Ms Órfhlaith Begley:

It is more to come in with a comment as opposed to a question and to place on record my sincere thanks to Conradh na Gaeilge for all the work it has done in recent years. I suppose "frustrating" is probably the word of the day in terms of us being back here discussing an Irish language Act which should have been implemented. Unfortunately, it has not been implemented to date.

It is important to recognise and to acknowledge that the Irish language belongs to everybody. It does not belong to one community. Everyone is free to speak the Irish language. It is part of our heritage and our culture.

We are increasingly seeing a shift in terms of the next generation. Perhaps that generation is not tied to the legacy of the past and just wants to speak the Irish language. It is very much attracted to it. We are seeing more and more people, even from the unionist community, wanting to speak and converse in the language today.

If I was to ask a question, it would be to find out what barriers are in place in terms of that engagement between Conradh na Gaeilge and the Irish and British Governments and the Executive and what we can do. I note a suggestion was put forward today and I very much support and endorse it. In terms of opening doors or getting that connection to ensure Conradh na Gaeilge has the ear of the Irish and British Governments and those Ministers within the Executive, what can we do as a committee to assist Conradh na Gaeilge? I note Conradh na Gaeilge has put forward a proposal today.

To follow-on from that, it would be helpful if we had these engagements on a more regular basis, that is, that we catch up with Conradh na Gaeilge on a regular basis as opposed to leaving it months and still being in the same situation we were in months previously. I put forward that proposal, namely, that there is more regular engagement between Conradh na Gaeilge and the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. These commitments have been made, and I refer not only the New Decade/New Approach but to commitments made as far back as the St. Andrews Agreement and the Good Friday Agreement. It seems that in some instances we are seeing a bit of progress, but we are still in the same situation today where we do not have the implementation of that Act. That is what we want to happen. We want to see those commitments delivered on. This committee has an obligation, as the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, to ensure we do all we can to hear from Conradh na Gaeilge, as a key part of the Good Friday Agreement in terms of seeing the implementation of the Irish language. It is really about seeing what more we, as a committee, can do for Conradh na Gaeilge to support it in the time ahead.

I welcome the proposal put forward. Hopefully, we can have more regular engagement with Conradh na Gaeilge. Gabhaim míle buíochas le Conradh na Gaeilge for all the work it has done to date. It is very much appreciated by Irish language speakers right across the country.