Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

What I am saying about Athmhúscailt an Iarthair, I am saying genuinely. If we are not positive, do not recognise the strengths we have and help the small people to create and sustain jobs, as we have been doing, the bigger infrastructure, which I recognise should be developed, will be of no use.

I compliment Senator Doherty on the broad range of the report. As the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, stated, there are only so many aspects that relate to his Department. As a senior member of the Cabinet, he is interested in them and is interacting with other Ministers in respect thereof. I am glad the report has been discussed in the House for two reasons. While I would like to see the Minister here more often — he always comes when he is invited — each time he attends he gives us an insight into the multifaceted nature of his Department. If we keep an ear and an eye open on the ground, we will note the results in every rural community — the results are not centralised in just one community.

I am glad the Gaeltacht was mentioned. I am not too sure how the statistics stand up because I did not research them. I hope they are somewhat better than indicated. When the delegates from Údarás na Gaeltachta and other bodies appeared before the Oireachtas committee, I stated that it is vital to our spiritual well-being as a nation that the language survive as a living language. I also stated that it has considerable economic value. The current interest in linguistics is such that people want to understand our language. It evokes national pride, no matter where one travels in the world, to be able to stand up and speak a bit of Irish. People then know one is Irish, not British or any other nationality.

If we are to get out of our present difficulties and maximise our strengths and potential, the first step we must take is to direct ourselves back to our culture. The Young Irelanders did exactly that when the Famine of the 1840s impressed itself upon us in genocidal proportions. They directed us back to our national characteristics in order first to lift the spirit of the people. Based on this, one can get people to move forward. I feel the same about what is happening today. Our culture and national characteristics pertaining to sport, language and music give us a sense of pride. We can build on this when engaging in our next phase of development.