Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I am disappointed with the Minister of State's reply and also with the complacency associated with it. There are many other European countries which have two languages, for example, Catalan and Spanish in Catalonia, Spain, and there are two languages in Belgium. We are woefully behind most continental countries in regard to having a second language as part and parcel of our integrated curriculum. Can the Minister of State given any indication of when the Government will revert to the spirt of the Barcelona agreement as distinct from the letter of the law?

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