Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Beidh coicís na Gaeilge ag tosnú an tseachtain seo chugainn agus b'fhéidir go mbeidh an Cheannaire in ann roinnt ama a chur ar fáil chun é seo a phlé agus cuireadh a thabhairt don Aire, an Teachta Éamon Ó Cuív, teacht isteach chun stádas na Gaeilge a phlé linn.

Next week will be a benchmark for the Irish language. It will be the commencement of the Irish language fortnight. As we know from previous years this is a very comprehensive promotional effort for the Irish language. Perhaps the Leader could invite in the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, to update us precisely on the draft 20 year strategy which has now been published.

In recent weeks the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs had a comprehensive debate. Seven Irish language organisations were invited to the meeting to debate the strategy. The meeting was transmitted live on TG4 for two and a half hours. That was a first for the Oireachtas. Tomorrow the committee will travel to Connemara and will meet representative groups from all the Gaeltacht areas, starting at 9 a.m. and finishing at 6 p.m. tomorrow evening.

It would be timely and opportune next week, given the fact that it will be Irish language fortnight, to invite the Minister to participate in a debate with us on the status of the Irish language. One thing of which we are all well aware is that there is huge goodwill for the Irish language at the present time. It is no longer a political football. We now find young and old want to see comprehensive proposals and policies to build on that goodwill. If one looks outside this country, whether at Moscow, New York or London, there will be Irish language celebrations and activities throughout the fortnight. There will be Irish language celebrations and activities throughout the fortnight. I hope it will be possible for the Leader to allocate time next week because most of the people organising this are young, full of energy and inspirational and they will look to the Oireachtas for support and endorsement. We should not let that opportunity pass.