Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I welcome the welcome given to Mr. Des Bishop by other Members. I have found him to be an inspiration, particularly to young people. The programmes he made in the Gaeltacht have been tremendous. Picking up on Senator Cannon's comments, as education spokesperson for Sinn Féin I attended the INTO conference. The call from the conference was that Des Bishop has done more for the Irish language than has the Minister for Education and Science.

It is important that Members do not only debate and discuss the Irish language when a celebrity such as Des Bishop is present.