Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom tagairt a dhéanamh do cheist na Gaeilge sna Sé Contae, go háirithe maidir leis an fhadhb ann faoi láthair atá le réiteach, sé sin stádas oifigiúil a thabhairt don Ghaeilge sna Sé Contae. Bhí cruinniú inné idir an tAire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, an Teachta Éamon Ó Cuív, agus an tAire Poots i gContae Fhear Manach. Tuigim go raibh plé ar an ábhar seo agus go mbeidh sé á phlé arís an tseachtain seo chugainn ag cruinniú Thuaidh-Theas a bhéas ar siúl.

I refer to the current dilemma in which the Irish language finds itself in the North of Ireland and the comments of the Minister there with responsibility for cultural affairs, Mr. Poots, regarding the development of the proposed Irish language Act in the Six Counties. It is vital that the people in the North of Ireland are given the opportunity to have the language officially recognised on a legal basis. It is important for us to assist the people of Northern Ireland in ensuring that the Irish language exists in an official capacity. I would welcome the call by our colleague the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, earlier today and yesterday evening for a compromise to be reached on the matter. I understand that Irish language and Ulster Scots will both be discussed at a North-South meeting in Newry next week. I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, to give an update to the House on the outcome of that meeting and also to have a general debate in the House in the near future on the Irish language in the Thirty-two Counties — the Republic and the North. It is important to our cultural identity.

I pay tribute to the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, for his overwhelming commitment to the language since his first appointment as a Minister of State in 1997. No other Minister has given as much commitment energy and time to the development of the language and we in this House should provide him with the opportunity to outline what he has done and what the future holds.