Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O'Donoghue. Senators McGreehan and Blaney and I were in the East Belfast Mission, in the Skainos Centre, with Linda Ervine and the great Irish-language project they have there. Most of us would know Ms Ervine over the years. They are doing excellent work. Could their fabulous initiative and work could be supported in some way? I think the Department may have funded or helped them with a feasibility study with regard to a naíonra. They appreciated that support, and would appreciate anything further that can be done to assist them, because they need their own place. They are depending on the use of church halls at the moment, which are put to other uses in the evening times and at weekends. Having those Irish-language promotion and activities in east Belfast is a great credit to Ms Ervine and her colleagues, because it was not always a welcomed development. However, they have stuck with it, and they are gaining ground.

Then there is the further development of East Belfast Gaels in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie, which is very welcome as well. I am sure all of us on this committee would very much support the idea of that particular Irish-language project in the Skainos Centre getting good financial support.