Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

Senator Ryan referred to riachtanaisí speisialta. That requirement applies not alone to the Irish language but in an era of multiculturalism, across the board. There is a genuine case for the amendment and it is true that in many cases additional resources are needed to deal with the linguistic and cultural requirements in Gaeltachtaí and Gaelscoileanna but surely this Bill, the Education Act, the Equal Status Act and the Official Languages Act must, individually and in aggregate, take account of the multiculturalism that we all support. We cannot focus on the needs of a child without taking account of his or her linguistic and cultural needs because otherwise the assessments will be flawed and any appellant will be able to demonstrate that in an appeal. I sympathise with the amendment but, as far as I understand the Bill and the other Acts, it is unnecessary.