Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is what I am saying. I congratulate the Lord Mayor of Cork on the great initiative. He was a North Mon boy. I was a Christian Brothers boy in my day. They all come under the Edmund Rice Schools Trust. I have been on school boards of management for 15 years. I have spent nine years as chairman of a board. I think the Lord Mayor's initiative, which got schools involved, was a fantastic one. Did the initiative focus primarily on primary schools or secondary schools? Was it his experience that people in secondary schools did not learn the anthem in primary school? Were people in primary schools more willing to take it up? I suggest that the earlier one learns it, the better. My first proper exposure to it was at the end of my first year in secondary school, when I went to the Gaeltacht where the Independent Senator, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, formerly of Sinn Féin, grew up and now lives.

I am Fianna Fáil's spokesperson on finance in the Seanad. The protection of our national anthem comes under the remit of the Department of Finance. I am speaking particularly for that reason. I am interested anyway, but this has particular relevance to my remit. If we get something over the line, it will be dealt with in my brief.

I will dwell too much on Senator Devine's reference to Cuba. She made plenty of contributions when Fidel Castro died. It is interesting to hear about how various countries consider their own anthems.

I thank Councillor Ring for what he said about his family's involvement with the national anthem. It is very important that we have respect for it and, equally, that we bring it into daily usage. It used to be heard at the end of a nightclub or when RTÉ closed down for the night, which it no longer does in this era of rolling programming. Maybe it could broadcast it at midnight or 2 a.m. It would be ideal if it could be broadcast at a time when there might be a bit more exposure to it. There is nothing more embarrassing for all of us than to see lineups of soccer or rugby players not singing the anthem. We all remember when John Redwood MP, in his capacity as Secretary of State for Wales, was humming and hawing because he did not know the words. It is crucial that we ensure everybody knows the words of the anthem and knows how to sing it. I thank everybody for their contributions this morning.