Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)

I take the point that the Minister is not responsible for debates in this House but he has indicated that he is not adverse to a debate. Will he not agree that the public at large have not been involved at all in this process of developing the 20 year strategy and that a large majority of people have no idea that this strategy is being developed? If such a debate takes place it would be important that not only the Minister's good self, representing the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, would take part but also the Minister for Education and Skills who has responsibility for the largest spend on the Irish language. None of them know exactly how much is being spent on the Irish language in the education system-----

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