Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Ar an gcéad dul síos, iarraim ar an Aire Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta plé a dhéanamh ar na moltaí sa tuairisc teangeolaíochta a léiríonn go mbeidh an Ghaeilge marbh mar theanga i measc an phobail taobh istigh de 20 bliain. Will the Leader facilitate the Minister for Community, Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs to come to the House to discuss a report on the Irish language published last week?

I join with Senator Fitzgerald in asking for the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House to debate the education system. As a school teacher I am acutely aware of the significant funding that has been allocated but this funding is not going in the right direction. Class sizes have not been altered and the integration programmes have not worked. As Senator Fitzgerald said, many students are being left behind.

In light of Senator Alex White's remarks, I ask for a debate on poverty, given that in this morning's newspapers the Taoiseach is claiming he is living in poverty. This would be an opportune time to have a debate on poverty.