Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Dia dhaoibh, a dhaoine uaisle. Tá brón orm. Tá mo Ghaeilge uafásach. Mar sin, beidh mé ag labhairt as Béarla agus beidh mé ag éisteacht as Béarla. Más maith leis na finnéithe labhairt as Gaeilge, ar aghaidh leo. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the delegates to our last session today, including Mr. Ó Coinn. We heard from the representatives of a couple of other all-island bodies earlier and I will repeat what I said to them. It is important for us for two reasons to hear from as many of the all-island bodies as possible. As a committee, we would like to hear about the challenges and possible solutions to problems within their areas of responsibility. We are also interested in what they might see as the impact on their organisations. I thank them for joining us and we look forward to hearing their contributions.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to that effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Anois, a dhaoine uaisle, ar aghaidh libh.

Mr. Seán Ó Coinn:

Gabhaim míle buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil scoth na Gaeilge aige. Ní chóir dó a bheith ag déanamh leithscéal as a chuid Gaeilge. Tá sí an-mhaith ar fad.

San aigneacht a sheol muid ar aghaidh tá aistriúchán go Béarla ar gach rud a déarfaidh mé i nGaeilge fosta le cuidiú leis na Seanadóirí agus iad ag iarraidh an cáipéis a léamh, b'fhéidir, ina dhiaidh seo.

Tá lúchair orainn an deis seo a fháil an cur i láthair seo a dhéanamh ar imeacht na Ríochta Aontaithe as an Aontas Eorpach. Dálta go leor eile, is údar mór buartha ag Foras na Gaeilge imeacht na Ríochta Aontaithe as an Aontas Eorpach ar chuid mhór cúiseanna. Mar réamhrá, tá Foras na Gaeilge mar cheann de na comhlachtaí forfheidhmithe trasTeorann a bunaíodh mar chuid d'fhorfheidhmiú Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta. Baineann ár gcuid dualgais reachtúla leis an dá dhlínse. Tá oifigí againn i mBéal Feirste agus ochtar ball foirne lonnaithe ansin. Tá oifigí againn fosta i mBaile Átha Cliath, i Ráth Chairn i gContae na Mí agus i nGaoth Dobhair i gContae Dhún na nGall. Ainmnítear ochtar dár gcomhaltaí boird faoi choimirce an Rialtais ó Thuaidh as seisear déag ina n-iomláine. Táimid freagrach don Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas atá comhdhéanta d'Airí Rialtais ón dá dhlínse. Cuireann an Rialtas ó Thuaidh 25% agus an Rialtas ó Dheas 75% dár maoiniú ar fáil dúinn. Dá réir sin, cuirimid sciar mór dár maoiniú ar fáil do dheontaithe sa dhlínse ó Thuaidh.

Mar sin dó, gan amhras is féidir go mbeidh impleachtaí móra ag an Bhreatimeacht dár gcuid oibre: cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar bhonn uile-oileáin.

Rachaidh an Breatimeacht go mór i bhfeidhm ar ár ndeontaithe agus ar ár bhfostaithe ó Thuaidh agus ó Dheas. Dá réir sin, rachaidh sé go mór i bhfeidhm ar chur chun na Gaeilge ar bhonn uile-oileán.

I dtús báire luafaidh mé na hábhair buartha atá orainn. Baineann cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar bhonn uile-oileán go príomha: le fostaithe atá fostaithe le bheith ag tacú le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge, agus le hoibrithe deonacha; le pobail Ghaeilge in áiteanna éagsúla ar fud na tíre agus na gréasáin shóisialta agus na deiseanna úsáide a chuirtear ar fáil dóibhsean le húsáid laethúil a bhaint as an Ghaeilge; an tacaíocht maoinithe a chuirtear ar fáil dóibh; agus an timpeallacht ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge á forbairt - dearcadh na n-údarás; dearcadh an mhórphobail, agus dearcadh phobal na Gaeilge orthu féin.

