Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom i dtús báire comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an Seanadóir Clifford-Lee agus a fear céile, John, ar bhreith a linbhín óg. Guím chuile ádh orthu. I congratulate Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee and her husband, John, on the birth of their child and hope everything goes well for them.

I wish to be associated with the sympathy conveyed to the people of Manchester and the families and friends of all those who were hurt, injured and lost. I was privileged to be at the St. Patrick's Day parade in the city several years ago when I visited the Irish centres. I was born and brought up not too far away from it. What happened there was despicable and our hearts go out to everybody at this very tragic time.

I remind Senators that we will have a guest in the AV room today, Mr. Raül Romeva, the Catalan Foreign Minister. He will be there at 4.30 p.m. and I hope some Senators will be able to come and listen to him. He will update us on the political position in Catalonia where, as is happening in many European countries, things are changing very rapidly. The update will be most welcome. Perhaps we might even have a debate at some stage on issues affecting Catalonia.

Ba mhaith liom freisin leasú eile a mholadh. I will not second the proposal made earlier as it will be seconded by one of my colleagues. However, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business which I have discussed with the Leader that No. 11 be taken without debate before No. 1. Tá mé ag iarraidh an Bille um Údarás na Gaeltachta, 2017 a chur os comhair an Tí inniu. Moltar sa Bhille simplí go leor seo go dtabharfar ar ais an toghchán le haghaidh bord Údarás na Gaeltachta. I mo thuairim, tá easpa oscailteachta agus easpa trédhearcachta in obair an údaráis. Tá géarghá againn athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar ról Údarás na Gaeltachta maidir le cruthú fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Beimid ag súil leis sin a bhogadh ar aghaidh. At some stage in the future we may also have a debate on the role of Údarás na Gaeltachta, the make-up of the board and the role of the organisation in creating employment and keeping Gaeltacht communities vibrant. B'fhéidir go mbeidh an Ceannaire ábalta cuidiú leis an leasú atá curtha chun cinn agam agus leis an díospóireacht amach anseo.