Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom aontú leis na Seanadóirí a bhí ag moladh Michael Fassbender agus Brendan Gleeson ó thaobh an éacht atá déanta acu ainmniúcháin a fháil le haghaidh na Golden Globes. Creidim go bhfuil scannán beag Éireannach — "Pentecost", le Peter McDonald — taréis ainmniúcháin a fháil ar an ngearrliosta le haghaidh na Oscars. Gabhaim comhghairdeas leo uilig. Tá súil agam go ndéanfaidh siad an gearrliosta. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil a fios ag daoine gur Gaeilgeoir paiteanta é Brendan Gleeson, chomh maith le bheith ina haisteoir paiteanta. Brendan Gleeson is also a fantastic Irish speaker as well as being a great actor.

The Irish language has been mentioned. I commend all those colleagues who have made a great effort as gaeilge, as it is an issue on which the Seanad can make a significant difference. It can show gur feidir an Ghaeilge a úsáid ag gach leibhéal. If anybody has not made his or her new year's resolution list, if the cúpla focail were used after Christmas, it would make a difference. I know from speaking to people in the Irish language community that they listen and take note agus go háirithe i gcás an díospóireacht a luaigh an Seanadóir Uí Catháin. Chuaigh úsáid na Gaeilge sa chás sin i bhfeidhm go láidir ar phobal na Gaeilge. Is rud an-thábhachtach é sin.

I also extend good wishes and thanks to all those Members and staff mentioned. I will single out a number of staff who may have been skipped over unintentionally. Tá daoine éigin amuigh ansin ag aistriú gach focal a bhíonn a rá againn i nGaeilge go Béarla. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na daoine sin atá ar an taobh eile de na micreafóin, ag suí agus ag fanacht go labhróimíd cúpla focal Gaeilge ionas gur féidir leagan Béarla a chur orthu. I thank the translators. I also thank the poor people in the Debates Office who must take notes and decipher what we say as béarla agus as gaeilge. It is a particularly difficult role. I also thank those involved in the audio and communications element. If it were not for them, none of us would be on "Oireachtas Report". The one group we might have skipped without which we would not be able to continue is the catering staff. I particularly thank them for the wonderful way they treat us.