Beidh tionchair ag an Bhreatimeacht ar na nithe sin uilig, go háirithe ó Thuaidh, agus chomh maith leis sin, i gceantair in aice leis an Teorainn ó Thuaidh agus ó Dheas, agus, i ndáiríre, ar fud na hÉireann. I dtús báire labhróidh mé faoi na daoine. Tá Foras na Gaeilge buartha go mbeidh impleachtaí taistil ann dár bhfostaithe agus dár gcomhaltaí boird mar a leanas. Tá líon beag d’fhostaithe Fhoras na Gaeilge ina gcónaí i gceann amháin den dá dhlínse agus cúraimí orthu sa dlínse eile. Bíonn orthu taisteal thar an Teorainn ar bhonn laethúil. Ní fios go fóill an mbeidh moill nó bac ar thaisteal den chineál seo amach anseo. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go mbeidh prótacail aontaithe ann lena chinntiú go mbeidh cead ag fostaithe taisteal gan bac chuig a gcuid oibre agus ar ais arís. Ní fios cad iad na socruithe a bheidh ann do dhaoine atá ina gcónaí sa Ríocht Aontaithe agus iad fostaithe san Aontas Eorpach - i bhfocail eile, ina gcónaí i dTuaisceart Éireann agus iad fostaithe sa Deisceart - nó ina gcónaí san Aontas Eorpach agus iad ag obair taobh amuigh dó, is é sin, ina gcónaí i nDeisceart na hÉireann agus iad ag obair ó Thuaidh.

Tá castachtaí ag baint leis sin dúinne agus do na ceanneagraíochtaí. Tá sé cheanneagraíocht a mhaoiníonn Foras na Gaeilge ar bhonn bliantúil le bheith ag cuidiú linn ó thaobh chur chun cinn na dteanga de ar bhonn uile-oileán. Ta níos mó ná 75 duine fostaithe sna sé cheanneagraíocht sin agus cuid mhaith acu fostaithe sa dhlínse ó Thuaidh. Baineann an cheist seo leis an airgeadra ina n-íoctar tuarastail, an ráta malairte, cúrsaí pinsin, agus asbhaintí as tuarastail na bhfostaithe sin. Tá comhaltaí boird agus fostaithe de chuid Fhoras na Gaeilge lonnaithe i nDún na nGall, a mbíonn orthu taisteal trí dhlínse an Tuaiscirt chuig cruinnithe ó Dheas go han-mhinic - ar bhonn seachtainiúil. Beidh prótacail aontaithe de dhíth lena chinntiú gur féidir le taisteal thar teorainn mar seo leanúint ar aghaidh gan bac.

Táimid buartha fosta go mbeidh tionchar aige sin uilig ar líon na ndaoine a bheidh sásta fostaíocht a ghlacadh le heagraíochtaí Gaeilge - Foras na Gaeilge agus na sé cheanneagraíocht sin. Tá sé deacair go leor faoi láthair daoine a mhealladh le bheith ag obair le heagraíochtaí Gaeilge gan na castachtaí breise seo a bhaineann leis an Bhreatimeacht. Mar sin de, cé nach gcuirfidh ceann ar bith de na nithe thuasluaite isteach go díreach ar chur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar bhonn uile-oileán, bainfidh siad d’éifeachtacht na n-iarrachtaí sin. Déanfaidh siad an obair níos casta, níos deacra, níos neamhtharraingtí agus níos fadálaí.

Ba mhaith liom labhairt anois ar na coláistí samhraidh agus cuairteoirí chun na Gaeltachta i nDún na nGall. Tugann suas le 9,000 dalta scoile cuairt ar cheantair Ghaeltachta i nDún na nGall achan bliain, agus an chuid is mó acu sin as na Sé Chontae sa Tuaisceart. Ní fios cén tionchar a imreoidh an Breatimeacht air sin. Má bhíonn na cuairteanna sin níos costasaí, níos deacra a dhéanamh, beidh laghdú ar líon na ndaoine a rachaidh, agus laghdú dá réir sin ar líon na ndaoine a bheidh ag dul don Ghaeilge sa phobal ó Thuaidh. Beidh impleachtaí airgeadais ann fosta do phobal na Gaeltachta i nDún na nGall. Cuireann na coláistí samhraidh go mór le turasóireacht sna ceantair Ghaeltachta sin. I láthair na huaire bíonn moill an-fhada ar fad idir Tír Eoghain agus Dún na nGall gach deireadh seachtaine sa tsamhradh le cuairteoirí ag taisteal go Dún na nGall – agus sin méid an tráchta gan bac ar bith ag an Teorainn. Is féidir samhlú caidé mar a bheas nuair a bheas bac ag an Teorainn.

