Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is ócáid speisialta agus stairiúil í seo. Ba mhaith fáilte a chur roimh Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh agus a chlann. Nuair a bhí mo chlann féin ag féachaint ar chluichí Ciarraí ar an teilifís san am ina raibh Mícheál fós ag tráchtaireacht - when Mícheál was commentating on matches involving Kerry and everybody else - chas siad fuaim na teilifíse síos agus d'ardaigh siad fuaim an raidió. Dúirt sé gur mhúinteoir maith í an stair. It is true that history is a great teacher. I do not think Mark Twain put it as well, but he did also say history does not repeat itself as much as it rhymes. Micheál spoke about our greatest generation that gave us an saoirse. In many ways, that struggle began with the cultural and language revolution of 125 years ago and the sporting revolution of the GAA. Without all of this creativity in culture and identity there would not have been a 1916 Rising. All of the people who were central to the language revival and cultural revolution over 100 years ago were part of that revolution in 1916.

He also spoke about history being a teacher in terms of the fact it is also part of our future. As well as our sport and culture being part of our future, our language must be part of that identity and future. Micheál touched on a number of issues and I want to address them in terms of the Gaeltacht and the need to assist it in terms of jobs and opportunities. The election of people to represent the Gaeltacht was a step in the wrong direction. It was not something that was positive but, of course, it can be revisited. I agree with my colleague with regard to teaching in schools through Irish and making sure the teachers themselves are proficient. What he has organised is great. With regard to people having to pay to go to learn Irish, every transition year student should go and learn it. There will be an opportunity now, with the change in the transition year teaching methods that will start this September, whereby those ideas and concepts can be embedded, but it comes down to this idea of how it is paid for.In Clare County Council €35,000 was spent translating the county development plan into Irish as is required by law, which is as it should be. While it would be the right of any citizen to have that document translated into Irish, perhaps that funding should instead be ring-fenced for an initiative to send transition year students from Clare to the Gaeltacht. Senator Ó Céidigh might agree with this as a businessman. If somebody still wanted to have it translated into Irish, so be it. That should happen too. However, a cost-benefit analysis should be done on what would benefit the Irish language the most.

I take the point, which is important and which was well made, on signs and signage being in Irish and on encouraging both State institutions and others - including all our churches whether they be Catholic , Protestant, Muslim or Jewish - to have signage in Irish. Mr. Ó Muircheartaigh also mentioned the Blaskets, which are dear to his heart, to those in Kerry and to those around the world because of their rich cultural and literary history. He also mentioned an Irish club in Leinster House. I know that has been done before and is ongoing. Go mbeirimid beo ag an am seo arís.