Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Aontaím leis an Seanadóir Ó Clochartaigh. Níl aon amhras faoi ná gur duine éifeachtach agus cumasach é Rónán Ó Domhnaill agus guím gach rath ar an obair a bheidh idir láimhe aige mar Choimisinéir Teanga nua. Ach fós, tá ceisteanna le freagairt, ceisteanna a d'ardaigh an iar-Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin. Is ceisteanna bunúsacha iad sin, maidir le stádas na Gaeilge agus cur chun cinn na Gaeilge, go mórmhór cur chun cinn na Gaeilge sa státcóras. Más rud é nach bhfuil na hoifigigh, fostaithe nó daoine ann chun seirbhís a chur ar fáil, seirbhís atá leagtha síos sa straitéis, ní féidir dul chun cinn a dhéanamh.

Dúirt mé anseo cheana go bhfuil súil agam nach mbeidh aon pholaitíocht ag baint leis an gceist seo. Thug mé faoi ndeara anseo sa Seanad go raibh gach éinne thar a bheith sásta comhoibriú le chéile maidir le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge agus sin mar ba chóir é a bheith. Bheadh sé an-cabhrach agus Seachtain na Gaeilge ag teacht, dá bhféadfadh muid ceis na Gaeilge a phlé arís agus seans a thabhairt do dhaoine níos mó eolais a fháil maidir leis na ceisteanna atá i gceist.

There is an opportunity for the Seanad to play a central role in the issues and controversies that have arisen on the Coimisinéir Teanga and also straitéis 20 bliain na Gaeilge. There is not a Member in this Chamber who does not feel a sense of ownership where the strategy is concerned. I can remember the debates which took place. They were totally separate from politics. It was about the importance of the language and the love we all have for the language and the richness of the language. It is not just a St. Patrick’s Day syndrome or a seachtain na Gaeilge syndrome; it is our national language. If we were discussing issues such as those that have arisen from the controversy on the Coimisinéir Teanga, they would be at the top of our priority list. Perhaps the Leader would arrange in the coming weeks an opportunity for the Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy McGinley, to come to the House and to put a lot of the controversial issues to bed once and for all.