I dtaca le soláthar an oideachais de, bíonn daoine sna contaetha cois Teorann ag brath go mór ar sholáthar oideachais lán-Ghaeilge ag na ceithre leibhéal sa dá dhlínse - an leibhéal réamhscoláiochta, an leibhéal bunscolaíochta, an leibhéal iar-bhunscolaíochta agus ag an tríú leibhéal. An mbeidh cead ag páistí ó dheisceart Ard Mhacha agus ó Lios na Scéithe taisteal chuig Gaelscoil Oiriall i Muineachán, nó ó Ghaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh ar an tSrath Bán go Coláiste Áiligh i Leitir Ceanainn, agus ó na trí Ghaelscoil i gCathair Doire go Gaelcholáiste Chineál Eoghain in Inis Eoghain, mar a tharlaíonn faoi láthair? Ní fios.

Mura féidir leis an taisteal thar Teorainn seo leanúint, beidh impleachtaí móra aige sin do chumas tuismitheoirí teacht ar Ghaeloideachas dá gcuid páistí, agus impleachtaí d’earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta Thuaidh agus Theas. Tá na tuismitheoirí ag brath ar na scoileanna thar Teorainn agus tá na scoileanna thar Teorainn ag brath ar na daltaí dá n-inmharthanacht.

Do phobal Dhún na nGall agus do Ghaeltacht Dhún na nGall atá ag iarraidh staidéar a dhéanamh ar an Ghaeilge ag an triú leibhéal, tá Ollscoil Uladh, Ollscoil na Ríona agus Coláiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire i mBéal Feirste ar na roghanna is minice a dhéantar. Cuireann sé go mór leis an soláthar sna hinstitiúidí sin seo scoláirí as an Ghaeltacht a bheith i dtimpeallacht na hollscoile. Déanann cuid de na scoláirí seo cónaí sa Tuaisceart, téann siad ag obair in earnáil na Gaeilge agus na Gaelscolaíochta ó Thuaidh, agus cuireann siad go mór le timpeallacht na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh. Má stadtar de seo, thar am beidh tionchar mór aige sin ar líon na ndaoine a mbeidh cumas sa Ghaeilge acu, agus a bheidh ar fáil le bheith páirteach i ngluaiseacht na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh.

Gan Acht Gaeilge ó Thuaidh, is í an Chairt Eorpach do Theangacha Réigiúnacha nó Mionlaigh an phríomhchosaint agus príomhspreagadh don Stát agus do na húdaráis ó Thuaidh le seirbhísí agus soláthar a chur ar fáil don Ghaeilge. Ní cairt de chuid an AE í an chairt Eorpach, baineann sí le Comhairle na hEorpa atá neamhspleách ar an AE. Ach cé nach leis an AE an chairt, tá cuid mhaith de na caighdeáin inti bunaithe ar dhea-chleachtas i mionteangacha i dtíortha san AE. Tá an-bhuaireamh ann ó Thuaidh nach mbeidh i gceist leis an Bhreatimeacht ach tús – tús le gluaiseacht imeachta ó struchtúir eile Eorpacha, tús le diúltú do na caighdeáin idirnáisiúnta, agus forbairt dearcadh cúng neamhspleáchais. Sa timpeallacht sin agus in éagmais reachtaíocht Gaeilge ó Thuaidh, ní bheidh cosaint ann don Ghaeilge nó do chainteoirí Gaeilge ó Thuaidh.

Ní fios go fóill an tionchar a bheidh ag an Bhreatimeacht ar na comhlachtaí forfheidhmithe trasteorann, agus cé acu a d’fhéadfadh Rialtas na Breataine a n-éifeacht a laghdú nó an maoiniú atá ar fáil dóibh a laghdú. Táimid cinnte de rud amháin, tá barainneachtaí scála i gceist maidir le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge ar bhonn trasteorann agus is céim siar shuntasach a bheadh ann dá gcaillfí seo.

