Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

De ghnáth, ní bhíonn baint ag polaiteoirí leis an gcuraclam. Fágaimid é sin do na saineolaithe agus na daoine atá bainteach le forbairt an churaclaim ach, sa chás seo tá múinteoirí na tíre, na saineolaithe is tábhachtaí, ag rá go bhfuil deacrachtaí anseo.

Táim ag súil cloisteáil ón Aire maidir le torthaí na cainteanna atá sé ag dul i ngleic le.

This is a serious issue and I am glad the Minster has an interest in it. We have a good chance to get this right and ensure that the Irish language promoted. On that note, I pay tribute to Ms Zainab Boladale from RTÉ, who has been the subject of vicious racist abuse. Ms Boladale moved from Nigeria to Ireland at the age of four. The fact that she can give an interview on television as Gaeilge is a testament to her, her family and the Irish education system. We have a national hang-up about the national language and how badly taught it is, how difficult it is, etc. Ms Boladale can inspire all of us to use the Irish language daily and ensure that we have the level of Irish we all should have, particularly in view of the level of resources devoted to the subject. I refer to not blaming teachers or schools, I am asking what we, as a nation, are prepared to do about the Irish language. I am grateful for Irish teachers coming forward on this issue and giving up their free time to try to bring about change. Their interest is in the language and the students learning it.

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