Seanad debates

Tuesday, 26 July 2011

11:00 am

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent)

I am sure other Members have already raised the situation in Norway but I wish to add my expression of sympathy to the people of Norway and compliment them on the dignified way in which they have responded to what was described on Fox News, without any evidence, as an attack by Al-Qaeda but which was actually an attack by a Christian fundamentalist. As a Christian I am deeply ashamed should this turn out to be the fact. They have responded appropriately by saying that there will be more democracy in Norway rather than less. That is appropriate.

I am sure it cannot be done in this session because I understand tomorrow will probably be our last day but in the incoming session in the early autumn I ask the Leader to arrange for a major debate on the fate of the islands around our coast and in particular the impact in Gaeltacht areas, including the islands, of Údarás na Gaeltachta and the cut in budgets. Traditionally, it has been creating over 1,000 jobs. It is important, if we want to save our identity, that we save this part of it because it is what makes us unique.

I remember being in Sligo launching a crafts fair and I was particularly impressed by a woodworker who was making furniture. Instead of levelling out all the gnarls and twists in the wood he left them there so that every piece was unique. We have lost our beautiful cló Gaelach, and I spoke there with a gentleman who must have been slightly older than myself because he said he was in school when the transition was made from the cló Gaelach to the Arabic script, and he felt it was a loss. It was a different language and it lengthened the words because instead of the buailte they put in the "h" and so on. I find myself in agreement with him. We dumbed down the language. We can save an integral part of our culture if we make sure Údarás na Gaeltachta and the people on the islands are supported and a small amount of money is invested in them because of their particular disadvantage in terms of economies of scale.

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