Ó bunaíodh Foras na Gaeilge 16 bliain ó shin, tá an cur chuige uile-Éireann i ndiaidh cur go mór le gluaiseacht na Gaeilge ar dhá thaobh na teorann. Tá an-mhórán foghlama déanta ag díograiseoirí óna chéile ar fud na tíre.

Tá deis curtha ar fáil do phobal an Tuaiscirt leas a bhaint as forbairtí ó Dheas, macasamhail forbairtí foclóra, forbairtí téarmaíochta agus forbairtí téacsleabhar, gan trácht ar mhodhanna oibre, oiliúint agus taighde. Cé nach mbeidh bagairt láithreach ann do na rudaí sin, de réir a chéile, dá fhaide ó chéile a bhogann an dá stát ó chéile, dá dheacra a bheidh sé a bheith ag gluaiseacht anonn agus anall thar an Teorainn, agus is é is deacra a bheidh sé buntáistí an chur chuige uile-Éireann sin a thabhairt in éifeacht.

Tá pobal na Gaeilge sa dá dhlínse ag brath ar chleachtóirí i réimse na n-ealaíon, an oideachais, spóirt, na meán, an cheoil, agus na teilifíse ar fud an oileáin le riar ar a riachtanais. Tá líon na gcleachtóirí ar féidir leo gníomhú trí mheán na Gaeilge ar fud an oileáin an-bheag ar fad. Dá réir sin, bíonn pobal na Gaeilge sa dá chuid den oileán ag brath go minic ar chleachtóirí ón dá dhlínse eile, ag brath ar iad a bheith ar fáil, ar iad a bheith ábalta, sásta agus spreagtha le freastal ar phobal na Gaeilge sa dlínse eile le hoiliúint a chur ar fáil, le freastal ar ócáidí agus dá réir sin. Ar ndóigh, is iad pobal na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh ba mhó a bheadh thíos leis seo, ach tá cleachtóirí anois lonnaithe ó Thuaidh fosta i réimsí na hiriseoireachta, an cheoil agus na n-ealaíon a bhfuil pobal na Gaeilge ó Dheas ag brath orthu. Oibreoidh an deacracht sin an dá dhóigh.

Tá cúpla focal agam anois ar an stádas oifigiúil don Ghaeilge san Aontas Eorpach. Beidh deiseanna fostaíochta do lucht aistriúcháin Gaeilge, agus eile, atá ar fáil san AE ag méadú sna blianta beaga atá romhainn de réir mar a chuirfear deireadh le maolú ar an stádas oifigiúil don Ghaeilge sa AE. Is deiseanna iad sin a d'fhéadfadh a bheith ceilte ar lucht na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh agus, dá réir sin, beidh an buntáiste breise a bhaineann leis an Ghaeilge ceilte ar phobal na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh. Tá deiseanna fostaíochta ar cheann de na hargóintí is láidre do chur chun cinn na Gaeilge, le cur le stádas na Gaeilge agus le dearcthaí ina leith a fheabhsú. Cuireann deiseanna fostaíochta idirnáisiúnta a bhaineann leis an Ghaeilge an teanga ar chomhcéim le teangacha Eorpacha eile. Mura mbaineann an argóint sin leis an phobal ó Thuaidh, déanfaidh sé lagú ar stádas na Gaeilge sna scoileanna agus ollscoileanna ó Thuaidh.

Tá contúirt ann go mbeidh culú eacnamaíochta eile ann ó Dheas de bharr an Bhreatimeachta. Is léir ón chúlú eacnamaíochta is déanaí - an ceann atá thart, más fíor - má bhíonn ciorruithe Rialtais le déanamh ó Dheas gurb í an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an Roinn is túisce agus is troime a bhuailfear. Is léir gurb í an Ghaeilge sa Roinn sin is túisce agus is troime a bhuailfear agus gurb é Foras na Gaeilge an eagraíocht Gaeilge is troime agus is túisce a bhuailfear sa chomhthéacs sin. Tá dochar mór déanta do ghluaiseacht na Gaeilge ó thosaigh ciorruithe in 2008. Tá €7 milliún bainte dár mbuiséad agus tá ár mbuiséad le haghaidh deontas laghdaithe níos mó ná 40%. Dá mbeadh sin le tarlú arís sna blianta atá amach romhainn bheadh sé tubáisteach don Ghaeilge ar fud an oileáin. I gcomhthéacs cúlaithe eile, an mbeadh an €7 milliún atá geallta don pholasaí oideachais Gaeltachta ar fáil? An mbeadh na hacmhainní breise atá á ngeallúint do na limistéirí pleanála teanga sa Ghaeltacht ar fáil? Cá bhfios?

