Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am very disappointed not only that this committee has only met twice but that there is no date fixed for another meeting not least because of the dreadful state of the Gaeltachtaí. Tá a fhios ag an Taoiseach gurb iad na Gaeltachtaí tobar na Gaeilge. Tá an pobal seo agus na ceantair seo an-saibhir ó thaobh na Gaeilge ach tá a lán damáiste déanta agus damáiste déanta don Údarás agus do Fhoras na Gaeilge. Ní thuigim an fáth atá leis sin. Is fíorghaeilgeoir iad an Taoiseach agus an tAire, atá ina chónaí i nGaoth Dobhair. Tá a lán Gaeilge ag an Rialtas ach tá scrios á dhéanamh ar na Gaeltachtaí. Ní thuigim an fáth atá leis seo. The Gaeltacht areas continue to decline and like most parts of rural Ireland, are experiencing emigration. They are the well of the Irish language. Irish has been spoken in these areas for the past 2,000 years. An Coimisinéir Teanga resigned in protest and I wish the new coimisinéir well.

Perhaps the Taoiseach could explain what the committee actually does given the state of the Gaeltacht areas at this time.

I was very pleased to attend two "dearg le fearg" days of protest on this issue, one in Dublin and one in Belfast, and what struck me was that the majority of young people demonstrated a great love for the language. There was a sea of colour of young people, beo agus bríomhar agus a lán amhrán á gcanadh acu. This enthusiasm is the future of the Irish language and should be actively supported, rather than destroyed, by the Government.

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