Seanad debates

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

3:00 pm

Photo of Brian Ó DomhnaillBrian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I congratulate the Leader of the House on his appointment and acknowledge his wish to reform the House and its workings. In that way, the Seanad can be more effective and efficient in the way it conducts its business. I welcome the example given by the Leader that members of the European Commission could attend the House to discuss issues of relevance to this country. I respectfully suggest that we could extend an invitation to the Commissioners with responsibility for agriculture and fisheries to a debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy, both of which are under review. Agriculture is the current growth sector in the economy and is fuelling exports. It is very important we secure the benefits that Europe is providing to that sector, so it would be timely to have such a debate, if possible before the summer recess, with either Commissioner.

Ba mhaith liom aontú leis an méid atá ráite ag an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh i dtaca leis an Ghaeilge agus an cur i láthair a déanadh níos luaithe inniu in Óstán Buswells ag an eagraíocht, Guth na Gaeltachta agus ag Conradh na Gaeilge. Cuireadh i láthair an straitéis atá acusan i dtaca le todhchaí na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta agus na moltaí atá acu i dtaca le cur i bhfeidhm an straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge.

It is vital that the new Government addresses the issue of the Irish language both inside and outside Gaeltacht areas and that a clear strategy for the implementation of the 20-year strategy for the Irish language is adopted. I call for a debate on that strategy and on the future of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The news emerging on the future of Údarás na Gaeltachta is alarming to say the least given that the previous Government gave a commitment that its enterprise functions would be retained. I hope clarification can be given at an early date that the Government agrees with the decision of the previous Government and that those functions can remain in place. We should have a discussion on the Irish language. No one party or individual in the country owns our language. It pleased me greatly that in the previous Seanad and Dáil all the political parties worked in unison to prepare the 20-year strategy for the Irish language. I hope we can discuss that strategy and obtain an insight into the Government's thinking on the manner in which it will fund it over the next 20 years. I hope we can have a debate on that issue next week or the week after given that it is very timely. I appreciate the Leader will have pressing demands to have discussions on an array of topics but the Irish language is a vitally important aspect of the country's future, not least in terms of economic tourism in the cultural sense. I hope we can have such a debate and I trust that the Leader will address that issue.

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