David Norris (Independent)

I know, but I have hardly finished the sentence. I am entitled to do that. I got as far as the word "punc", which has a series of different meanings including full stop. Any speaker is entitled to arrive at the full stop before being guillotined. Other speakers on both sides have spoken about the nature of the Bill and the nature of the amendments. As far as I am concerned people have a right to table as many amendments as they want. Many of the amendments are substantial and well intentioned, but I have no doubt whatsoever that there is also a war of attrition going on. That is real politics and the reason is because people are dissatisfied with what is in the Bill. It is a perfectly legitimate political tactic to conduct a war of attrition. In the old days one used to be able to filibuster in this House but now we are rationed in the way in which we can filibuster.

Coming to the substance of the amendments it is interesting because on one side one could maintain that the attitude adopted by Sinn Féin is almost partitionist because it is separating the two but on the other hand it seems to me that there is a good practical reason for that so I approve of the pragmatic nature of it. It appears to me that the more clarity one can get into the Bill the better.

We raised questions of education and language, in particular giving a regulatory test. Senator Barrett raised the important point concerning other languages. We must ensure that we protect our languages in the legislation. It is important that right at the start we would make the point that without education we are banjaxed.

I have been to the Aran Islands. I know the situation there. I draw this school in particular to the Minister's attention. An amelioration was given whereby special circumstances were accepted that the level for a second teacher was eight pupils. In Inis Meáin the population fluctuates and it is just below the required level. It will be back up again in September. There is a second teacher there. If she takes early retirement, which is fair enough as she can do it, as it will not be any skin off her nose, but the second teacher might never come back. That is a school the Minister knows well because it won second place in the Ericsson national science competition. It is fantastic for a tiny school on an offshore island to win a national award. I say "Well done" to it. We must encourage and foster such schools. There are special circumstances on those islands and they must be looked after. It got second place in the Galway county heritage awards. That is wonderful. The Department issued a report which was lyrical in its praise of the school. It said that the music programme presented at the school was both comprehensive and motivational. It said that the development of pupils' music skills, which includes instrumental music, singing and musical literacy is comprehensive.

I will finish on this point. This is the island that inspired people such as Pádraig Pearse, Eoin MacNeill and Eoghan O'Growney who has the honour of being mentioned in James Joyce's Ulysses. I urge the Minister to please consider my request. I will write to him on the matter if I may because I can feel the gong coming - the dulcimer is in the hand of the Acting Chairman.

I did manage by devious means to sneak in what is a very important matter. I am sure other Senators will raise the issue. There may be a more appropriate place to raise it. I did look for one. I will end on this point. Perhaps I might have guidance as to whether I could raise the matter again on amendment No. 65. If not, perhaps some of my colleagues could do so. I have another meeting to attend.