Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Táim ag roinnt mo chuid ama le Teachta Clarke, Teachta Carthy agus Teachta Stanley. I agree with the previous speaker and other speakers that there is a silver lining to Covid in terms of the thriving wildlife that we are seeing. However, this is a temporary reprieve. The rejuvenation that we have seen will only be a temporary reprieve unless we put in place protections to ensure that it continues. It is a big challenge for us to do that in the time that we have before industry, commerce, agriculture and life in general springs back into life and we again turn our backs and look at wildlife in a different view. I appeal, not to the Minister, but to us as a society, to reap the rewards in terms of wildlife on this island in particular.

Tacaím leis an méid a bhí le rá ag an Teachta Ó Cuív. Táim i mbun díospóireachta leis an gCoiste Gnó maidir leis an Aire Stáit, Teachta Kyne. Táim den tuairim gur chóir go mbeadh eisean, nó Aire éigin eile le Gaeilge, anseo. Ní cóir go bhfuil sé i gcruinniú an choiste. Ba chóir go mbeadh an cinneadh maidir leis na coláistí samhraidh agus na mná tí déanta faoin am seo. Ní cóir go mbeimis muid fós ag fanacht. Fuair mé freagraí ón Aire Stáit mar gheall air sin. Níl sé soiléir go díreach cad atá ag tarlú.

I want to ask the Minister a question concerning the cultural institutions, not only the national institutions but the many local museums and institutions that play a huge role in terms of our international tourism. These institutions attract many people but as they are now closed they will not enjoy tourists travelling from abroad. I appeal to the Minister to find some way to help them attract Irish tourists, people who are living in Ireland who are not going to go abroad who have not enjoyed the benefits of visiting their local museums and other institutions. These institutions are well organised but they need additional funding to help them in terms of the Covid restrictions. I have previously discussed with the Minister the need for funding to assist them to get their collections online. I praise those institutions that have used this opportunity to get their collections online, which we can share with those who have not seen them to enjoy. There is a vast amount of collections that need to be made available online. Since lockdown, Kilmainham Gaol has been sharing a video per day which is encouraging viewings from people who have never visited it because of lengthy queues. This is an opportune time to open up these collections to Irish families, in particular as we wait for the international sphere to kick-in again.

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