university issue but there are also issues regarding the summer colleges and the Gaeltacht areas. There are multiple, unintended, potential consequences economically for the regions and for the health of the language in the Gaeltacht. It could also affect the future through people who would be exposed to the Irish language going back to their colleges and communities and starting up their own groups. Networks are built up through that process and these are all being jeopardised by anything that could potentially cause a blockage in that movement across the Border and so on. Great importance should be placed on any support that can be brought in on this side of the Border to strengthen legislative provision to provide the protections, North and South but especially in the North. In the context of Brexit an Acht na Gaeilge is very important.