Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of questions but first I thank the witnesses for attending and the fantastic work their organisations do. There is no doubt that there is to a certain extent a conflict between the work of organisations that are involved in the protection of our natural environment and how certain communities feel their livelihoods are affected by it. Often the source of the conflict is the fact that the Government is not necessarily focusing resources on the communities in that particular zone. If resources were put into that particular zone, it would alleviate some of the difficulties that those communities have with regard to some of the restrictions they experience in terms of the protection.

If we look to the United States and to Britain, they have a massive respect for their wild spaces. Perhaps this is because they have had a bad history in that regard. However, if we were to ask an American what it is they are most proud of in their country, we would be told their wildlife and national parks. The way Britain treats its woodland is an example to ourselves. There are good examples in this country though. The work that the witnesses' organisations do are good examples of it. For example, the re-wilding of Nephin is an interesting project. If we sterilise our country from its heritage and its natural habitat, we will be a very sorry generation in a number of years. Our own survival depends on this. Pollinators have a massive economic effect on the development of agriculture in the country. If we reduce the spaces in which those pollinators can function, we hit ourselves economically in the pocket.

One of my current problems with our forestry policy is that Coillte is forced to be completely self-sustaining and has to focus a lot of its efforts on the commercial aspects of its work. There are other aspects to its work, but it seems that the forestry we are planting is nearly all sitka spruce, which offers limited opportunity for our natural wildlife. What are the witnesses' views on that point? Are the heritage officers employed full time?

I was looking through some of the documentation furnished to us. I have four young kids who would be fascinated by this. I raise my kids in Irish. If I were to go to try to find out the Irish for heather shieldbug, it would take me a while. Could the National Biodiversity Data Centre use more Irish in its documentation so that it would be easier for the likes of ourselves?

On river parks, I was in Toronto recently. I was told that from now on river areas that are close to the cities are not to be built in. Some 500 yd on each side of the river are left as parks. Is there any opportunity for such a development in Ireland in urban areas with more than 10,000 people. Could we allow for those river areas to be parks for people to enjoy in the future?

Can we have an update on genetically modified, GM, foods in the country? Are there any efforts by large companies to carry out tests and so forth here?

Deputy Healy-Rae focuses on real concerns among real people in real parts of the country. How do we create the balance of achieving the objectives of An Taisce and the Heritage Council and not feel that a certain section of society is being marginalised in some fashion?

With regard to the Irish language, many people in this country say that the Irish language is shoved down the throats of people. That is complete baloney. In actual fact, there are tens of thousands of people who want to use the Irish language but the State is refusing to use it with them. Gaelscoils were mentioned. Some 25% of parents want Gaelscoils but only 5% are given them. If a person wants to open a Gaelscoil, he or she will face a ten, 15 or 20 year battle to prove the demand.

Cad a cheapann an tUasal Ó Cuinneagáin faoin titim, de réir an daonáirimh, i líon na ndaoine atá ag úsáid na Gaeilge i dTír Chonaill? An bhfuil aon tuairimí nó eolas aige faoi sin?

Cé chomh mór is atá an earnáil turasóireachta Gaeilge? Cé chomh mór is atá an éileamh? Ina iomlán, cé mhéad daoine atá ag caitheamh airgid gach bliain san earnáil sin? An bhfuil Oideas Gael ag fáil go leor tacaíochta ón Rialtas? An bhfuil an t-ionad i gCluain Dolcáin ag fáil go leor tacaíochta ón Rialtas? An féidir an rud atá á dhéanamh ag an bomaite a athdhéanamh sna Gaeltachtaí eile? Tá Ráth Chairn díreach in aice liom. I lár Ráth Chairn, tá áit darb ainm Tlachta agus is ó Tlachta a tháinig Oíche Shamhna. Tá Brú na Bóinne agus áiteanna eile thar timpeall ar an áit sin.

We might start with the delegates from the Heritage Council, then An Taisce agus ansin na finnéithe eile.