Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I dtosach, is mian liom aontú leis na cainteoirí eile agus an Seanadóir Nic Gearailt a d'ardaigh ceist na Gaeilge anseo ar maidin. Thóg mé faoi deara le tamall fada anuas go bhfuil borradh nua ann ó thaobh na Gaeilge de — ní amháin go bhfuil dea-thoil i gceist, ach go bhfuil daoine ag iarraidh rudaí praiticiúla a dheanamh chun an Gaeilge a chleachtadh agus a chur chun cinn. Ní dóigh liom go raibh sé sin chomh sofheicthe i stair an Stáit is atá sé i láthair na huaire. Tá súil agam nach mbeidh an seans seo caillte agus go mbeimid go léir ag obair as lámha a chéile.

I have always believed that it is not the people who are fluent in Irish who will save the language. Rather, it is those who wish to come forward to take ownership of the language who will do so. For too long, people have seen Irish as being somewhat elitist when it should be the language of the people. Paddy McElvaney was one of the founder members of the organisation with which I am connected, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and he has gone to his eternal reward since then. However, while he may not have been able to put four or five words together, he challenged the rest of us to do so. Coming from a person who was not perceived to be an authority on the language or absolutely fluent, I believe he had greater influence and a greater impact than those of us who perhaps had greater knowledge. This is what I see happening at present.

I also wish to avail of the opportunity to congratulate all those who have been appointed to the position of Minister of State. I will be unashamedly parochial in singling out in particular Senator Martin Mansergh on his appointment.