Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir Higgins as ucht cúpla noiméid a thabhairt dom. Tá náire orainn go léir nach mbaintear úsáid as an Ghaeilge níos minice sa Teach seo agus sa Dáil. In a way it is hypocritical of us all as parliamentarians in both Houses to ask for Irish to be recognised as an official language at European level, because we have made very little use of it. It was only at local level sna coistí gairmoideachais agus sna coistí condae i dTír Chonaill, i nGaillimh, i Maigh Eo, i gCiarraí, san Mhí agus i bPort Láirge a úsáidtear í.

Apart from that, we are making very little effort, and we are all to blame. There are several reasons Irish should be an official EU language. As Senator Higgins said, it is not today but long since that Irish should have been so established, if we were serious about it. Bhí an tAire Ó Cuív sa Teach seo sa bhfomhar agus thóg sé Bille trí Ghaeilge amháin. If the Minister was sincere in promoting Irish, he would have encouraged all of us to use the cúpla focal here and there in the discussion that took place. Were it not for TG4 and Radio na Gaeltachta, the Irish language would be dead and gone. Never mind Conradh na Gaeilge — its members have been purists regarding the language, which is why a great deal of damage has been done to it. People are afraid to use Irish because they are criticised for their grammar or word usage.

Fianna Fáil has now come on board. Despite the many requests that we in the Seanad have made to have this motion put before the House, we now have it as an all-party motion, which I welcome. It is to be put to the Government, which will have no option but to consider it.

To justify this demand, we must make an effort to use Irish in the Chamber. Even if we were to conduct our business in Irish for only one day per month or year, we would make progress and possibly develop it from there. This is necessary and would add substance to the request in the motion before us by lending us credibility which the House will not be given unless Senators are heard to speak Irish.

Nuair a bhí Seanadóir Pól Ó Foighíl as iarthair na Gaillimhe ina bhall den Seanad, he insisted on speaking only Irish in the House to highlight the neglect of our language and that every vote be called in Irish. The translation facility under our desks was installed as a result of his endeavours. He also insisted on Galway County Council that everybody, regardless of whether one liked it, had to listen to him in Irish and if one wanted to understand him, one had to put on headphones and listen to the translation. If we had such determination and support for the Irish language in this and the other House, we could show much greater determination in getting Irish accepted as an official language of the European Union. Our credibility is at stake on this issue, which successive Governments have neglected since 1972.