Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I am grateful to the Minister for elaborating on the issue I raised. In the continuing review and monitoring of language availability in our schools, I notice Russian is given a priority. However, the burgeoning trade between Ireland and China would suggest, in respect of how other countries are approaching this issue, that there is a need for the Department to monitor how it is developing in terms of the application of Russian, how many students are taking Russian and what impact it is having commercially and to weigh that up against the importance of the Chinese economy.