Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom mo chomhghairdeas agus chomhghairdeas Sinn Féin a ghabháil leis an Tánaiste, a thoghadh inné mar cheannaire Fianna Fáil. Dúirt an Tánaiste inné go bhfuil sé ar intinn aige gach tacaíocht a thabhairt d'fhorbairt na Gaeilge. Cuirim fáilte roimh an ráiteas sin. Molaim don Tánaiste — an Taoiseach tofa — gur chóir dó buaileadh le ceannairí na páirtithe eile sa Dáil chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar úsáid na Gaeilge san Oireachtas. Táimid go léir sásta cabhrú leis an Tánaiste maidir leis an ábhar sin.

As I said, on my behalf and on behalf of Sinn Féin, I offer sincere congratulations to the Tánaiste on his selection as leader of Fianna Fáil. I wish him the best of success in his role and responsibility in the time ahead. On a brief light note, I wonder whether the Tánaiste is aware that under Standing Orders leaders of political parties in the House have the opportunity to question the Taoiseach. He might be able to exercise that over a short period of weeks, but if he decides to waive it I will happily take up the opportunity as it has been denied to me since last year. As the two positions will coincide within a short period of time, this is the last opportunity for the Tánaiste to ask the Taoiseach questions here.

I refer to the fact that today is an important day, not only following the Tánaiste's elevation to the leadership of Fianna Fáil, but also because it is the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. It is appropriate to say that we take the opportunity to commend all who played their parts in helping to bring about this Agreement and who have worked for the implementation of the hope and promise contained therein over the period of years since. There is clearly, to paraphrase a common quote, a lot yet to be done in that regard. While I welcome the development of the new Good Friday Agreement implementation committee here in the Houses of the Oireachtas, of which I am a member, and the opportunity it provides to MPs——

See this speech in context