Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I recommend to people in Fianna Fáil and in the Opposition who never heard of Lusmagh that it is worth visiting and reading about the Lusmagh revolution and agrarian revolt and reform in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A lot would be understood about the nature of people from that part of world, including our Cathaoirleach.

Inné fuarthas an tuarascáil bhliantúil ón gCoimisinéir Teanga. Ba bhreá an rud é dá mbeadh díospóireacht sa Teach ar an méid atá ráite aige. Tá go leor molta agus ráite aige agus tá cur síos déanta aige ar na gearáin ar fad a fuair sé le linn na bliana. Bhí níos mó ná 600 gearán faighte aige. Tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go mbeadh muidne sásta an tuarascáil a phlé. Deir an Coimisinéir nach bhfuil sé i bhfábhar éigeantais.

In other words, he is not in favour of returning to the days of compulsion in Irish in terms of appointing people agus rudaí mar sin. On the other side, ba mhaith an rud é go mbeadh traenáil ann do stát sheirbhísigh agus daoine eile. Déarfainn féin gur cheart traenáil a bheith ann do Bhaill na Dála agus an tSeanaid agus gur cóir go mbeadh seans acu freastal ar na Gaeltachtaí chun Gaeilge a fhoghlaim agus am a chaitheamh le muintir na Gaeltachtaí agus chun go mbeadh teangmháil acu le cultúr na Gaeltachta.

I would like a full debate on this. For years I have stated that Members of the Dáil and Seanad should have the opportunity to spend time in the Gaeltachtaí. In the 1920s when this country first introduced the Irish language to schools, the most effective thing done was to bring teachers to the Gaeltachtaí for three months at a time. It infused them with a love of Irish. Civil servants should also have the opportunity to spend time in the Gaeltachtaí. This was done 80 years ago. We could do it again and it would be sensible.

I will give a small example. Sampla amháin, i rith na bliana seo caite agus an bhliain roimhe sin, bhí a lán le rá agam mar gheall ar Dingle-Daingean Uí Chúis agus ainm na háite sin. A fhad agus a bhí an méid sin á phlé againn, bhí an-argóint ar siúl mar gheall ar dearcadh i dtreo na teanga ag, mar shampla, muintir an Daingin. It is interesting to note that in a recent referendum on the teaching of Irish in their school, 90% of the people of Dingle, many of whom argued with me that they were anti-Irish, want education through Irish to be available. I defended these people during recent years. We have land here to be furrowed and we need to discuss it in a practical and real way.

I have been very slow to criticise Professor Drumm but his response to the Rebecca O'Malley report left me extremely sad. It was extremely flawed and he needs to do a great deal more in this area. The thought of people dying because of a lack of stroke support facilities is unacceptable. This is a real issue. It is not like building hospitals, it is a straight issue of treatment.