Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus cuirim fáilte roimh cheapachán an tUasal Rónán Ó Domhnaill as the new Coimisinéir Teanga. Gabhaim leithscéal mar nach bhfuil mé ábalta to speak in Irish as my Irish is not strong enough.

I am standing in for our spokesperson, Senator Moran, who cannot be here, unfortunately. I think she is on business with the Good Friday Agreement committee today. I welcome the appointment of Rónán Ó Domhnaill as the new Coimisinéir Teanga. Others have spoken eloquently about his distinguished career as a political correspondent with Nuacht RTE and TG4 over the past seven years. He has also presented "The Week in Politics". We know him well. As others have said, he is very popular and well liked in here. The Minister of State has expressed the high esteem in which he holds Mr. Ó Domhnaill. We all wish him the best of luck in this post. We know these issues arouse great passion. Others have referred to the large numbers of people who took to the streets at the weekend to show their support for the strength and position of the Irish language. I know the commissioner will have a great deal of work to do. I am sure, given his very impressive career to date, that he will carry out his tasks very well. On behalf of the Labour Party, I welcome his appointment and the cross-party support that has been expressed for it.