Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte ar ais roimh an gCeannaire. Tá súil agam gur éirigh go maith leis ar an turas a bhí á dhéanamh aige ar son na Parlaiminte. I welcome the Leader back. I hope the parliamentary group he travelled with was a success. It is important that such trips happen.

It is important to note that a momentous meeting of the Catalan Parliament is taking place this afternoon. Nobody knows yet what is going to happen. It is certainly going to be an historic day in one sense or another. What is happening at the moment is very concerning. More and more international leaders, including former Nobel Peace Prize winners, are making very public statements about the need for mediation to resolve the situation that has unfolded between the Spanish and Catalan Governments. Our Government should add its voice to that call because international mediation is needed. It is possible that it could be sponsored by the EU, but it should certainly not be led by the EU because it is not seen as an honest broker at the moment. I note that the Swiss Government has offered its services. Our Government should stand up and be counted by adding its voice to the call for international mediation.

I am also thinking today about our own diaspora across the globe. We need a good debate about diaspora issues. On Saturday, Senator Lawless and I attended a very good conference that was organised by Ciaran Staunton of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and Karen McHugh of Safe Home Ireland. They highlighted once more the practical issues facing Irish citizens who want to return home. The Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, was also in attendance. It would be very useful to have a debate in this House on such issues. I know we will debate the budget later this afternoon, but I would like to mention a related aspect of it that concerns me. It is disappointing to see that the supports available to organisations supporting Irish citizens abroad are being cut in this budget. Perhaps we could have a debate on that.

Bheadh sé go maith freisin dá bhféadfadh muid díospóireacht a bheith againn maidir le dul chun cinn na straitéise 20 bliana, cúrsaí pleanála teanga agus cúrsaí Gaeilge. Is léir nach bhfuil an méid atá curtha ar fáil sa bhuiséad inniu ag teacht i bhfoisceacht scread asail den mhéid atá na heagraíochtaí pobail agus Gaeltachta ag lorg ó thaobh maoinithe de. B'fhéidir go bhféadfadh muid breathnú ar na ceisteanna sin chomh maith.