Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Yes. I also call on the Leader to arrange for a debate in the new year on the decline and depopulation of rural Ireland. Within the next week, in the parish of Gweedore in Donegal the second post office in the space of three years will close down. This may seem insignificant, but when coupled with loss of jobs, the withdrawal of transport services etc., we are seeing the death of rural Ireland by a thousand cuts. We need serious debate on the issue to get the Government to consider seriously how to address the depopulation and decline of rural Ireland.

We should also have a debate on the issue of Irish language immersion in primary education. I note that Údarás na Gaeltachta, right across the political divide, supported unanimously a call for the Minister to withdraw her circular. I call for the Seanad to have that debate and echo the call of all the Gaeltacht members on the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta. It is a shame the Minister made the decision she did. She should take a leaf from her Northern counterpart and echo her decision. The Irish language is not protected constitutionally in Northern Ireland but the Minister there intends to continue to afford Irish language immersion in primary education.