Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I join in welcoming Mr. Ó Neachtáin and compliment him on the great work he has done, particularly in the agricultural area and in fisheries. He is an MEP for Connacht-Ulster. I hope the people of Clare will not let him down next year in the newly realigned constituency in which it will be difficult for Members to retain their seats. He will need the physical health he has to represent the people there.

I was delayed at a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government and missed the start of Mr. Ó Neachtáin's address. At that meeting we talked about the landslide in Derrybrien in south Galway. As the late Tip O'Neill used to say, all politics is local and I suppose European politics is also local. Members of the Derrybrien group asked me if our MEPs could examine the environmental aspects of the landslide in Derrybrien and take up the matter with the EU Commissioner for the Environment, Ms Margot Wallström. I urge that this be examined. I support windfarms, as do the people of Derrybrien, but they do not want them located on top of slippery mountains. That landslide is a good marker for any other developments that might take place in that area.

Mr. Ó Neachtáin mentioned the Border, midland and western region. We got Objective One status on the basis of information we had regarding the west and monitoring development in that area should be continued.

Tá ceist amháin eile agam faoin teanga. Fáiltím an méid a dúirt Seán Ó Neachtáin mar gheall uirthi. Fuair mé litir ó Chonradh na Gaeilge a dúirt go mbeadh 20 teanga oifigiúil ag an Aontas tar éis Bealtaine an bhliain seo chugainn. Ba mhaith liom fiafraí, cosúil leis an Cheannaire anseo, cén fáth nach mbeidh an Ghaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil an bhliain seo chugainn? Cén fáth nach féidir é sin a dhéanamh? An bhfuil sé praiticiúil é sin a dhéanamh? Sin iad na ceisteanna atá agam. Mo mhíle bhuíochas aríst don Fheisire Eorpach, Seán Ó Neachtáin.