Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The inspiration and work of Peadar Kearney, Patrick Heeney and, in translating it, Liam Ó Rinn should not go unnoticed. I agree with Comhairleoir Ó Rinn. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website, which I checked before coming to the Chamber, has a fact sheet outlining the origin of the national anthem. It does not mention the Irish translator, Liam Ó Rinn. That should be corrected. Those three men contributed much to our country and identity and provided us with a national anthem, but they went largely unrecognised. That is something that we should address.

I remember learning the anthem in primary school, but we never learned the meaning of the words. Is that something we should consider in terms of the educational curriculum?

The work done by the lord mayor of Cork has been excellent. Should we replicate it nationally and how best could that be done? Should we elaborate on a curriculum for our cultural identity and footprint and have it encompass the anthem? Councillor Ring referred to enshrining it in legislation, but it is not even enshrined in our Constitution, which is wrong. Would the witnesses have views on that?

I thank our guests because I have learned much from everyone. I was watching on a monitor in the office because I needed to do an interview with Raidió na Gaeltachta. That is why I was late.