Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá sé luaite agam cheana gurb é 2013 bliain na Gaeilge, agus is breá an rud é roinnt Gaeilge a chloisteáil ar an Riar Gnó ar maidin ó na Seanadóirí éagsúla. Caithfidh mé moladh a thabhairt go chuile dhuine de na Seanadóirí a úsáideann na Gaeilge. Tá cuid mhaith acu ann agus déanann siad an-iarracht. Ba mhaith liom dá gcuirfeadh muid le sin. Tá achainí déanta ag Conradh na Gaeilge, nuair a bheidh Seachtain na Gaeilge ann i mbliana, go dtógfadh muid lá faoi leith sa Seanad agus sa Dáil le haghaidh díospóireachtaí Gaeilge a bheith againn. Rinne mé an iarratas seo anuraidh agus dúradh liom nach raibh dóthain ama le sin a eagrú an bhliain seo chaite, cé go raibh roinnt díospóireacht againn. D'iarr mé ag an am go gcoinneofaí é in intinn le haghaidh an bliain seo chugainn. Tá an bliain seo chugainn linn agus ba mhaith liom an t-iarratas céanna a dhéanamh. Ós rud é nach bhfuil ballraíocht againn ar an Committee on Procedure and Privileges, ba bhreá liom go dtabharfadh Ceannaire an Tí an t-iarratas seo ar aghaidh le go mbeadh díospóireachtaí faoi leith i nGaeilge againn. Tá moladh déanta ag Conradh na Gaeilge go ndéanfaí sin ar 6 Márta.

Conradh na Gaeilge has suggested that in celebrating Bliain na Gaeilge we should have a day of debates as Gaeilge in the Seanad and the Dáil. Conradh na Gaeilge is suggesting it should happen on 6 March, if possible. I made that application last year and was told it was too late to do it, but that it would be kept in mind for this year. There is a strong possibility that we will do that. I would normally have a go at the Government on many issues, but I must commend the number of Ministers who have attended this House and have used their Irish.

I include the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Ministers for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Social Protection, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, all of whom have used their Irish over the past year. Consequently, I see no reason Members would not be able to make an additional effort for Seachtain na Gaeilge. Perhaps special debates could be held in this House as Gaeilge, possibly on 6 March. Tá súil agam go mbeidh na Baill in ann é a thógáil ar bord.