Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I second Senator Quinn's amendment to the Order of Business. When that debate took place last year I was very pleased at the support which came from different sides of the House for that particular Bill. I would be hopeful if at some future date it is discussed in the House that we may have more support from both sides of the House and that people might like to join me in proposing the Bill.

An bhféadfainn a rá maidir le cúrsaí Gaeilge go dtacaím go huile agus go hiomlán leis an méid a dúirt an Seanadóir Ó Domhnaill? Is fiú lua go bhfuil lá oscailte ag Conradh na Gaeilge inniu maidir le tuairisc McCarthy agus mholfainn do mo chomhghleacaithe dul trasna an bhóthair agus dul i mbun cainte leis na daoine ansin.

It is good that a number of the unhelpful recommendations in the McCarthy have been set at nought by the 20-year strategy for the Irish language, which is welcome. It would also be good, as Senator Ó Domhnaill said, if people's proposals on the strategy were discussed by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and forwarded to the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

With regard to the emerging deal between the Government and the unions, while it is uncertain, I sincerely hope the Government is not fudging the issues. Pay cuts have to be part of the plan to get the economy back in order and the budget back in balance but pay savings at the price of productivity cannot be a good idea. This is not the way to go but I am conscious we are all making comments in a vacuum with great uncertainty. Let us hope the Government continues to recognise these challenging times require big, brave decisions, not compromises that could fatally undermine the recovery strategy.