Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Deputy Catherine Martin. It is our understanding that if we were to try to include amendments Nos. 75 to 80, inclusive, they would contradict each other and some of them would fall.

I would have liked more time on the amendments to this section. I have spoken to the Irish language groups that are obviously the experts in this area and it is important for the children who come from an Irish-speaking background.

We need to promote the language more. I am somebody who does not have fluent Gaeilge but I ensure that my sons go to a Gaelscoil. That is important to me. There are children in that school who come from families who speak Irish at home and it is important that they have the opportunity to learn through the medium of Irish and are not unfairly discriminated against.

There is agreement between Deputies Thomas Byrne, Catherine Martin, me and others in this regard. We do not want a situation where we must vote down amendment No. 75. We ask the Minister to withdraw his amendment and we will withdraw ours, following which we can have more debate and discussion on this in conjunction with the relevant Irish language groups and we can come back to it in the Seanad.

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