Níl a fhios againn cé acu a bheidh tionchar ag an Bhreatimeacht ar chúrsaí craolacháin – teilifís agus raidió. Taobh amuigh den chorrchlár ar an BBC, tá pobal na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh ag brath go hiomlán ar RTE agus ar TG4 dá soláthar Gaeilge. Tá socruithe déanta de réir Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta - Comhaontú Bhéal Feirste - le go mbeidh teacht ag pobal Thuaisceart Éireann ar RTE agus ar TG4. De bharr an Bhreatimeachta, ní fios an mairfidh na socruithe sin.

B’fhéidir go mbaineann an chontúirt is mó don Ghaeilge leis an timpeallacht ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge á fhorbairt ó Thuaidh agus ó Dheas agus gurb iad an líon mór de rudaí beaga a fhágfaidh an timpeallacht sin neamhfháilteach agus b'fhéidir naimhdeach ó Thuaidh ach go háirithe. Bheadh pobal Ghaeltacht Dhún na nGall gearrtha amach ó phobal na hÉireann Thuaidh agus Theas agus de bharr cúrsaí taistil, an ráta malairte agus bacanna a bhaineann le cúrsaí oideachais. Bheadh pobal Gaeilge an Tuaiscirt gearrtha amach ón chuid eile de phobal Gaeilge na hÉireann, arís de bharr cúrsaí taistil, an ráta malairte, bacanna a bhaineann le cúrsaí oideachais agus fostaíochta trí Ghaeilge. Bheadh níos lú cosaintí don Ghaeilge ó Thuaidh agus níos lú tacaíochta di ón mhórphobal de bharr. De réir a chéile, ní bheidh sochaí an Tuaisicirt agus rialtas na Breataine á meas féin de réir caighdeáin Eorpacha. Ní bheidh an tionchar céanna agus an chailliúnt clú chéanna i gceist le comparáidí staitisticiúla idir rialtas na Breataine agus rialtais eile Eorpacha i réimse an oideachais, i réimse na dteangacha, i réimse na gcearta don saoránach agus dá réir sin. Thar am, beidh ceangail níos lú ag an phobal ó Thuaidh le pobal an Deiscirt i gcoitinne agus, dá réir sin, beidh níos lú tacaíochta ón ghnáthphobal ó Thuaidh don Ghaeilge mar rud atá ábhartha dá saol.

Níl mórán le rá againn i dtaca le réitigh de, ar an drochuair. Baineann mórán de na rioscaí don Ghaeilge le réimse an taistil shaoir gan bhac thar an Teorainn. Tá reachtaíocht leis an Ghaeilge a chosaint agus le cur lena stádas ó Thuaidh ar cheann de na bealaí is éifeachtaí leis an Ghaeilge a chosaint ó na rioscaí a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ann ón Bhreatimeacht. Lena chois sin, cosnófar an Ghaeilge ar rioscaí a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ann ón Bhreatimeacht má dhéantar na struchtúir a bhaineann le Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta a chosaint agus má dhéantar a chinntiú go mbíonn tús áite ag na socruithe sin os cionn comhaontú ar bith eile a bheidh ann amach anseo idir an Ríocht Aontaithe agus an AE.

Arís, is mian liom buíochas a thabhairt thar cheann Fhoras na Gaeilge as an deis seo teacht i láthair an choiste agus cuirfimid fáilte roimh cheisteanna an choiste.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I thank Mr. Ó Coinn. When I hear Irish spoken like that, it really saddens me how we lose the language so quickly when we finish school. It is a beautiful language which, when beautifully spoken, is quite a pleasure to hear.

