Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Yesterday, Senator Mullen raised the issue of the intention of Raidió na Gaeltachta to cease broadcasting the weekly mass. At the end of the month, a delegation from the Oireachtas committee whose remit covers the Irish language will visit the Connemara Gaeltacht in connection with the draft 20-year strategy on the Irish language. Will the Leader ask the committee to meet Raidió an Gaeltachta representatives to discuss this matter with them? We all speak about the helpless and vulnerable in the House but there are none more vulnerable that those who are in hospital or who are ill and housebound. Each week, in most cases, they look forward to participating in and listening to mass on Raidió na Gaeltachta. I recall the debate about removing the "Angelus" from radio and television broadcasts. The main intervention at the time was made by a Church of Ireland representative who brought balance to the debate when he said in these hectic times it was admirable that a broadcasting service would signal a time for reflection. The same applies in this case.

Tá súil agam mar sin, go ndéanfaidh Raidió na Gaeltachta athmhacnamh ar an gcinneadh seo atá i gceist aige. Is traidisiún é leis an raidió céanna an t-aifreann a bheith á chraoladh go seachtainiúil agus go rialta. Táim lán cinnte nach gcabhróidh sé le stádas an stáisiúin má leanann sé ar aghaidh leis an gcinneadh seo. Tá súil agam go mbeidh an coiste sin ón Oireachtas sásta labhairt le Raidió na Gaeltachta agus, b'fhéidir, an tuairim a chur trasna chuige nach ceart dó é seo a dhéanamh anois.