Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

I have no bone to pick with any Deputy, I appreciate all they have said. I thank Deputies for their contributions. They have all been positive and we all want to achieve the same objective. I do not want to leave this House or this world without any Gaeltachtaí. I want to turn the tide and this is the way we can do it. I am implementing the most important aspect of the survey of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht - the language planning areas. Outside the Gaeltachtaí, I want to look after those communities that have decided of their own free will that they want to have their children educated through Irish: we want to offer them every support. We will have the údarás on the one hand, the foras on the other and all of us working together. It is a new departure.

Tá mé anseo le beagnach 30 bliain, over 30 years. For most of the Gaeltacht or language legislation that went through this House, I was on the Opposition benches. I have spent 90% of my time over there and we never divided on the language. We always supported the Government of the day. Thug mé tacaíocht don Teachta Ó Cuív le Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus leis an Ghaeilge mar theanga oibre ag leibhéal na hEorpa. There were two areas where the House never divided: the Irish language and the national question. We always thought the Irish language was above politics and we do not divide on it. I hope the Opposition will come with me on this expedition to try to save the Gaeltacht and the Irish language.

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