Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. We have every reason to be thinking these days, with the events of Brexit, about our vulnerabilities as a nation but also about our strengths. I agree with what my colleague, Senator McDowell, has said about the importance of Ministers travelling abroad in these days, representing Ireland and our interests and keeping them to the forefront.

Speaking of putting the best foot forward, I have been meaning to pay tribute - as I am sure all my colleagues would agree we should - to our colleague, Senator Ó Domhnaill, who in recent months has been putting the best foot forward, athletically speaking, with his sixth place at the world masters' championship in Spain in walking, and his bronze medal in the 30 km race at the national championships. He is indeed setting a new record for a competitor over 40 years of age. He is an example to us all. Ba chóir dúinn uilig níos ama a chaitheamh amuigh ag siúl, fiú mura bhfuilimid in ann siúl chomh tapaidh leis an Seanadóir.

Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge tagtha, a Chathaoirligh, agus smaoinimid ag an am seo faoi fhéiniúlacht na tíre. Maidir le hAmhrán na bhFiann, tá sé luaite go minic sna Tithe go gcaithfimid níos mó oibre a dhéanamh chun meas agus tuiscint a thaispeáint don amhrán seo. Léirigh suirbhé le déanaí sa journal.ienarbh eol do na daoine a ndearnadh suirbhé orthu ach 47% de na focail den amhrán náisiúnta. Léirigh suirbhé eile san iris go gceapann 83% daoine gur cóir go mbeadh sé éigeantach an t-amhrán náisiúnta a fhoghlaim i scoileanna. Ghlac thart ar 2,500 duine páirt sa suirbhé seo. It is very worrying that so few people know the words of our national anthem. This is something that should be a mandatory part of the curriculum in our schools, particularly in primary school. People talk a lot about the integrated curriculum-----