Paul Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Ar dtús, gabh mo leithscéal mar nach bhfuil an Ghaeilge go maith agam. Ba mhaith liom ceist amháin a chur anois. Tá fáilte roimh an bheirt fhinné inniu. Roimh Brexit, ní raibh aon ghrá ag Rialtas an Tuaiscirt don Ghaeilge. Má tá Brexit crua ann, cad is féidir le Foras na Gaeilge a dhéanamh agus cad is féidir linn a dhéanamh sa chás sin chun an Ghaeilge a shábháil sa Tuaisceart i dtosach, chomh maith leis an oileán go léir?

Mr. Seán Ó Coinn:

Mar a luaigh mé, tá dhá mhór-rud gur féidir a dhéanamh. An chéad rud ná cinntiú go bhfuil tús áite ag na socruithe a bhaineann le Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta thar comhaontú ar bith eile idir an Ríocht Aontaithe agus Poblacht na hÉireann nó an tAontas Eorpach.

This is to make sure the structures and all the legislative arrangements that are associated with the Good Friday Agreement take precedence over any subsequent agreement that might be arrived at between the UK and the European Union.

Luaigh mé an easpa cosanta atá ar fáil ag an Ghaeilge ó Thuaidh sa chur i láthair, the lack of any protection for the Irish language in the North. The one area where the Government and local authorities are supported in their requirements in respect of the Irish language is the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It is not a European Union document. It is associated with the Council of Europe but a lot of what is in the document pertains to standards that are affirmed by the European Union. The concern is that the UK Government would gradually move away from those standards because it would no longer see itself as being part of the EU. It underlines, probably more starkly than ever, the importance of some legislative protection for the Irish language in the North. So far as we can see, many of the political parties in the North are now of a mind to look towards some sort of protection - whatever that might entail. Support from the Government in the South would be very beneficial in that respect.

Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael)
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I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom fíor fáilte a chur roimh na finnéithe. Leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh as Béarla. Gabh mo leithscéal. In general I would first like to agree with the Acting Chairman's comments that we take so much for granted. We are looking at the North-South context but the Irish language is part of our culture and it is a window and an opportunity to look at our identity and our origins. There is so much to it that it is good to support the language at every opportunity we can. I can well understand how, this far back from the North, people from a nationalist background would hold dear to the language as part of their identity. It is not an affront to somebody else's identity but nonetheless it deserves to be supported. I have one question on the subject. I know that at the very least there is a war of words in respect of an Irish language Act in the North. I do not know that much about it but I wonder what would be the impact on what we are discussing here today, how it would impact on Mr. Ó Coinn's work and whether that is the sort of legislation he is proposing to protect and enhance the status of the language. Is this, in effect, what he is talking about?

Mr. Seán Ó Coinn:

Essentially, yes. I hope the Senator will not take this as a correction but the Irish language is now seen as very much part of the identity of more than nationalists in the context of the North. One of the most significant projects we support is the Turas project in loyalist east Belfast. This promotes and teaches the Irish language to large numbers of people from a loyalist background. That project is now in its fourth year and is now an established project. It is making a significant impact in the unionist community, especially in working class areas in the North. The Irish language in the North is no longer an issue of nationalist identity; it is people associating themselves with the cultural identity associated with a language that for more than 2,000 years was a native indigenous language to all parts of the island. Although it is still the subject of political debate and division between a number of the parties, to a large extent - although not entirely - the language has now been removed significantly from the political dimension. The Alliance Party is one of the parties that are quite supportive of language legislation in the North. That shows the difference in the way the environment in the North has changed in recent years in respect of the language.

One concern I already have mentioned is the departure from the EU and its standards, together with all of those things that come to the two countries through their participation in the EU. This is not only about standards in commerce and trade but is also to do with standards in education, child care and all those aspects. Those protections will no longer be available to the community in the North. The Irish language makes great use of, and has a high reliance upon, those protections, for example, in the provision of Irish-medium education, for access to resources for Irish-medium education, for pre-school through the medium of Irish and for Irish to be available in our universities at third level education. To some extent these provisions are taken for granted in the South but they are by no means a foregone conclusion in the North. Just two years ago, a very well subscribed third level course based in Belfast was closed as a cost-cutting measure and it was moved to one of the university's other campuses in Derry. That move disenfranchised several hundred people who were availing of that course and who were not able to travel outside of Belfast for that third level provision. It is this sort of provision that may be taken for granted in the South where there are protections and supports that are not available in the North.

