Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

It is all or nothing in this process. We must get agreement from all EU member states. When we are satisfied that this objective has been reached, we will then seek to have a decision made. As the work is ongoing, I cannot say any more. Last February people claimed the Government would never make a decision on seeking status for the Irish language and would keep putting it off. I recall these same arguments with the Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla. In that case, we made the decision at the right time. The same applies to achieving recognition of the Irish language. Inniu sé an aimsir, but this is another one of those remarks made in the House about issues that will not be resolved before the next general election. I am confident that it will be resolved before the next election. I am also confident about the methodology used in achieving this objective.

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