Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend the Justice for the Undocumented group, supported by the Migrant Rights Centre, who are doing a 24-hour vigil at the gates of Leinster House from now until tomorrow morning. I call on all Senators, if possible, to call out and talk to them about the issues they are raising about undocumented migrants in this State and the support they would like them to receive.

Tá an-díomá orm leis an fhreagra a fuair mé ón gCeannaire inné ar a gceist a bhí ann maidir leis an Coimisinéir Teanga agus go dtiocfaidh an tAire McGinley insteach le míneadh a thabhairt chun taca seo, faoin gcás sin agus ceard a dhéanfaidh an Rialtas faoi.

I was very disappointed with the Leader's reply yesterday on the issue of the Irish Language Commissioner. It is a very serious issue and has been raised with me again and again by Irish language groups. It is being debated in the media. The Minister, Deputy McGinley, is on radio stations discussing the issue ad nauseam. The Minister is always available for matters on the Adjournment and he was here last night to hear the Adjournment debate on matters which were not even related to his portfolio, so access to the Minister is not the issue. Rather it is the willingness of the Government to debate why the Irish Language Commissioner felt he had to resign because he felt he was not getting proper support from the Government.

This is the biggest issue that has arisen in Irish language circles in many years. It is also a much broader issue in that it is the first time such a commissioner has resigned in such a matter. That is a serious, urgent issue that needs to be debated. I call on the Leader once more to facilitate a debate on the issue with the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, as soon as possible. The commissioner is to resign at the end of February. He has indicated that whoever takes over from him needs to have these issues addressed before then, and we will not be back until mid-January so I ask that this debate happens before Christmas.

Tá an cheist an-tábhachtach seo á phlé sa Dáil inniu, de réir cosúlachta, agus ní ceart go mbeadh an Teach seo in áit na leathphingine. Ba cheart go mbeadh díospóireacht againn ar an ábhar sa Teach seo chomh maith. Má táimid in ann é a phlé amuigh sna meáin, ba chóir go mbeimid in ann é a phlé anseo sa Seanad. Mura dtagann an tAire Stáit isteach inniu nó amárach leis an gceist seo a chur os ár gcomhair, masla a bheidh ann don Teach seo.