Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I listened to the speeches of the Minister and the Minister of State on this Bill. The issue then was the central importance of developing Irish in education and the community. I am not straying one word from that issue. If we are to develop these ideas, we must have central people who will stand up as Gaolainn, trí Ghaolainn and le Gaolainn against zealots trying to destroy the language.

The people who are taking all of the wrong decisions on the Irish language will be enjoying their pensions before the people see the death of the language as a consequence. The decision makers will turn people against Irish while people in the Gaeltacht must put up with what is left. Everyone I know in the Gaeltacht and education who cares about the Irish language would support the Bill. It is positive because it is proactive.

One could ask a person from the west what is more important, making 100 different major public companies produce their annual reports through Irish or making Irish textbooks available. The former is more important to the Government. It is madness and I ask the Minister of State to take on board my comments. She should talk to people and let them understand what is happening. Tá sí seo an-tábhachtach. Fáiltím roimh an mBille. Beidh mé ag tacú leis.