Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

Wonderful teachers have been allocated to this course and all those who intend to participate look forward to joining them in the Gaeltacht in due course. I wish to compliment Senator Daly, as well as Senators Labhrás Ó Murchú, Joe O'Toole and all Members who have helped over the years without such assistance, both to use our language and to show other Members they can use it too. I wish Mr. Des Bishop well in his talks with the new Minister for Education and Science because he has some good and interesting ideas about how our language can be better taught. It reverts to the points made by Senator Cannon and it is to be hoped that some good will flow from this.

On the appointment of the Ministers of State, whom I congratulate, I have a particular interest in the appointment to the Office of Public Works, of Members' former colleague in the Seanad, Deputy Martin Mansergh. It pertains to an issue already touched on by Senator Fitzgerald, namely, the attachment to the Office of Public Works of the arts, which is highly interesting. I also seek clarification from the Leader as to whether arts is being separated from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism or whether the Minister, Deputy Martin Cullen, will continue to have some involvement in arts. It is long overdue that our built heritage should be entirely within the remit of the Office of Public Works and not scattered between that office and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This is a fallacy and is wrong. Our magnificent State properties should be together under the aegis of the Office of Public Works. I have made representations to the former Taoiseach on the matter and I hope to make further representations on the matter to the Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen in due course. However, the Leader should respond in respect of the manner in which responsibility for built heritage is scattered and to clarify the position of arts vis-À-vis the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.