I will let my colleague in at this point. As I am resident in the North in County Armagh, I have a very particular perspective on the language, even though my job is based here in Dublin. My colleague Mr. Shane Ó hEidhin is a born and bred Dub. He will be able to speak more authoritatively on the comparisons.

Mr. Shane Ó hEidhin:

I would obviously concur with gach rud atá ráite ag Seán ansin. The need for an Acht na Gaeilge ó Thuaidh is brought into further focus by some of the threats and the difficulties outlined in the context of Brexit. Essentially, our concern is that some of the great progress that has been made in the last 15 to 20 years on a cross-Border, all-island basis could be another example of collateral damage to arise out of the Brexit process. It is something that we need the Government and agencies in the State and in the North to be aware of. There are unintended consequences. Mr. Ó Coinn referred to the university issue but there are also issues regarding the summer colleges and the Gaeltacht areas. There are multiple, unintended, potential consequences economically for the regions and for the health of the language in the Gaeltacht. It could also affect the future through people who would be exposed to the Irish language going back to their colleges and communities and starting up their own groups. Networks are built up through that process and these are all being jeopardised by anything that could potentially cause a blockage in that movement across the Border and so on. Great importance should be placed on any support that can be brought in on this side of the Border to strengthen legislative provision to provide the protections, North and South but especially in the North. In the context of Brexit an Acht na Gaeilge is very important.

Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael)
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I will ask one more supplementary question. I understand County Donegal is on the Border and we spoke about the Gaeltacht there but do people from the North go to Gaeltachtaí elsewhere? Do they go to County Mayo for instance?

Mr. Seán Ó Coinn:

For the most part, there has been a long-standing tradition, going back to the 1930s and 1940s, for people to go to the colleges in County Donegal.

In exceptional circumstances people would go to the other Gaeltacht areas, perhaps due to a family connection or something like that. For the most part, they go to the Irish language colleges in Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire, Inis Eoghain, Gleann Cholm Cille, Teileann agus áiteanna den chineál sin ina bhfuil na coláistí.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I am delighted to hear that Gaeilge is being studied in east Belfast. I served with the Royal Irish Rangers 40 years ago and when we were overseas, we were Irish. That was it. Our identity was Irish. We had no other identity. We only parted on sectarian grounds or on nationalist versus unionist grounds on the boat when we passed the Isle of Man on the way home on leave. I believe that all of us, North and South, unionist and nationalist, identify ourselves as Irish and Foras na Gaeilge is to be congratulated for making inroads into east Belfast and places like that. We have a lot of work to do down here. People like myself need to rekindle our Gaeilge and be more proud of the language that is several thousand years old.

I thank Mr. Seán Ó Coinn and Mr. Ó hEidhin for coming. If Mr. Ó Coinn would like to make a concluding statement, I would be delighted to hear it as Béarla nó as Gaeilge.

Mr. Seán Ó Coinn:

Níl rud ar bith breise le rá agam maidir leis an ábhar, ach go díreach ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an gcoiste. Tá scoth na Gaeilge ag na daoine uilig a labhair linn. Bhí cuid acu ag gabháil leithscéil as a gcuid Gaeilge, ach dá mbeadh an méid sin Seapáinis nó Mandairínis acu, bheidís ag déanamh mórtais. Sílim gur chóir dóibh bheith ag déanamh mórtais as an méid Gaeilge atá acu. Tá scoth na Gaeilge ag gach duine a labhair, cé nár labhair siad trí mheán na Gaeilge an t-am ar fad. Gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste as ucht éisteacht a thabhairt dúinn. Is deis an-mhaith í seo ár gcás agus cás na teanga a chur chun cinn. Tá súil agam go mbeidh na Seanadóirí in ann an cás sin a dhéanamh leis an Rialtas ar ár son.

Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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Go raibh míle maith agat.