David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

Díospóireach fíor-thábhachtach an díospóireacht seo. Is cuid dár saibhreas cultúrtha í an Ghaeilge agus ní mór go gach Seanadóir a chuid a dhéanamh chun an teanga a chaomhnú. I mo chontae féin, i bPort Láirge, tá Gaeltacht na Rinne agus is mór an tairfe a bhaineann pobal an chontae ar fad as, ó thaobh an chultúrtha, an teanga agus na turasóireachta de.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. It is important for us to have a discussion on the future of the Irish language and the 20-year strategy. The Irish language is very important in terms of our rich cultural and heritage past and for the future of the country. Earlier in the week we had a discussion on the potential of tourism and the need to promote tourism in the State. The Minister of State would agree that the Irish language and the Gaeltacht represent an attraction for many visitors. I can certainly speak on behalf of the people in Gaeltacht na Rinne, Contae Phort Láirge, who have benefited greatly in terms of the lift to tourism.

All people, including elected public representatives, have a responsibility to promote and use the language when they can. I support Senator Ó Murchú's point that people should be encouraged to use whatever we have. In County Waterford the Gaeltacht makes an immense contribution to the entire county, but especially to west Waterford in cultural, tourism and language terms. I have made some good friends here in the Seanad, one of whom is Senator Darcy. I invite the Senator to come to the Gaeltacht in An Rinn, where I have no doubt he will have no difficulty in finding a bed and will not need to sleep in a bath. He would be very welcome and I would love the have the opportunity to show him beautiful An Rinn and west Waterford if he wishes to take up the invitation.

As a hurling man, I can say that Sinn Féin has no intention of using this issue as a political football. However, there are real political issues that need to be addressed in the context of the future of the language. I am sure the Minister of State would also welcome a frank and robust discussion on the future of the language. This is an important debate in examining the best path forward for the language and to ensure we do not make the mistakes of the past. Many Gaelgoirí who want to play their part in promoting the language and those in communities, about which Senator Ó Murchú spoke, talk about the fact that for too long the State has paid lip service to the Irish language, which is something we need to consign to the past. A number of previous speakers spoke about the educational system and that so many children - there were some in the Visitors' Gallery earlier - come through the educational system without the ability to speak our national language. I am one of those, a product of that system. Thankfully, my son who is four is going to a naíonra at the moment and will go to a gaelscoil, which will mean he will have a better opportunity than I had. Every school should be a gaelscoil essentially and every child should have the same opportunity to learn, appreciate and love the language as we ought to.

I will comment on some of my concerns about the Government's strategy. Senator Ó Clochartaigh spoke about elections to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The Minister praised the contribution by the 17 elected members of Údarás na Gaeltachta to date, which is very welcome. The question was posed as to whether the election process is the best way to ensure proper representation. The election of people who live in Gaeltachtaí is the best way to ensure proper representation in Údarás na Gaeltachta. I fail to see how appointing people can work. If people in Passage in east Waterford, whom I have nothing against, had a say in who should represent the people of the Gaeltacht in that county, it would not be right, nor would it be right if people outside Waterford had a say in who should represent the Gaeltacht in Waterford. The fairest and best way to ensure proper representation is to have direct elections in which the people of the Gaeltachtaí are afforded an opportunity to vote.

The Minister will be aware that there is much talk about the abolition of this House and, potentially, the merging of local authorities and a reduction in the number of Teachtaí Dála. The proposals for Údarás na Gaeltachta are regarded as part of the proposals for stripping away democratic power at local level. I pay tribute to the person from County Waterford who is directly elected to Údarás na Gaeltachta. That person does a fantastic job advocating on behalf of the people of the Gaeltacht. If we acknowledge this, as the Minister has done, we should not try to fix something that is not broken. I refer in particular to the election process.

I am concerned about proposals in respect of the enterprise functions of Údarás na Gaeltachta and about the role of Enterprise Ireland. If the people who are responsible for creating jobs have no connection with the Gaeltacht, they are unlikely to give it sufficient priority. The Minister of State should consider this. Those responsible for creating jobs in the Gaeltachtaí need to understand the value of the language, not just culturally but in business terms. They should have the ability to market the Irish language. We spoke about this previously in terms of business and tourism.

I ask Senators to support the efforts of my party to secure proper legislation for the Irish language in the North. As Senators will know, some resist our efforts in the North and trivialise them at times. We are trying to establish an Irish language Act in the Northern Assembly and I hope our effort will have cross-party support in this House. I support the work of the former Minister of Education in the North and the new Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín of Sinn Féin. I hope there will be continual engagement between the latter and the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy McGinley. I hope there is cross-party support in this House to ensure citizens who live in the North, who regard themselves as Irish and value the Irish language as much as we do, will have the same rights and opportunities as people in this State.

Senator Martin McAleese, who made his maiden speech today, spoke about the need for further cross-Border co-operation. Where we can work together, we should. Promotion of the Irish language is certainly such an area, and I appeal to the Minister of State to do what he can in that regard. I thank him for coming to the House and for his contribution. I hope he will take on board some of the constructive criticisms of the 20-year strategy, as raised by me and Senator Ó Clochartaigh.